Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and thrilling recreational activity that could be dangerous. If a negligent action leads to an accident, the victim and their families may be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries and losses.

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

Damages

Although many people imagine bodies of water as if they were 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 involve many 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. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime regulations like 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 was killed in a boat accident, family members can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages such as lost companionship, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. Families can also recover money for medical bills from the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine if you or your loved ones were injured in a boat accident. A personal injury attorney can examine your insurance policy as well as the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what compensation you may be eligible to receive as part of the settlement or verdict of a jury. An experienced lawyer can also determine if there other parties that could be responsible, for instance the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) as well as lost income due to the time they miss from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Serious injuries include back and neck injuries and brain traumas, as well as broken bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents may involve many parties that could be held liable for the crash. These include the operator of the boat, passengers who were aboard at the time of the collision, other boats or watercraft involved, the makers of boats and their parts, motors, and government agencies who place buoys to alert people of dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury is familiar with federal and state maritime laws in order to determine who is accountable in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel injured at sea has similar rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to claim compensation under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the relatives of sailors who died are entitled to compensation under state workers law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected 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 liability and reveal how the boating incident occurred. It is also important to obtain evidence from eyewitnesses, since they can offer valuable evidence that supports your assertions.

Medical records are essential to understanding the severity of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include precise account of hospital and doctor visits surgery, rehabilitation and the costs associated with them. You'll need to record the changes in your income and job capacity, as well for any other financial loss.

The spinal and boat brain injuries are a common occurrence in boat accident lawyers accidents. The injuries in this category can result from oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma caused by hitting the head on areas like the propeller, or on the side of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries involve mechanical problems, such as engine failure or electrical failure such as steering issues, engine failure, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is essential to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can following a boating accident and you should not make a statement to an insurance adjuster or another party without consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for damages.

The legal procedure for seeking compensation after a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or parties who are responsible. This typically involves providing evidence to back a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to the cost of medical treatment and other expenses related to the accident, like lost earnings due to missed work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and boat other types of intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the manufacturer of a boat or one of its parts could be held accountable for an accident if their product was defectively created or manufactured. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product liability is involved and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances it's not only the person who operates a boat who may be held liable for an accident. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, particularly when the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person who operates their vessel, or when a person not qualified to operate a boat is allowed on their property.