Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it can be dangerous. If negligence causes an accident the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for injuries and loss.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims in getting the amount they are due. A claim can be a demand for past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws governing the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are taken into consideration in determining if negligence occurred. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. There are federal laws that address the issue of pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are specific maritime regulations like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access to compensation similar to workers' compensation in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, the family members may sue them on behalf of damages including the loss of companionship, funeral costs, and pain and suffering. Families can recover money to cover medical costs from the past and future medical treatment.

If a boating accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones and loved ones, a New York City barnstable town boat accident Law Firm accident attorney can assist you in determining the kind of damages you could be entitled to claim. An attorney for personal injury can review your insurance policy and the policies governing boat liability of the responsible party to determine what compensation you might be able to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also assess if there are other parties that could be liable, like the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Typically, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and lost earnings due to absences from work as well as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Serious injuries include back and neck injuries brain traumas, broken bones and internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many individuals who could be responsible for the crash. These include the operator of the boat, passengers aboard at the time of the accident and other watercrafts or boats involved, manufacturers of boats and their components, engines, and government agencies who place buoys to alert people of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is aware of the ins and outs of both state law and federal maritime laws to determine who can be held accountable in the event of a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a safford boat accident attorney who is injured at sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws of the state laws also apply to maritime workers injured and the families of sailors who died.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather in the beginning stages of the legal process could help you determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining liability as well as establishing how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses can also give important information to support your claim.

Medical records are crucial for understanding the severity of your injuries, as well as the damages that resulted. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visitations and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments as well as the expenses associated with them. You will need to document the changes in your income and employment capacity, as for any other financial loss.

Boat accidents are typically linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries include mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine failure as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. In these cases, our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a manufacturer should be held liable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is important 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 first consulting a lawyer. An attorney can help protect your rights, ensuring that you receive the proper compensation for the damage.

The legal procedure for seeking compensation in the event of a boating accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the person or parties who are responsible. It is commonplace to present evidence in support of the claim, which includes damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, including the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering and other intangible damages that are more difficult to quantify.

In some instances the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its components can be held liable for an accident when their product was not properly made or designed. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases there are instances where it is not only the operator of a vessel that could be held accountable for a crash. Owners of vessels can also be held accountable, especially if the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel or when a person who is not fit to operate a boat is allowed on their property.