Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting recreational activity that can be risky. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to financial compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims demand the amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim can include past medical expenses, as well as 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 rivers and lakes as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be a result of several federal and state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boater is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. There are also federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a tragic boat accident, the family can sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral expenses. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can also seek reimbursement for past medical bills as well as future medical expenses.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining whether you or a loved one was injured during an accident on the water. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance policy as well as the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine what compensation you might be able to receive as part of settlement or a jury verdict. An experienced lawyer will also be able to determine if there are any other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical costs (past and future) as well as lost income resulting from time away from work emotional trauma, Boat accident law firm as well as suffering and pain. Serious injuries include back and neck injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones, and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple parties that could be liable for legal responsibility for the collision, such as the boat's operator, any other passengers aboard at the time of the accident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their engines or parts, and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer can be familiar with the ins and outs of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who may be held accountable in the event of a collision.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured on the sea has similar rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. In the same way, sailors injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters have the right to claim compensation under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. The state workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured as well as the families of sailors who have died.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather during the initial stages of the legal process can help you determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident could be useful in determining the extent of liability as well as establishing what caused the boating crash. Eyewitnesses can also provide valuable evidence to support your claim.

Medical records are crucial for finding out the extent of your injuries, as well as the damage that resulted from it. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visits, Boat Accident Law Firm surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, as well as the costs associated with these. You should document any changes to your income and employment capacity, as well in any other losses that are not financial.

Boat accidents are often linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma, when the head hits the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering effect.

Other types of marine injuries are caused by mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine problems or steering issues, as well as problems with gear shifts. In these instances our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if a company should be held liable for the injuries suffered by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

While it is essential to seek medical attention immediately after a boating accident however, you shouldn't make a statement to an insurance adjuster or any other party without consulting a lawyer. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, including ensuring that you receive the proper compensation for damages.

In order to seek compensation following a boating accident you must file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is commonplace to present evidence to support claims for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other costs associated with the accident, like lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In some instances, a boat manufacturer or a component of the boat could be held accountable for causing an accident if their product was manufactured or designed in a defective manner. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product liability is at stake and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain instances the boat's operator might not be held liable for the outcome of a collision. The owner of the vessel may be held responsible too, particularly when they are accountable for hiring or training the person who is operating their boat or permit a person who isn't fit to operate a boat accident Law firm on their property.