How Boat Defects Can Ruin Your Summer Fun

By Grant Law Office on August 2, 2011

Boats, jet-skis and other personal water crafts (PWC) are like other forms of transportation in that they are produced, usually en masse, by a manufacturing company. As with car manufacturers, sometimes a boat or a jet ski is manufactured with poor quality materials, with defective parts or with a faulty production process. Unfortunately, a defective boat or jet ski has the potential to cause serious injury or death.

According to U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics, there were 4,604 accidents in 2010. These caused $35.5 million in property damage, 3,153 injuries and 672 fatalities.

Of the 4,604 recreational boating accidents, there were 366 accidents caused by boat or boat equipment failure, including:

• 60 caused by equipment failure, such as sail dismasting, auxiliary equipment failure, fire extinguisher failure and broken or loose seats;
• 49 caused by hull failure, or failure of the structural body of the vessel not including superstructure, masts or rigging; and
• 257 caused by machinery failure, such as electrical system failure, engine failure, exhaust system failure, fuel system failure, shift failure, steering system failure and throttle failure.

These accidents caused a total of 108 injuries and 20 deaths, which could have been avoided had the boat and/or its equipment functioned properly.

Boat and PWC manufacturers are required to produce safe recreational vessels, especially knowing that boating accidents are more dangerous that car accidents. Summertime is meant to be the season of fun in the sun where families and friends can spend the entire day on a river or lake. Boat or jet ski defects can ruin this opportunity.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a recreational boating or jet ski accident in Georgia that was caused by defective boat parts or equipment, the experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you hold the at-fault manufacturer liable for its negligence. Contact us today at 404-995-3955 to learn more about getting the compensation you deserve.