Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable activity for the whole family, but it's also a risky one. If negligence leads to an accident, the victims and their families may be entitled to 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 can include past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws that govern boats on rivers and lakes as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are taken into consideration in determining if negligence occurred. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, it could open them up to civil action for negligence. Federal laws also deal with 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 died in a boating accident that killed them, the family can sue for damages, including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover medical costs from the past and future medical treatment.

If a boating accident has caused injuries to you or your loved ones A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine what damages you may be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance policy as well as the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine the compensation you might be able to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also assess if there are any other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost earnings due to time missed from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Injuries that are serious include back and neck injuries, brain traumas, broken bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple parties that could be liable for legal responsibility for the accident, including the vessel's operator, other passengers who were aboard at the time of the crash or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats and their engines or parts and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer will know the rules and regulations of both state law and federal maritime laws to determine who might be held accountable in the event of a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury at sea has rights to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured and families of sailors who died.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength and viability of your case. For example, taking photographs of the scene of the accident could be useful in determining the degree of who is responsible and the circumstances of the boating accident. It is also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can offer valuable evidence that supports your assertions.

Medical records are crucial for finding out the extent of your injuries, and the damages that resulted. These records should include thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the cost associated with these. You will need to document any changes to your income and job capacity, as well for any other financial loss.

Spinal cord and brain injuries are common in boating accidents. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering impact.

Other kinds of marine injuries include mechanical issues, for example engine failure or electrical failure such as steering issues, engine failure, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will look into these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is held responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

Making a Claim

While it is vital to seek medical attention for injuries immediately after a boating accident but you should not provide a statement to an insurance adjuster or other party without consulting a lawyer. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure you get the money you deserve for any damages.

The legal procedure to seek compensation following a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. This typically includes presenting evidence to justify a claim of economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment as well as other costs associated with the accident, boat accidents for example lost earnings due to missed work. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its parts could be held responsible for an accident in the event that their product was defectively made or designed. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances the boat accident lawsuit owner may not be held liable for the outcome of a collision. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, particularly if the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person who operates their vessel, or in the event that a person who isn't fit to operate a vessel is allowed to use their property.