Tennessee River and Chickamauga Lake offer stunning scenery and recreation for Chattanooga residents and visitors.
These waterways attract countless boaters yearly who enjoy fishing, water sports, and peaceful cruises. However, what starts as a perfect day on the water can quickly become a nightmare when accidents happen.
At Dennis & Winningham, we focus on helping victims of boating accidents recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
Our team knows the local waterways, Tennessee boating laws, and the challenges victims face after these traumatic events.
Why Chattanooga Faces Unique Boating Risks
Chattanooga sits at a critical junction of waterways. The Tennessee River winds through our city, while Chickamauga Lake spans 36,000 acres with 810 miles of shoreline. These vast water resources make our area special, but also create specific risks:
- Heavy traffic areas: During summer months and holidays, our waterways become congested, especially near popular spots like Harrison Bay and Chester Frost Park.
- Changing water conditions: The Tennessee Valley Authority controls water levels, creating fluctuating conditions that can surprise even experienced boaters.
- Weather challenges: Quick-forming storms sweep across our lakes with little warning, putting boaters in danger with high winds and choppy waters.
- Narrow channels: Parts of the Tennessee River feature tight passages where large commercial barges and recreational boats must share limited space.
Our law firm addresses cases stemming from these unique local conditions daily. We apply our knowledge of Chattanooga waterways to build stronger cases for our clients.
Common Causes of Boating Accidents in Chattanooga
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports several recurring factors in local boating accidents:
- Operator inattention: Drivers failing to monitor their surroundings cause many preventable collisions.
- Excessive speed: Fast-moving vessels have less reaction time and create more dangerous wakes.
- Alcohol use: Drinking remains a significant factor in Tennessee boating accidents, impairing judgment and reaction time.
- Inexperienced operators: Many people operate boats without proper training or experience.
- Equipment failure: Poorly maintained vessels can experience steering, engine, or structural failures at critical moments.
- Hazardous waters: Submerged objects, shallow areas, and strong currents create dangerous situations.
Our team investigates these factors thoroughly to determine liability in your case. We gather evidence from multiple sources to build compelling arguments for your claim.
Injuries Common in Boating Accidents
Water-related accidents often result in severe or fatal injuries. The Chattanooga boating accident attorneys at Dennis & Winningham handle cases involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries: Impact with water, vessels, or objects can cause life-altering brain trauma.
- Spinal cord damage: Falls or collisions on boats frequently result in back and neck injuries.
- Drowning and near-drowning: These tragic outcomes often occur when victims are thrown from boats.
- Limb injuries and amputations: Contact with propellers causes some of the most devastating boating injuries.
- Fractures and soft tissue damage: The force of collisions or falls often breaks bones and tears muscles.
Our legal team works with medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries. We make sure your compensation covers both current and future medical needs.
Tennessee Boating Laws You Should Know
Tennessee maintains specific regulations for watercraft operation:
- Mandatory education: Operators must complete a TWRA-approved boating safety course.
- Life jacket requirements: Children under 13 must wear life jackets while the boat is underway.
- Alcohol restrictions: Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher is illegal.
- Accident reporting: Collisions involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $2,000 must be reported.
These laws matter in your case because violations often establish negligence. Our Chattanooga boating accident lawyers examine whether other boaters followed required safety practices.
Contact Our Chattanooga Boating Accident Attorneys
If you suffered injuries in a boating accident on Chattanooga waterways, time matters. Evidence disappears quickly, and Tennessee law limits how long you have to file a claim.
The legal team at Dennis & Winningham stands ready to evaluate your case and explain your options. We provide personal attention and powerful representation when you need it most.
Call our Chattanooga office today for a confidential consultation about your boating accident case.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a boat accident?
- Do not rely on insurance companies.
- You are our top priority.
- Stay away from a settlement mill.
We understand the hardship and loss that is suffered after a boat accident involving serious injury or death. Accident victims and families in East Tennessee and North Georgia rely on the experienced boat accident attorneys at Dennis & Winningham Law to help them aftermath of difficult situations.
Do Not Rely On Insurance Companies
Do not accept any claim before you speak with an attorney. Many large insurance companies have adopted settlement policies that encourage their adjusters to offer quick payments to persons involved in an accident. Insurance adjusters will contact you or your family shortly after an accident to try to gain your confidence. In doing so, insurance adjusters often try to present themselves as the friend of the injured person or the family of the person who was killed in an accident. The goal of such contact is to settle the case on terms as favorable as possible for the insurance company.
You Are Our Top Priority
Dennis & Winningham Law are old fashion Chattanooga boat accident lawyers who limit the number of cases we take so we can give top-flight personal service. We are not a big “settlement mill” that will merely process your case. We maintain a statewide reputation for the care we take with each of our clients. Experience the Dennis & Winningham Law difference.
Experience, expertise, and exceptional dedication to the needs of every client are the cornerstone of our reputation. Negligence causes many accidents, so it is imperative that anyone involved in a boat accident contact an experienced Chattanooga boat injury attorney. Please remember that it is vital to act swiftly after you’ve been injured. The sooner you involve a Chattanooga personal injury attorney, the better we will be able to preserve evidence, gather essential witnesses and address any other important factors.
You Deserve
- Medical reimbursement
- Payment for past and future income loss
- Full compensation for pain and suffering
- Peace of mind in knowing Chattanooga boat accident attorneys are protecting your financial interests.
We Are There For You
- Same day, evening and weekend appointments
- Home and hospital visits for the severely injured
- Never a fee until we receive a settlement for you
- We will go to trial if a fair settlement is not obtained
- Serving Georgia and Tennessee
Our firm offers a free initial strategy session to all prospective clients, where you can discuss your case with Lupton Winningham or Tricia Dennis.
You have nothing to lose by calling our office at (423) 892-5533 or booking a free strategy session to speak with one of our experienced Chattanooga wrongful death lawyers.
