Boat Collision on Lake Murray Results in Injuries: Officials Investigating the Cause

Officials at Lake Murray are investigating a collision of two boats, which required medical car for two men and three children.  The incident occurred at about 9:00 p.m., Saturday evening, near the Lake Murray dam.

The boat in question was heading through the strait on the south side of lake, swerved and crashed into another vessel, which was anchored there.  The man who had anchored the boat had planned on spending the night with his three grandchildren; however, they spent much of the night in the hospital.

The driver of the boat that swerved was taken to PalmettoHealthCenter with internal bleeding, and the grandchildren were taken to the hospital and released; one of them had a broken arm.  One of the questions here is whether the boats were lit as required by the DNR after sunset, and what the reason for the swerving of the first boat was.  Officials will decide whether charges were warranted.

In South Carolina, a negligence claim is determined as to whether the person had a duty to a person or class of persons, whether that duty was breached, the causation of the harm (proximate and actual), and whether there were damages.  In this case, there was a duty to either keep the boat lit, or not to swerve while riding at night.  But, the officials still must determine who was at fault in this case, if anyone was at fault in the first place.

However, if the injuries were created as a result of the negligence of someone, there may be a personal injury claim abounding over the horizon.  If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of the negligence of another, call the law offices of Reeves, Aiken & Hightower, LLP for a consultation.  You can reach our office in Baxter Village, Fort Mill, South Carolina at toll-free 877-374-4444, and we would be happy to assist you.

Person Drowns While Rescuing a Double Amputee- SC Attorney

Force Majeure clauses ( or Acts of God Clauses) are used in contracts to prevent someone from suffering if an intervening cause interrupts the person’s performance of the contract.

However, how can one protect themselves from natural disasters in other manners, particularly; how would one deal with rescuing a double amputee during a horrific thunderstorm turned deadly.

Accordingly, a  pontoon boat capsized on Lake Moultrie in South Carolina  this past Sunday, claiming the life of a still unidentified person. There were 6 people who were thrown from the boat, but only one fatality has been confirmed. The other 5 victims swam safely to the nearest dam and hold on until the Rescue Team arrived.

Sadly, the unidentified person drowned while attempting to rescue a double amputee who was a passenger of the pontoon boat, and also thrown from the ship during the storm.

According to Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski, she had given the locals a warning as she announced that “damaging winds and downpours are the greatest dangers from the powerful thunderstorms targeting far southeastern Virginia and the eastern Carolinas.”

It is a tragedy that one person heard the warning, but still mounted the pontoon boat, only to later drown while attempting to rescue one who could not rescue themselves.

The South Carolina Boating Accident Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower, LLP.

If you have been injured as a result of any type of boating accident, you should contact the experienced attorneys at Reeves, Aiken & Hightower LLP., to help you obtain the justice you deserve.For more information about our firm, please visit www.rjrlaw.com or call us directly at 877-374-5999 for a private consultation.

Boating accident involving BUI – Law Enforcement to step up patrol on lakes

Just as summer is heating up, so are patrols by law enforcement to try and stop people who may be “boating under the influence” (BUI).  Law enforcement around the country is gearing up for Operation Dry Water which to crack down on BUI’s on the water.  The goal of this enforcement is to increase safety on the water so that this recreational activity can be enjoyed with less fear of “drunk boaters.”  Just as serious as drinking and driving, so is drinking and operating a boat.  The potential legal consequences as well as the safety of others on the water are essentially the same.  Recent statistics show that up to 16% of boating fatalities result from boating while under the influence. Sadly, almost any accident involving other boats or swimmers almost always results in serious injury and/or death. There are no seatbelts or airbags on a boat. At a minimum, people suffer broken bones.

If you have had a couple drinks and feel as though you should not operate a motor vehicle, the same applies to the operation of a boat.  The article below is a stark reminder of how serious the consequences can be.  Have fun out at the lake or river. Please be safe, not only for others but for yourself as well.

The DUI attorneys of Reeves Aiken & Hightower LLP stand ready to fight for you and your family if you have been seriously injured by a drunk boater. We encourage you to visit our website at www.rjrlaw.com and carefully compare our attorneys’ credentials to any other firm. You can then call us toll-free at 877-374-5999 for a private, confidential consultation to review your particular case.

Man arrested in deadly boat collision on Ga. lake

By JEFF MARTIN
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) – Crews will resume their search Wednesday for a 13-year-old boy who disappeared in a Georgia lake after a fishing boat rammed a pontoon boat, killing a 9-year-old boy and injuring three other passengers on the vessel.

Authorities said the fishing boat left the area after the Monday night collision. Searchers using sonar found no trace of the missing youth Tuesday and authorities in Hall County said the search would continue Wednesday.

They said 44-year-old Paul J. Bennett of Cumming was arrested Tuesday and charged with boating under the influence. A home number for Bennett could not be located, and it wasn’t known whether he has an attorney representing him.

There were 13 people aboard the pontoon boat when it was struck.