Boat Accident Litigation

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

A NYC lawyer who handles boat accidents will assist victims of injuries to get the amount they deserved. A claim will include an obligation to pay for medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws that govern boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are weighed to determine if negligence was the cause. If a boater is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathway to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a fatal boat accident family members may sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for pain and suffering. Families may also seek compensation to pay medical bills in the past and future medical expenses.

If a boating accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones If you or your loved ones were injured, a New York City boat accident attorney can assist you in determining the type of damages you may be entitled to claim. A personal injury attorney can look over your insurance policy and the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what compensation you might be able to receive as part of the settlement or verdict of a jury. In addition, an experienced lawyer can assess whether there are any other parties who may be accountable for the accident, including the manufacturer of the boat or part.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical costs (past and future) and lost income due to time away from work, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. The most serious injuries are back and neck injury, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve many people who could be held accountable for the accident. These include the operator of the boat, passengers aboard at the time of the incident, other boats or watercraft involved, manufacturers of boats and their components, engines and government agencies who place buoys to alert people of dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be familiar with both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is liable in the event of an accident.

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

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and viability of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining the extent of liability and what caused the boating crash. It is also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can be a valuable source of evidence that supports your claims.

Medical records are crucial for finding out the extent of your injuries as well as the injuries that result from them. These records should include precise accounts of doctor and hospital visitations surgery, rehabilitation and the costs associated with them. You'll need to document any changes in your income or job capacity, as well for any other financial loss.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma when the head hits the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering impact.

Other types of marine injuries involve mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine malfunctions in steering, abrasions, and gear shift issues. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention as soon as you notice an incident on the edgewood boat accident law firm. However, you should consult with a lawyer before submitting an assurance to the insurance adjuster or any other person. A lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation that you need for your losses.

The legal process to seek compensation following a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. It is typical to present evidence to support the claim, which includes both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages are those incurred as a result of medical treatment and other expenses arising from the accident, like the loss of income resulting from missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering as well as other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In certain cases the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively made or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's liability is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases, it is not just the boat's operator who may be held liable for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible as well, especially if they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their craft or if they permit a person who isn't fit to operate the Benicia Boat Accident Law Firm on their property.