Bucci & Dix

Twelve-Year-Old Girl Injured in a Boating Accident on Smith Mountain Lake Settles for $303,500

The minor victim of a boating accident on Smith Mountain Lake on July 2, 2005 settled the case for $303,500.  Specifically, a twelve-year old girl traveled to the lake with friends.  The girl’s parents entrusted her supervision to certain adults who then delegated her supervision to other adults.  In the process, the girl was being towed behind a personal watercraft (jet ski) operated by the adult defendant with a minor passenger who was responsible for watching the girl.  The defendant adult operator of the personal watercraft operated the watercraft in such a manner as to throw the girl from the tube.  Subsequently, a second defendant ran the girl over causing severe personal injures to her legs, groin and femoral artery.  The case settlement was comprised of the limits of the only applicable insurance policy and money paid out of pocket from one of the defendants.