By Michael Goldberg

I noticed an article in the AJC about the death of a young boy, Trevor Jones, on Lake Lanier. The incident involved the collision of two boats carrying 15 people and occurred at about 7 p.m. Boating accidents have become more prevalent as more people have turned to lakes as recreational areas on the weekends. These accidents are usually either the result of alcohol or drug use or driver inattentiveness. At dusk or in nighttime conditions, boats should have a visible running light to signal its presence to other boat operators. Many people operate boats without any experience or training, and with proper training and instruction, these accidents could be reduced or eliminated. Boating accidents are normally covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy for the boat operator and the homeowner’s insurance policy for the boat owner. We have handled a number of boating accidents involving propeller strikes and boating collisions.