Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable activity for the whole family, but it's also a risky one. If negligence causes an accident the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can help injured victims claim the full amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim may include past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people imagine bodies of water like 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 multiple federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. For instance, if the beaumont boat accident law firm operator was drunk, this could lead to civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are also federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, family members can sue them on behalf of damages that include lost companionship, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover medical bills from the past and any 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 accident lawsuit. A personal injury attorney can look over your insurance policy and the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine the 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 defective boat or part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and lost income due to time missed from work in pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Injuries that are serious typically involve back and neck injury 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. These include the operator of the boat, any passengers on board at the time of the accident as well as the other watercraft or boats involved, the manufacturers of boats, lawsuit their parts, engines, and government agencies that put up buoys to warn people about dangers. A personal injury lawyer will be familiar with federal and state 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 suffers an injury on the sea has rights to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar, sailors who are injured in international waters or outer continental shelf waters are entitled to submit claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and relatives of sailors who died have claims under state workers law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered in the beginning stages of the legal process can help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help establish liability and reveal how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses can also give crucial information that can support your claim.

Medical records are crucial for in determining the extent of your injuries and related damages. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the costs associated with these. It is also necessary to document any changes in your income or employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are frequently caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if your head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries could have a life-changing effect.

Other types of marine injuries involve mechanical issues, for example engine failure or electrical failure in steering, abrasions, and gear shift issues. In these cases, our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries suffered by victims of accidents.

Making a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately following a boat accident but you should not provide a statement to an insurance adjuster or other party without first consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can defend your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for damages.

The legal procedure to seek compensation in the event of a boating accident involves filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are responsible. This usually includes the presentation of evidence to support a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment as well as other expenses arising from the accident, including lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering as well as other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In some instances, the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its parts could be held accountable for an accident in the event that their product was defectively constructed or designed. A skilled 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 operator of a vessel that could be held accountable for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible too, particularly when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their boat or allow a person who isn't fit to operate a boat on their property.