Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it could 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 will assist victims of injuries to claim the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to. A claim can be the need for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

While many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws that govern the vessels on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws that are considered to determine if negligence was the cause. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could make them vulnerable to civil action 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 similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, family members can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages including funeral expenses, lost companionship and pain and suffering. Families can also recover money for past medical bills as well as future treatment costs.

If a boat accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine the kind of damages you are entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine the type of damages you could be entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. A knowledgeable lawyer can assess whether there are any additional parties that may be liable for the accident, including the manufacturer of the boat or component.

Liability

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

Boating accidents typically involve multiple parties who could have legal responsibility for the crash, including the boat's operator, any other passengers aboard at the time of the incident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, the manufacturers of the boats and their components or engines as well as government agencies responsible for putting buoys that warn of the dangers of conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be familiar with both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is responsible for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured on the sea has similar rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors who suffer injuries in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to file claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Families of injured maritime workers as well as family members of sailors who have passed away have rights under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered during the early stages of the legal process can help determine the strength and validity of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the extent of who is responsible and what caused the boating crash. It is also crucial to get details from eyewitnesses as they can provide valuable testimony which can back up your claims.

Medical records are vital for in determining the severity of your injuries as well as the damage that resulted from it. The records should contain thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the costs associated with these. You should document the changes in your income and capacity to work, as well as any other non-financial loss.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boating accidents. Injuries in this category may result from oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head against areas such as the propeller or the side of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine accidents involve mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine failure, steering problems, and problems with gear shifts. In these instances our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries suffered by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can following a Crafton Boat accident law Firm accident, you should not offer an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting a lawyer. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, and ensure that you get the right amount of compensation for damages.

In order to seek compensation for a boating incident it is necessary to submit an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically involves providing evidence to support a claim for financial and noneconomic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses and other expenses that are incurred due to the accident, including loss of income due to missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, as well as other losses which are harder to quantify.

In certain instances the boat manufacturer or a component of the vessel can be held responsible for an accident if their product was manufactured or designed in a manner that was not safe. A New York boating accident lawyer will investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances it's not only the operator of a burlington boat accident lawsuit that could be held accountable for an accident. Owners of vessels 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.