Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting recreational activity that can be risky. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, the victim and their families could be entitled to compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents will assist victims of injuries to claim the amount of damages they are entitled to. The claim may cover past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can be governed by a number of federal and state laws which are considered when determining negligence. If a boater is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. There are also federal laws that address death and pollution at sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one died in a boating accident that killed them, the family can sue to recover damages, including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can even recover money to pay medical bills in the past and future medical expenses.

If a boating accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining what type of damages you might be entitled to claim. An attorney for personal injuries can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what type of damages you could be entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. In addition, an experienced lawyer can determine if there are any additional individuals who are liable for the accident, such as the manufacturer of the defective boat accident lawyers or component.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical costs (past and future) and lost income due to absence from work, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. Most serious injuries involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve many people who could be held accountable for the accident. These include the boat's operator, passengers aboard at the time of the incident, other boats or watercraft involved, boat manufacturers and their components, engines, and government agencies who place buoys to alert people of dangers. An attorney who handles personal injury cases will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is accountable in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury at sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar, sailors who are injured in international waters or Boat accidents the outer continental shelf waters have the right to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Workers' compensation laws of the state laws also apply to injured maritime workers as well as the families of sailors who died.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help determine liability and help determine what caused the boating collision. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses, as they can provide valuable testimony that can support your assertions.

Medical records are crucial for understanding the severity of your injuries and related damages. These records should include thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the costs associated with these. You'll need to record the changes in your income and capacity to work, as well as any other non-financial loss.

Boat accidents are frequently associated with brain and spinal cord injuries. These types of injuries could be caused by oxygen deficiency carbon monoxide poisoning, blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head on places like the propeller, or on the side of the boat. The majority of the time, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries include mechanical failures, such as engine failure or electrical failure such as steering issues, engine failure, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will investigate these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately following an incident on the boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving an assurance to the insurance adjuster or any other person. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you get the money you deserve for any damages.

The legal procedure for seeking compensation following a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or parties who are accountable. It is typical to present evidence to support the claim, which includes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are medical expenses and other expenses that are incurred due to the accident, which includes lost income due to missed work. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering as well as other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In some instances the manufacturer of a boat or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident when their product was not properly 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 cases the boat owner may not be held responsible for the outcome of a collision. The owner of a vessel can be held liable as well, especially in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their craft or if they permit a person who is unfit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.