Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable recreational activity but it's also a risky one. If a negligent decision leads to an accident and their families may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims claim the full amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim will include the need for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

Although many people imagine bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern the vessels that travel on rivers, lakes and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can be governed by many federal and state laws which are considered when determining negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. There are maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a boating accident that killed them family members can sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for suffering and Vimeo.com pain. Families can seek compensation to cover past medical costs and future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining if you or your loved one was injured during a boating accident. A personal injury lawyer can examine your insurance policy as well as the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if other parties that could be responsible, for instance the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical costs (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to working absences, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. The most serious injuries are neck and back injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones, and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple people who could bear legal responsibility for a collision, including the holladay boat accident law firm's operator, any 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 hazardous conditions. An attorney for personal injury is familiar with federal and state maritime laws to determine who is at fault for an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury on the sea is entitled to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Additionally, sailors injured in international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. State workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who are injured and families of deceased sailors.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the legal process could help you determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of who is responsible and the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable evidence to support your claim.

Medical records are essential to in determining the severity of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include detailed details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, as well as the costs associated with these. You'll need to record any changes to your income and capacity to work, as well with any other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are often linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-changing effect.

Other kinds of marine injuries include mechanical issues, for example electrical or engine failure in steering, abrasions, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will analyze these cases to determine if the manufacturer should be held responsible for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is essential to seek medical attention for injuries immediately following a boating accident but you should not provide a statement to an insurance adjuster or another party without consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can safeguard your rights and ensure that you are compensated in a fair manner for damages.

In order to claim compensation for a boating incident, you will need to submit an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. This typically involves presenting evidence to support a claim for financial and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses that result from the accident, including loss of income due to missing work. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering as well as other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the boat manufacturer or parts of the vessel can be held responsible for causing an accident if their product was created or manufactured in a way that was defective. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's liability is involved and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases there are instances where it is not only the operator of a boat who may be held liable for a crash. Boat owners can also be held accountable, particularly when the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel, or if a person unfit to operate a vessel is allowed to use their property.