Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and exciting recreational activity that can be dangerous. If negligence causes an accident, the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims claim the full amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim can be the need for past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats on rivers, lakes, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger many laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at the sea. There are also 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 was killed in a fatal boat crash family members can sue to recover damages, including lost companionship and funeral expenses. They may also sue for suffering and pain. Families can seek compensation to cover medical costs from the past as well as future treatment.

If a boat accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones and loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine what type of damages you are entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can examine your insurance policy as well as the policies on boat liability of the responsible party to determine what compensation you are eligible to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties that may be liable for the accident, such as the manufacturer of the boat or component.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) as well as lost income due to time missed from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Injuries that are serious include neck and back injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple parties who could have legal responsibility for a collision, such as the boat's operator, any other passengers on board at the time of the accident, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats as well as their parts or engines, and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys that warn of the dangers of conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of federal and state maritime laws to determine who is at fault in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters are able to file claims under the Jones Act as well as other federal maritime regulations. Families of injured maritime workers as well as family members of sailors who have passed away have claims under state workers insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected during the early stages of the legal process will help determine the strength and legitimacy of your case. For example, taking photographs of the scene of the accident can be helpful for determining who is responsible and what caused the boating crash. Eyewitnesses can also give valuable information that will aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are essential to understanding the severity of your injuries as well as the damage that resulted from it. They should contain detailed account of hospital and doctor visits surgery, rehabilitation and the costs associated with them. You should also note any changes to your income or employment and any other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are frequently caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. These types of injuries could be caused by oxygen deficiency, carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head on areas like the propeller or side of the boat. These injuries can cause life-changing effect.

Other kinds of marine injuries include mechanical issues, like electrical or engine problems such as steering issues, engine failure, and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will look into these cases to determine if the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

Making a Claim

While it is vital to seek medical attention immediately for injuries following a boat accident however, you shouldn't make an account to an insurance adjuster, or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. Your attorney can protect your rights and ensure that you get the right amount of compensation for damages.

In order to claim compensation for a boating incident it is necessary to file an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is common to present evidence in support of an insurance claim for damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are those incurred as a result of medical treatment as well as other expenses associated with the accident, for example lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and other forms of loss that can be difficult to quantify.

In some instances, boating a boat manufacturer or a component of the boat may be held accountable for an accident if their product was manufactured or designed in a manner that was not safe. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases, the boat accident lawyers operator may not be held accountable for Boating a collision. The owner of the vessel could be held accountable too, particularly when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or allow a person who is not fit to operate the boat on their property.