Boat Accident Lawyer
Boat Accident Attorneys for NC, SC & GA Waterways
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia offer beautiful waterways — from the Outer Banks and Lake Norman to Lake Hartwell, the South Carolina coast, and Georgia's barrier islands. Millions enjoy recreational boating yearly, but boating accidents cause devastating injuries including drowning, traumatic brain injuries, propeller lacerations, and spinal cord injuries.
At Dr. Ted Injury Law, our boat accident attorneys handle the full range of claims from personal watercraft collisions to commercial vessel incidents. We understand both state boating regulations and federal maritime law.
Common Types of Boating Accidents
- Boat-to-boat collisions — Vessels colliding due to negligence, speed, or navigation rule violations.
- Personal watercraft (jet ski) accidents — High speeds and inexperienced operators make jet skis particularly dangerous.
- Capsizing and swamping — Overloaded boats, improper weight distribution, rough water, or operator error.
- Falls overboard — Passengers thrown overboard by rough water, sudden turns, or wakes.
- Propeller injuries — Catastrophic lacerations, amputations, and death to swimmers near boats.
- Fires and explosions — Fuel leaks, engine malfunctions, and electrical problems.
- Dock and marina accidents — Slips, falls, equipment failures, and negligent maintenance.
Common Causes
- Operator inexperience — Boats often require no license, leading to inexperienced operators.
- Boating under the influence — Alcohol use amplified by sun, heat, glare, and motion.
- Excessive speed — Unsafe speeds reduce reaction time.
- Failure to maintain lookout — Operators must maintain awareness of vessels, swimmers, and obstacles.
- Equipment failure — Defective or poorly maintained steering, engines, and navigation lights.
- Overloading — Exceeding passenger or weight capacity creates instability.
State Boating Laws
North Carolina
N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 75A governs boating. Operators born on or after January 1, 1988 must complete a boating safety course. BUI limit is 0.08% BAC. Contributory negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
South Carolina
S.C. Code Title 50, Chapter 21. Operators born after June 30, 1989 must complete a boating course. BUI limit is 0.08% BAC. Comparative negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Georgia
O.C.G.A. Title 52, Chapter 7. Operators born on or after January 1, 1998 must complete a course. BUI limit is 0.08% BAC. Comparative negligence applies. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Federal Maritime Law
Some accidents may fall under federal admiralty law, particularly on navigable waters. Federal law provides additional remedies including maintenance and cure for maritime workers and Jones Act protections. Our attorneys evaluate whether federal law applies and pursue the avenue providing the greatest recovery.
Compensation
Victims may recover for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, disfigurement, and property damage. Punitive damages may be available for BUI or gross negligence. Wrongful death claims may be filed when accidents are fatal.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact Dr. Ted Injury Law today for a free consultation. We handle cases on a contingency fee basis.
Related Case Results
Our client was driving home from work on Interstate 85 near Charlotte when an 18-wheeler whose driver had exceeded federal hours-of-service limits ran a red light at a highway interchange, causing a devastating multi-vehicle collision. Our client suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and required months of intensive rehabilitation. Through exhaustive investigation, we uncovered falsified driver logs and a pattern of safety violations by the trucking company. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $12.5 million, one of the largest trucking accident verdicts in North Carolina history.
A 42-year-old mother of three went to a Charlotte-area hospital for a routine gallbladder removal. Due to the surgeon's negligence, her bile duct was severed during the procedure, leading to a life-threatening infection, multiple corrective surgeries, and permanent digestive complications. Our team retained leading surgical experts who testified that the surgeon deviated from the standard of care. The case was resolved through mediation for $9.2 million, providing our client with the resources to cover her ongoing medical needs and compensate her family for the profound impact on their lives.
A commercial truck driver lost control of his vehicle on a steep descent near Asheville when the truck's brakes failed due to inadequate maintenance. The truck struck our client's vehicle head-on, killing the 38-year-old father of two. Our investigation revealed that the trucking company had repeatedly deferred required brake inspections and that the driver had reported brake issues weeks before the accident. We settled with the trucking company and the maintenance provider for a combined $8.7 million for the surviving family.
A construction worker at a high-rise project in downtown Charlotte fell 40 feet when his safety harness, manufactured by a major equipment company, failed due to a defective buckle mechanism. He suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury resulting in permanent paralysis from the waist down. We pursued claims against both the equipment manufacturer and the general contractor, ultimately recovering $7.8 million through settlement. The case led to a voluntary recall of the defective harness model.