Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent decision leads to an accident and their families may be entitled to compensation for the injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident attorney can help injured victims get the amount they deserved. A claim will include the need for past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern boats on rivers, lakes and oceans in the United States. boat accident law firms accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining whether negligence occurred. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. There are federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are specific maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boat accident, the family can sue them on behalf of damages including the loss of companionship, funeral costs as well as pain and suffering. Families can also seek reimbursement to pay medical bills in the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved ones were injured in a boating accident. An attorney for personal injuries can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what type of compensation you are entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties who could be responsible for the incident, such as the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and lost earnings because of time lost from work as well as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Injuries that are serious include neck and back injuries brain traumas, broken bones, and internal organ damage.

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could be liable for legal responsibility for a accident, including the vessel's operator, any other passengers aboard at the time of the incident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their parts or engines and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is at fault in an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury at sea has rights to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors who suffer injuries in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters are able to claim compensation under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the families of deceased sailors also have rights under state workers' compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process can help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help determine liability and determine the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses also can provide valuable evidence to aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are essential for understanding the severity of your injuries as well as the injuries that result from them. The records should include thorough account of hospital and doctor attorneys visits surgery, rehabilitation and the associated costs them. You should document any changes to your income and employment capacity, as in any other losses that are not financial.

Boat accidents are typically caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can result from oxygen deficiency, carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head against areas like the propeller or side of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries involve mechanical issues, like engine failure or electrical failure such as steering issues, engine failure, and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will analyze these cases to determine if the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention immediately following an incident on the boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving a statement to the insurance adjuster or another party. Your lawyer will protect your rights and ensure that you get the money you need for your losses.

The legal procedure to seek compensation following a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are responsible. It is typical to present evidence in support of an insurance claim for both non-economic and economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, as well as loss of income due to missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and any other intangible loss that is difficult to quantify.

In some cases the boat manufacturer or parts of the boat could be held accountable for an accident if their product was created or manufactured in a flawed manner. A New York boating accident lawyer can investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases the boat accident lawsuit's owner might not be held responsible for a collision. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible in addition, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person operating their vessel, or permit a person who is not fit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.