Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and fun recreational activity, but it's also a risky one. If negligence leads to an accident the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims claim the full amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim could include past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the vessels that travel on rivers, lakes, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws that are considered to determine if negligence was the cause. If a boater is drunk, they may be liable for negligence. There are federal laws that address pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved one died in a fatal boat accident, the family can sue to recover damages, including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families may also seek compensation for past medical bills as well as future costs for treatment.

If a boat accident lawsuit accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones If you or your loved ones were injured, a New York City boat accident attorney can help you determine the kind of damages you are entitled to claim. A personal injury attorney can review your insurance policy and the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine the amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if are any other parties that could be liable, like the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and future), lost income from the absence of work emotional trauma, as well as pain and suffering. The most serious injuries are back and neck injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents may involve many parties who could be held liable for the crash. This includes the boat accident lawsuit operator, passengers who were aboard at the time of the collision, other boats or watercraft involved, boat manufacturers as well as their parts, engines, and government agencies that set up buoys to warn people about dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is at fault for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on an vessel that is injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or outer continental shelf water are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Workers' compensation laws of the state laws also apply to injured maritime workers as well as the families of sailors who have passed away.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the legal process can help you determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and reveal how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable information that will back your claim.

Medical records are vital for in determining the severity of your injuries, as well as the damages that resulted. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the costs associated with these. You will need to document changes in your income and employment capacity, as in any other losses that are not financial.

Spinal cord and brain injuries are common in boating accidents. These injuries can be caused by oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma caused by hitting the head against areas such as the propeller or the side of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other kinds of marine injuries involve mechanical problems, such as engine failure or electrical failure in steering, abrasions, and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

While it is important to seek medical attention immediately following a boating accident, you should not offer a statement to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting a lawyer. Your attorney can protect your rights and ensure that you are compensated in a fair manner for damages.

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 commonplace to present evidence in support of a claim for damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other costs associated with the accident, such as the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering, Attorneys as well as other losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain cases, a boat manufacturer or an element of the boat could be held accountable for an accident if their product was created or manufactured in a manner that was not safe. A New York boating accident lawyer may investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain situations the boat's operator might not be held accountable for an accident. Owners of vessels can also be held accountable, especially in the event that the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person operating their vessel, or in the event that a person who isn't fit to operate a craft is allowed on their property.