Man hospitalized after Paint Lake dock fall
A 77-year-old Rochester Hills man was hospitalized Sunday after falling from a dock into Paint Lake.
Oakland County Sheriff's Office deputies responded around 1:20 p.m. Oct. 25 to the public boat launch in Oxford Township. They had received a report of an unresponsive man in the water about 20 feet from shore.
Deputies pulled him from the lake and began lifesaving measures before transferring him to paramedics. He was taken to a local hospital, and the sheriff's office reported Sunday that he was in critical but stable condition.
The sheriff's search and rescue team and Oxford Township Fire Department also responded.
A preliminary investigation determined he fell while launching a boat. He wasn't wearing a life jacket, and alcohol didn't appear to have contributed, according to the sheriff's office. The search and rescue team was continuing its investigation.
Michigan law after a fall from a dock
A fall from a dock doesn't automatically make its owner responsible. A claim based on an unsafe property condition requires proof of a legal duty, a failure to meet that duty, a causal connection and actual harm. The duty depends partly on the visitor's reason for being on the property. Michigan Legal Center's overview of personal injury claims in Michigan explains why the cause of a fall and control of the property matter.
Michigan's recreational use law limits claims against an owner, tenant or lessee when someone uses land for outdoor recreation without paying that party for access. When the law applies, the injury must result from gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct, a higher standard than ordinary carelessness.
A government agency operating a public launch may also have governmental immunity. Michigan law generally shields agencies from negligence claims when they're carrying out activities authorized by law, unless a statutory exception applies. Identifying who controls the dock and what legal protections apply is necessary before assessing a claim.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles personal injury and dangerous property claims.
If you were injured in a fall at a dock or boat launch, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask whether the matter falls within Michigan Legal Center's practice areas.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.