Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable recreational activity but it's also a risky one. If negligence leads to an accident the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for injuries and loss.

A NYC boat accident attorney can assist injured victims to receive the amount they deserved. A claim will include an obligation to pay for medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

Although many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws governing the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, it could lead to civil action for negligence. There are also federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths at sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a fatal boat accident, boat accident attorney the family could sue for damages including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for boat accident attorney suffering and pain. Families can recover money to cover past medical costs as well as future treatment.

If a boat accident has caused injuries to you or your loved ones If you or your loved ones were injured, a New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine what damages you could be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance policy and the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine what amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. Additionally, a knowledgeable lawyer can determine if there are any other parties that may be liable for the accident such as the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat part.

Liability

In general, boaters who are injured seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and future), lost income from time away from work emotional trauma, as well as suffering and pain. Injuries that are serious typically involve back and neck injury, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could potentially bear legal liability for a collision, such as the boat accident law firms's operator, passengers who were onboard at the time of the accident, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats as well as their components or engines as well as authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is at fault in an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on an vessel that is injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Additionally, sailors injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the families of sailors who have died are entitled to compensation under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process could help you determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident can be helpful for determining the extent of liability and what caused the boating crash. Eyewitnesses can also give crucial information that can back your claim.

Medical records are crucial for in determining the severity of your injuries as well as the damages that resulted. These records should include detailed details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the expenses associated with these. It is also necessary to document any changes in your employment and income capacity along with other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are typically related to brain and spinal cord injuries. Injuries in this category may result from oxygen deficiency carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma from hitting the head on places like the propeller or sides of the boat. The majority of the time, these injuries are life-changing.

Other forms of marine injuries include mechanical failures like engine or electrical failure, steering system malfunction and gear shift issues. In these instances, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a manufacturer can be held liable for the injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately following an accident on the water. However, you should consult a lawyer before giving a statement to the insurance adjuster or another party. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure you get the compensation you need for your losses.

In order to obtain compensation for a boating incident, you will need to file an insurance claim, or an action against the party(ies) responsible. This typically involves providing evidence to back a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses that result from the accident, which includes the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible loss that can be difficult to quantify.

In certain instances a boat accident attorneys manufacturer or parts of the boat may be held accountable for an accident if their product was constructed or designed in a manner that was not safe. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances it's not just the operator of a vessel who could be held responsible for an accident. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, especially in the event that the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person who operates their vessel, or if a person unfit to operate a vessel is allowed to use their property.