Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable leisure activity, however, it can also be dangerous. If negligence causes an accident the victim and their families may be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can assist injured victims in obtaining the full amount of damages they deserve. A claim includes an obligation to pay for medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern boats that are moored on lakes, rivers and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence took place. If a boater is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. There are also federal laws that address pollution and deaths at sea. In addition, there are specific maritime regulations such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway for compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one died in a tragic boat accident family members could sue for damages including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can collect 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 your loved one was injured during an accident on the water. A personal injury lawyer will look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what type of compensation you may be entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if are any other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer, or even a part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

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

Accidents involving boats can involve many people who could be held accountable for the collision. These include the operator of the boat, passengers on board at the time of accident, other boats or watercraft involved, the makers of boats as well as their parts, engines and government agencies that place buoys to alert people of dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of federal and state maritime laws in order to determine who is accountable in an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who is injured at sea has rights to compensation similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured on international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families of injured maritime workers as well as families of deceased sailors also have claims under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered during the early stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength and boat accident lawyer viability of your case. For instance, taking photos of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of liability as well as establishing how the boating collision occurred. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses, as they can offer valuable evidence to support your claims.

Medical records are essential to establishing the extent of your injuries and associated damages. The records should include thorough accounts of doctor and hospital visits as well as rehabilitation procedures, surgeries, and costs associated with them. You should also document any changes in your income and employment as well as other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are often linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head hits the propeller of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other kinds of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues, for example electrical or engine failure, steering problems, and gear shift issues. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will examine these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be held responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

While it is vital to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can after a boating accident however, you shouldn't make an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without consulting a lawyer. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, ensuring that you get the right amount of compensation for the damages.

To seek compensation following a boating collision, you will need to make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically involves the presentation of evidence to support a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, which includes lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and other intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In some cases, a boat manufacturer, or boat accident lawyer parts of the boat could be held responsible for an accident if their product was designed or manufactured in a way that was defective. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer will determine if product liability is at stake and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances the boat owner may not be held accountable for a collision. The owner of a vessel can be held liable also, particularly in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or permit someone who isn't fit to operate the boat on their property.