Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable recreational activity but it's also a risky one. If a negligent act causes to an accident, the victims and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC lawyer who handles boat accidents will assist victims of injuries to get the amount they are due. A claim may include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws governing the boats on rivers and lakes as well as oceans. Boat accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence took place. If a boater is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation pathway to other industries.

If a loved one died in a fatal athens boat accident law firm crash family members can sue to recover damages, including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can also recover money to pay medical bills in the past and future medical expenses.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or a loved one was injured during an accident on the boat. A personal injury attorney can examine your insurance policy as well as the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine the compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also assess if there other parties that could be liable, like the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was defective.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to the absence of work emotional trauma, as well as suffering and pain. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve a variety of parties who could be held liable for the crash. This includes the boat's operator, passengers aboard at the time of the accident and other watercrafts or boats involved, woodland park boat accident attorney manufacturers and their components, engines and government agencies that place buoys to alert people of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is liable for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Also, sailors who are injured on international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to file a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. The families of injured maritime workers and the family members of sailors who have passed away have claims under state worker law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process could help you determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and establish the circumstances of the boating accident. It is also crucial to get evidence from eyewitnesses, since they can provide valuable testimony which can back up your assertions.

Medical records are essential to understanding the severity of your injuries, and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and the costs associated with them. It is also necessary to record any changes to your income and employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.

The spinal and brain injuries are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering impact.

Other forms of marine injuries result from mechanical issues, such as engine or electrical failure in the steering system, as well as gear shift issues. In these instances our NYC boating accident lawyers will determine if a manufacturer can be held accountable for injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention right away following an incident on the boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer before submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or to any other party. Your attorney can protect your rights, ensuring that you are compensated in a fair manner for damages.

The legal process for seeking compensation following a greenwood boat accident law firm accident is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or parties who are responsible. This typically includes the presentation of evidence to support a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other expenses related to the accident, like lost earnings from work missed. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and any other intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the maker of a boat or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively constructed or designed. A New York boating accident lawyer will investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some instances it's not only the person who operates a boat who is liable for the event of a crash. Boat owners can also be held accountable, especially when the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel, or when a person not qualified to operate a boat is allowed to use their property.