How a Boat Accident Lawyer Can Help You File a Claim

If you've suffered injuries on the water or in the marina or in a marina, a New York boat accident lawyer can assist you in filing an insurance claim. They can provide advice on the strength of your claim, and negotiate with insurance companies.

Most boat accident lawsuits involve negligence. If your attorney can prove that there was a breach of duty, causation or damages, you could get compensation.

Damages

Boating accidents can cause serious injuries, like any other type of accident. Drowning, oxygen deprivation, spinal cord injuries, fractured bones, brain trauma, whiplash and electrocution are only a few possible injuries. A good lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for these damages.

Similar to car accidents, the case of a boating injury is dependent on proving the negligence of responsible party. An attorney can conduct an exhaustive investigation and capture photos of the scene and your injuries to prove the responsibility. They can also assist you to find medical records for treatment and other evidence to support your claim. They can also assist you understand comparative liability laws when your situation is impacted.

Victims could be entitled both economic and non-economic damages for their boating accident injuries. Economic damages are those that are more easily verified, such as future and past medical expenses for your injury. These could also include loss of income resulting from your injuries or changes in your ability to work in the future. Noneconomic damages are more subjective, and can include the pain and suffering, inconvenience or loss of enjoyment in life and emotional stress. A lawyer can help determine the value of your damages and make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the people responsible for your injuries. They can also handle cases involving government agencies, such as the Coast Guard and police.

Insurance

Financial burdens can quickly increase when someone is injured in an accident with a boat. Medical bills can be in the thousands. And, when surgery is required, the expenses can be even higher.

A personal injury attorney can assist injured victims in obtaining the compensation they need. He or she can investigate the cause of a boating accident, file necessary paperwork, and bargain with insurance companies in order to obtain the maximum compensation.

In addition a lawyer for boat accidents will determine which parties are liable and how much insurance coverage they have. Responsible operators and owners have insurance for liability on boats that covers injuries, but not everyone does. Those who rent or borrow boats should review their homeowners' and insurance policies for boating to find out how much coverage they have.

It is important to report any boat accidents to the authorities. A police report can assist in establishing negligence and other facts when submitting a claim for damages. Also, it's an excellent idea to talk with witnesses in order to get their accounts. It is also beneficial to get the names, contact details and insurance policy numbers for all the parties who were involved in the incident especially the owners of the boats.

Liability

You may be entitled to reimbursement for past and future medical expenses if you are a victim of a boating accident. This includes hospital bills emergency room services, doctor appointments therapy sessions and cost of medications. Your NYC lawyer for boat accidents will work to prove these expenses and will ensure that the entire amount of your losses are reflected in your compensation award.

The majority of injuries in boat accidents are the result of reckless or negligent actions of the boat owner or operator. Some injuries are exacerbated due to the lack of necessary safety equipment, such as life jackets, fire extinguishers and navigational lights. A claim could also be filed against the manufacturer of a defective vessel or a component of the boat, such as a water ski.

If you were injured on the commercial vessel you could be eligible to claim an Jones Act claim. A New York boat accident attorney will review your case and provide more information regarding this particular law. Your lawyer will also negotiate on behalf of you with the responsible parties and their lawyers and the insurance companies. If a fair settlement is not able to be reached, your lawyer will prepare for trial in order to seek justice on your behalf.

Time Limits

Boating and other watercraft are governed under a variety of laws. These laws govern the driving, passing and granting the right of way, among other things. They also require that operators remain in a safe place, refrain from overloading or causing a lot of stress to their boats, and prevent people from engaging in risky behaviors like weaving into traffic or wake-jumping. In the event of negligence, an operator or other party involved in a boating accident could cause serious injuries, and sometimes wrongful death.

A qualified boat accident lawyer can guide you through the legal procedure, assess the strengths of your case and safeguard your rights. They can also aid you in pursuing monetary compensation providing medical documentation and supporting evidence.

A boat-related case can take longer to settle due to the fact that it involves issues that must be adjudicated in accordance with maritime law and boat accident lawsuits state personal injury laws. The reason for this is that lawyers must gather eyewitness testimony, police reports and other documents before negotiations can begin. Negotiations before litigation can last between a few weeks to six months, depending on the nature of the case. If you work for a commercial fishing vessel cruise ship, sightseeing boat, or any other kind of worker who is working on the boat as a part or for the purpose of working and you are qualified for workers' compensation. A NY lawyer for boat accident lawsuits accidents can also help you with these claims.