Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it is also risky. If a negligent act causes to an accident, the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims in obtaining the full amount of damages they deserve. A claim can be the demand for past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents can trigger various federal and state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they may be liable for negligence. There are also federal laws that address the issue of pollution and deaths at sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access to compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

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

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining whether you or a loved ones were injured in an accident on the water. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine what type of damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can assess whether there are any additional parties who could be responsible for the accident such as the manufacturer of the boat or part.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to time away from work, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. The most serious injuries are back and neck injury as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis, and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple parties that could potentially bear legal liability for a crash, including the boat's operator, any passengers aboard at the time of the incident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats and their parts or engines and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. An attorney who handles personal injury cases will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is at fault in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured at sea has the same rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar, sailors injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters are able to submit claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. State workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who have been injured and families of sailors who have died.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected in the early stages of the legal process can help determine the strength and effectiveness of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of the extent of liability and the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses can also provide crucial information that can aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are crucial for in determining the extent of your injuries as well as the associated damages. The records should contain thorough details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the cost associated with these. It is also necessary to record any changes to your income and employment and any other losses that are not financial in nature.

Spinal cord 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 is struck by the propeller of the boat accident law firms. These injuries could have a life-changing impact.

Other types of marine accidents involve mechanical issues, for example engine failure or electrical failure, steering problems, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will examine these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be held responsible for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately after a boating accident. However, you should consult a lawyer prior to submitting a statement to the insurance adjuster or to any other party. An attorney can help protect your rights, including ensuring that you get the right amount of compensation for any damages.

In order to seek compensation for a boating incident you must make an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is standard to provide evidence to support claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment as well as other expenses associated with the accident, for example lost earnings from work missed. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other intangible loss that can be difficult to quantify.

In some cases a boat manufacturer or parts of the boat can be held accountable for a mishap if their product was created or manufactured in a defective manner. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases the boat owner may not be held responsible for boat accident lawyer the outcome of a collision. The owner of the vessel can be held liable in addition, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their craft or if they allow someone who isn't qualified to operate an unfit boat to use their property.