Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable recreational activity however, it can be a danger. If negligence leads to an accident the victim and their families could be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims to receive the amount they are due. A claim can be an obligation to pay for medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger many federal and state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could open them up to civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are federal laws that address pollution and deaths on the sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a tragic boat accident, the family may sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can collect money to cover medical bills from the past and any future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining whether you or a loved one was injured during an accident on the water. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance coverage and the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine what type of compensation you are entitled to in a settlement or verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if there are any other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer or part of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost income due to absences from work or pain and suffering emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Injuries that are serious include back and neck injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve a variety of individuals who could be responsible for the crash. This includes the boat operator, passengers aboard at the time of the incident as well as the other watercraft or boats involved, the makers of boats, their parts, engines, and government agencies that put up buoys to warn people of dangers. An attorney who handles personal injury cases will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is liable for an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury at sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Also, sailors who are injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. State workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured and families of sailors who have died.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected in the early stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and effectiveness of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help establish liability and reveal how the boating incident occurred. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable evidence to back your claim.

Medical records are essential for finding out the extent of your injuries, and the damage that resulted from it. The records should contain thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the costs associated with these. You'll need to record changes in your income and employment capacity, as well for any other financial loss.

Boat accidents are often related to brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma when the head strikes the propeller of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine accidents involve mechanical problems, such as engine failure or electrical failure in steering, abrasions, and problems with gear shifts. In these cases, our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a manufacturer should be held accountable for injuries suffered by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention immediately after an accident with a boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving an admission to the insurance adjuster or to any other party. A lawyer can safeguard your rights and ensure that you get the right amount of compensation for the damages.

The legal process for seeking compensation in the event of a boating accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are liable. This usually involves presenting evidence to back a claim for economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages refer to the cost of medical treatment as well as other expenses associated with the accident, like the loss of income resulting from missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible damages which are harder to quantify.

In some instances the boat manufacturer or a part of the vessel can be held liable for causing an accident if their product was created or manufactured in a flawed manner. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and pursue compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases it's not only the person who operates a boat that could be held accountable for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel can be held liable as well, especially if they are responsible for hiring or training the person operating their boat or Lawyers permit a person who is unfit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.