Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent act leads to an accident and their families could be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries and boat accident losses.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims in getting the full amount they deserve. A claim is the need for past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

Many people think of bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can be governed by several laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are specific maritime regulations like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a fatal boat accident, the family can sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral expenses. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can even recover money for medical bills from the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or your loved one was injured in an accident on the boat. An attorney for personal injury can look over your insurance policy and the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine the compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any other parties who could be responsible for the accident, including the manufacturer of the boat or component.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to working absences emotional trauma and pain and suffering. Serious injuries commonly involve back and neck injury and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis and organ damage.

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

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to compensation similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. In the same way, sailors injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to file a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families of injured maritime workers as well as families of deceased sailors also have rights under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and validity of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help establish liability and help determine the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses can also give valuable evidence to support your claim.

Medical records are crucial for understanding the severity of your injuries and the related damages. The records should contain thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the cost associated with these. You should also keep track of any changes in your income or employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are usually linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries can be caused by oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head against areas like the propeller or sides of the boat. The majority of the time, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries involve mechanical issues, like electrical or engine failure or steering issues, as well as gear shift issues. In these instances our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a manufacturer should be held accountable for injuries sustained by accident victims.

Filing a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention as soon as you notice an incident on the boat. However, it is recommended to consult with a lawyer before submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or any other person. A lawyer can safeguard your rights, and ensure that you receive adequate compensation for any damages.

The legal process to seek compensation for a boating accident is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. It is common to present evidence in support of claims for damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are those incurred as a result of medical treatment and other costs associated with the accident, like lost earnings from work missed. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering and other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In some instances, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its components may be held accountable for an accident when their product was not properly created or manufactured. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances, the boat accident lawyer operator may not be held responsible for a collision. Owners of vessels can also be held accountable, especially when they are responsible for the hiring and training of the person who operates their vessel or when a person who is not fit to operate a vessel is allowed on their property.