Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and fun recreational activity, however, it can also be dangerous. If a negligent action leads to an accident and their families may be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims claim the full amount of damages they deserve. A claim can include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of waters like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats on rivers, lakes, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can be governed by multiple federal and state laws that are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, this could make them vulnerable to civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, the family can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages including funeral expenses, lost companionship, and pain and suffering. Families can also seek reimbursement to pay medical bills in the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine if you or your loved ones were injured in a boat accident. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine what type of damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if there other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was defective.

Liability

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

Boating accidents can involve a variety of people who could be held accountable for the collision. These include the boat accident lawsuit operator, passengers who were aboard at the time of the incident, other boats or watercraft involved, the manufacturers of boats and their parts, motors and government agencies that put up buoys to warn people of dangers. A personal injury lawyer can be familiar with the rules and regulations of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who can be liable for a crash.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to this, sailors who are injured 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. Injured maritime workers and relatives of sailors who died are entitled to compensation under state workers law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected in the early stages of the legal process will help determine the strength and viability of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help establish liability and help determine what caused the boating collision. Eyewitnesses may also provide important information to back your claim.

Medical records are crucial for understanding the severity of your injuries as well as the injuries that result from them. These records should include thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, as well as the costs associated with these. You'll need to document changes in your income and capacity to work, as well with any other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are typically linked to spinal cord injuries. These types of injuries could be caused by oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head on places such as the propeller or the side of the boat. These injuries could have a life-altering effect.

Other forms of marine injury result from mechanical issues like electrical or engine problems as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. In these instances, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if a manufacturer can be held responsible for injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

Making a Claim

You should seek medical attention right away following an accident on the water. However, you should consult with a lawyer before submitting a statement to the insurance adjuster or another party. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, ensuring that you are compensated in a fair manner for any damages.

In order to obtain compensation following a boating accident and you need to make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is commonplace to present evidence in support of the claim, which includes both non-economic and economic damages. Economic damages are those incurred as a result of medical treatment and other expenses associated with the accident, like lost income from missed work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and any other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some instances the maker of a vessel or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident if their product was defectively designed or manufactured. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product responsibility is involved and boat accident lawyer seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances the boat accident lawsuit's operator might not be held responsible for the outcome of a collision. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, especially if the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel or when a person not qualified to operate a vessel is allowed to use their property.