Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable recreational activity but it is also dangerous. If a negligent action leads to an accident and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident lawyer will assist victims of injuries to claim the amount of damages they deserve. A claim includes the need for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence took place. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths on the sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime regulations such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a fatal boat accident, the family could sue for damages including loss of companionship and funeral expenses. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can also seek reimbursement to pay medical bills in the past and future treatment costs.

If a boating accident caused injuries to you or your loved ones If you or your loved ones were injured, a New York City boat accident attorney can help you determine what type of damages you could be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance policy and the policies on boat liability of the responsible party to determine the compensation you are eligible to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if are other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat accident lawyers that was faulty.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to time away from work emotional trauma, as well as suffering and pain. Serious injuries include neck and back injuries and brain traumas, as well as broken bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents typically involve multiple parties who could have legal responsibility for the accident, including the vessel's operator, other passengers who were onboard at the time of the crash along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their engines or parts as well as the government agencies that are responsible for putting up buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer will be aware of the ins and outs of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who might be held accountable in the event of a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation recipients. Similar, sailors injured in international waters or outer continental shelf waters are able to submit claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Families of injured maritime workers as well as relatives of sailors who died are entitled to compensation under state workers' compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered during the early stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength and effectiveness of your case. Photographing the accident scene will help determine the liability and help determine how the boating incident occurred. It's also important to obtain details from eyewitnesses as they can provide valuable testimony which can back up your assertions.

Medical records are essential to establishing the extent of your injuries and associated damages. The records should include thorough details of hospital and doctor visitations as well as rehabilitation procedures, surgeries and the costs associated with them. You'll need to record any changes to your income and employment capacity, as well as any other non-financial loss.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boat accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other forms of marine injury include mechanical failures for example, engine or electrical failure or steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. In these cases, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if a manufacturer should be held responsible for injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is essential to seek medical attention immediately for injuries following a boat accident, you should not offer a statement to an insurance adjuster, or another party without consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for damages.

In order to seek compensation following a boating collision and you need to submit an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is typical to present evidence in support of an insurance claim for damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment as well as other expenses arising from the accident, such as lost income from missed work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the maker of a boat accident lawsuits or one of its components can be held liable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively created or manufactured. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain instances it's not only the person who operates a boat who is liable for an accident. The owner of the vessel may be held responsible as well, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their boat or allow a person who isn't qualified to operate the boat on their property.