How to File a Boat Accident Claim

Boating can be exciting and fun, but when you're not careful it can quickly become deadly. Just like cars, boats must adhere to strict safety guidelines to avoid injuries.

If you've suffered injury in an accident on the water, then you could be eligible for compensation for medical expenses and property damage. Contact a New York boat accident lawyer to increase your odds of winning.

1. Gather Evidence

The most important thing you can do following a boating accident is to gather evidence and speak with an attorney. It is also essential to seek medical attention immediately for any injuries that may have occurred. To prove a claim, medical records and other evidence is needed. This includes future and current medical expenses in addition to loss of earnings or earning potential, damage to property and non-economic losses like suffering and pain.

Photos and video footage are useful in preserving physical evidence at the scene of an accident. Eyewitness testimony can be a valuable piece of evidence as it reveals details about the collision that would otherwise remain unnoticed. Police and incident reports can be used to establish a chronology of what transpired in the particular case.

A skilled lawyer can analyze the evidence and determine who might be liable for a victim's injuries and related losses. A lawsuit for negligence arising from a boating accident typically involves multiple parties including the boat's driver as well as the owner or manufacture of the watercraft.

A reputable attorney will manage all communications between the insurance company and the victim involved in the claim for compensation of the victim. A lawyer can help victims not to say anything that could be used against them in the courts, and can also assist victims in obtaining fair settlement offers for damages.

2. File a report

When a boating accident occurs the first thing you should do is ensure that everyone is safe. You should then contact the local police department and file a formal report. Depending on state laws and regulations, you may be given 48 hours to submit an official report if the incident resulted in injury or death that requires medical treatment beyond basic first aid. You may also have 10 days to file a claim if you're unable to find the boat or if the accident results in more than $2,000 worth of damages.

You should also be at the site of the accident and assist other boats or individuals if you can, without putting at risk your safety or that of the victims. This will help the law enforcement officer to record important details, like the circumstances of the accident and who was in the boat at the time of the crash and what caused it.

Unfortunately, even highly trained and experienced boaters can get involved in accidents on the water because of the negligence of someone else. An experienced attorney can assist you in identifying the responsible party responsible for the damage and seek compensation. Damage to property, medical expenses and financial losses are all recoverable damages. A lawsuit against the party responsible may also result in monetary compensation for your pain and discomfort, loss of quality life, and emotional trauma that is caused by the accident.

3. Check for damage

After medical professionals have evaluated all injuries and found that everyone is secured, it is important to take a good look at the damage to the boat. Now is the time to start thinking about your insurance policy.

A surveyor will be assigned to your claim and will come out to assess any damage caused by the accident. He or she will compare the damage to what was originally stated by you. They will then begin figuring out the amount of damage that could be worth.

Most boat accidents result from a combination of factors, and it is not always possible to control all of them. If there was a defect by the manufacturer within the vessel itself, it may be possible to bring a claim of product liability against the company that produced the boat.

In these instances, it is essential to have a lawyer who has experience handling boating claims because they are able to create an air-tight case that proves that the manufacturer was accountable for the accident.

It is also important to remember that different types of boats are covered differently by insurance policies. Homeowners insurance, for instance generally only covers small boats with engines less than 50 HP. This means that jet skis, airboats and larger vessels will not be covered by homeowner's insurance.

4. Contact an attorney

When you are secure and have visited a medical professional for boat accident lawyer injuries, ensure that you inform your insurance company. Even if you don't have a police report, you will still need to notify your insurance company. Be cautious when supplying details to insurance companies, because they are likely to attempt to determine who is responsible for an accident. This could limit the amount of compensation you are given. The NYC lawyers for boating accidents at Mirman Markovits & Landau work to prove and limit these claims.

It is recommended to collect as many details as you can about the other boat owners or operators who were involved in the accident. This includes their name, address along with their phone number and insurance details. It is also beneficial to have a copy of the report of a boating accident that has been filed.

Boat accidents can be frightening and cause serious injury. They can cause significant medical expenses, lost wages and damages. The responsible party have to be held accountable for the harm they caused you. You won't receive the amount you are due if you don't consult an experienced New York injury lawyer as soon as you can. This will allow you to concentrate on improving your situation and level the playing field.