BOATING ACCIDENTS ON THE RISE

Just this past year, our firm handled several boating accident cases which illustrate the dangerous nature of this recreational activity. In one case, a female skier was pulled into a small cove by the operator of the ski boat with such speed and force that she was pulled onto the shore and thrown into some trees with resulting and very serious personal injuries. In another case, a child being pulled on a tube was pulled in front of another boat and the child was killed. These cases continue to demonstrate the need for boat owners in Georgia to operate their boats in safe and responsible manner.
According to statistics made available by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, each year there are in excess of 150 boating accidents in Georgia. In 2004, for example, there were 13 boating accident-related fatalities in Georgia alone. 339 DUI arrests were made by Georgia and DNR Conservation Rangers. Thus, as summer boating approaches, with an estimated 300,000 Georgia boat owners preparing to launch, the operative words we would like to stress are: safety and responsibility.
All Georgia boaters should familiarize themselves with Georgia boating laws, watch their speed, and where appropriate, designate a driver. There are just as many drunk drivers on the lakes as there are on the roads. Safety must always be a prime consideration when engaging in this recreational activity. All we can hope is that we will see fewer cases this year than last because experience indicates that when we do see these types of cases they are usually very serious.