boat accident attorney Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable recreational activity but it is also dangerous. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims to receive the amount they are due. A claim could include past medical expenses, as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of waters like the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger several federal and state laws that are considered when determining negligence. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could lead to civil lawsuits for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at the sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a fatal boat accident family members can sue to recover damages, including loss of 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 medical expenses.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved ones were injured in an accident on the water. An attorney for personal injury can look over your insurance policy and the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of settlement or a jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if are any other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

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

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could be liable for legal liability for a accident, including the vessel's operator, any passengers on board at the time of the accident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, the makers of the boats as well as their parts or engines, and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of federal and state maritime laws in order to determine who is accountable for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured at sea enjoys the same rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Additionally, sailors injured in international waters or in 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 rights under state workers insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered in the beginning stages of the legal process could aid in determining the strength of your case. For instance, taking photos of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining the extent of liability and the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses can also give valuable evidence to help you prove your claim.

Medical records are essential for finding out the extent of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include precise reports of hospital and doctor boat accident visits surgery, rehabilitation and the associated costs them. You will need to document any changes in your income or capacity to work, as well for any other financial loss.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boating accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of maritime injuries result from mechanical issues for example, electrical or engine failure as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will examine these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately after an accident with a boat. However, it is recommended to consult a lawyer before giving an assurance to the insurance adjuster or any other party. A lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve for damages.

In order to seek compensation following a boating collision it is necessary to file an insurance claim, or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is common to present evidence in support of claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses that are incurred due to the accident, such as the loss of income resulting from missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, as well as other losses that may be harder to quantify.

In certain cases the manufacturer of a boat or one of its parts could be held responsible for an accident if their product was defectively constructed or designed. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances the boat's owner might not be held responsible for the outcome of a collision. Boat owners can also be held accountable, especially in the event that the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel or in the event that a person who isn't fit to operate a craft is allowed to use their property.