Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident the victim and their families may be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC boat accident attorney will assist victims of injuries to get the full amount they deserve. The claim may cover past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence occurred. If a boater is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. There are federal laws that address death and pollution at sea. There are also maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation options 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 such as funeral expenses, lost companionship, and pain and suffering. Families can collect money to cover medical bills from the past as well as future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or your loved one was injured in a boating accident. A personal injury lawyer can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine what compensation you are entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. In addition, an experienced lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties that may be liable for the incident, such as the manufacturer of the defective boat or part.

Liability

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

In boating accidents, there are a variety of people who could bear legal responsibility for the collision, such as the boat's operator, any other passengers on board at the time of the crash as well as other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, the makers of the boats and their parts or engines, and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys that warn of the dangers of conditions. A personal injury lawyer can be familiar with the specifics of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who could be liable in a collision.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has the same rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to this, sailors who are who suffer injuries in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters can file claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured as well as the families of sailors who have died.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather in the beginning stages of the legal process can help you determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine liability and reveal what caused the boating collision. It's also important to obtain evidence from eyewitnesses, since they can provide evidence to support your assertions.

Medical records are essential to finding out the extent of your injuries as well as the damages that resulted. These records should include detailed details of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments as well as the expenses associated with them. You'll need to record changes in your income and capacity to work, as well with any other non-financial losses.

boat accident attorney accidents are frequently caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma if the head strikes the propeller of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries include mechanical failures that can result from engine or electrical failure, steering system malfunction and gear shift problems. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can following a boat accident but you should not provide a statement to an insurance adjuster, or another party without consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you get the money you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

The legal procedure to seek compensation after a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or parties who are liable. It is standard to provide evidence in support of claims for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, including loss of income due to missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible damages that may be harder to quantify.

In some instances, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its components can be held liable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively created or manufactured. A New York boating accident lawyer can investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases there are instances where it is not only the boat's operator who is liable for an accident. Boat owners can also be held responsible, especially when they are responsible for hiring and training the person operating their vessel, or if a person unfit to operate a craft is allowed on their property.