Drinking and Boating Results In Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Boating and drinking do not mix. This case is a prime example of what not to do when boating.

Atlanta, GA (Law Firm Newswire) December 30, 2010 – “This is a case that we heard about involving drinking and boating, ultimately resulting in a wrongful death. It’s a case that has a lesson in it for people who operate machinery while under the influence, whether that is a car or another form of transport,” said Robert Webb, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer with Webb & D’Orazio in Georgia.

The husband of the deceased woman filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2009, after his wife was killed by the driver of a boat that sent her and another woman crashing into a dock. The boat’s pilot was traveling fast over the lake just prior to the accident and he was towing an inner tube carrying two women; the deceased and his own wife.

Evidently, just before the boat’s pilot took a very sharp turn, he shouted out for everyone to watch what he was about to do. As a result of his sharp turning maneuver, both women on the inner tube collided with the dock and were ejected into the air. The boat pilot’s wife survived with serious injuries. The other woman sustained a crushed leg and ribs in addition to severe internal injuries. By the time she was transported to hospital, she was pronounced dead.

The results of tests taken after the accident showed that the boat’s pilot had a blood alcohol content of .16; twice the legal limit for driving, never mind boating. A jury ultimately convicted him of manslaughter and jail time. The wrongful death lawsuit was a civil suit filed after the criminal case and his time was served.

“Drinking and driving isn’t just something that people do when they drive a car. Unfortunately, it also happens when they are in control of other kinds of transportation, including motorcycles, quads, ATVs, snow plows, boats and jet skis, etc. Needless to say, the end results of DUI in any circumstances may not be pretty. If you have been in a situation like this and you have personally sustained severe or life altering injuries, call our office, we’d be pleased to discuss how the law applies to your case,” Webb said.

In cases like this, a plaintiff needs the assistance of a seasoned Atlanta personal injury attorney or they may miss out on compensation that should be awarded. The law is complex when it comes to wrongful death cases and unless there is an experienced lawyer handling the case, there is a risk of the defendant getting off free.

To learn more, visit http://www.webbdorazio.com.

Webb & D’Orazio are Atlanta personal injury lawyers practicing personal injury law, business law, and criminal defense in Atlanta Georgia.

Webb & D’Orazio
2551 Roswell Road
Suite 201
Marietta, GA 30062
Call: (800) 275-9144

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