Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it is also risky. If negligence causes an accident the victim and their families may be entitled to compensation for injuries and loss.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims demand the amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim can be an obligation to pay for medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws that govern the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. There are federal laws that address pollution and deaths on the sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, family members can sue for damages that include lost companionship, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. Families can also seek reimbursement for medical bills from the past and future medical expenses.

If a boat accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones A New York City boat accident attorney can assist you in determining the type of damages you are entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance policy and the policies on boat liability of the responsible party to determine the compensation you might be able to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if are other parties who may be responsible, for instance the manufacturer, or even a part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future), lost income from the absence of work emotional trauma and suffering and pain. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many parties that could be held accountable for the collision. These include the boat operator, passengers on board at the time of accident as well as the other watercraft or boats involved, the makers of boats and their parts, motors, and government agencies that put up buoys to warn the public of dangers. A personal injury lawyer is aware of the rules and regulations of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who can be responsible in a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation recipients. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to make a claim under the 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 have claims under state worker' compensation laws.

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 establish what caused the boating collision. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable evidence to help you prove your claim.

Medical records are essential to finding out the extent of your injuries as well as the related damages. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and boat accident lawyer doctor visits, surgeries, boat accident lawyer rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. Additionally, you should keep track of any changes in your income or employment along with other losses that are not financial in nature.

The spinal and brain injuries are common in boat accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head hits the propeller of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries result from mechanical issues, such as engine or electrical failure in the steering system, as well as gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will investigate these cases to determine if the manufacturer should be held responsible for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately for injuries following a boat accident law firm accident and you should not make an account to an insurance adjuster, or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for any damages.

The legal procedure for seeking compensation in the event of a boating accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the person or parties who are liable. It is commonplace to present evidence in support of claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment as well as other costs associated with the accident, including lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and other forms of losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some cases the manufacturer of a boat accident attorneys or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident if their product was defectively created or manufactured. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain situations the boat's owner might not be held accountable for a collision. Owners of vessels can also be held accountable, in particular if the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel or when a person not qualified to operate a craft is allowed on their property.