Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and fun recreational activity, however, it can be a danger. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, victims and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and losses.

A NYC lawyer for blue ash boat accident law firm accidents will assist victims of injuries to claim the amount of damages they deserve. A claim can be the demand for past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

Many people think of bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels on lakes, rivers and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. If a boater is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at the sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one died in a fatal boat accident family members can sue to recover damages, including lost companionship and funeral expenses. They may also sue for suffering and pain. Families can recover money to pay for medical expenses from the past and future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining whether you or a loved one was injured in an accident on the boat. A personal injury attorney can review your insurance policy and the policies on boat liability of the responsible party to determine the amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of settlement or a jury verdict. An experienced lawyer will also be able to determine if there are any other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or part of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

Typically, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost earnings due to absences from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. The most serious injuries are neck and back injuries or brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and internal organ damage.

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could potentially bear legal responsibility for a collision, including the whiting boat accident law firm's operator, any passengers who were onboard at the time of the incident, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their engines or parts and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys to warn people of danger conditions. An attorney who handles personal injury cases is well-versed in federal and state maritime laws in order to determine who is accountable in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or outer continental shelf water are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other federal maritime regulations. The state workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured as well as the families of deceased sailors.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident could help determine the the extent of liability and what caused the boating crash. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses, as they can be a valuable source of evidence that supports your assertions.

Medical records are essential to determining the extent of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include detailed account of hospital and doctor visits and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and the costs associated with them. Additionally, you should keep track of any changes in your employment and income capacity as well as other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are often caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. Injuries in this category may be caused by oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, blunt force trauma caused by hitting the head on areas like the propeller or side of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other kinds of marine accidents involve mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine failure in steering, abrasions, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is held responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

You should seek medical attention immediately following an accident with a boat. However, you should consult a lawyer prior to submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or any other person. Your attorney can protect your rights, ensuring that you receive adequate compensation for the damage.

The legal process 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. This usually involves presenting evidence to justify a claim of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, including lost income due to missed work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, as well as other losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain instances, a boat manufacturer, or parts of the boat could be held liable for an accident when their product was designed or manufactured in a defective manner. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain instances there are instances where it is not only the operator of a vessel who is liable for a crash. The owner of the vessel may be held responsible also, particularly when they are accountable for hiring or training the person operating their craft or if they allow a person who is not fit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.