Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it could be dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident the victim and their families could be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims in obtaining the full amount of damages they deserve. A claim includes an obligation to pay for 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 boats on rivers, lakes and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can be governed by many laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, it could open them up to civil action for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. Additionally, there are specific maritime regulations such as 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 died in a boating accident that killed them family members could sue for damages including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can seek compensation to pay for medical expenses from the past as well as future treatment.

If a boating accident has caused injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawsuit accident lawyer can assist you in determining the kind of damages you could be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's Boat Accident Law Firm liability policy to determine the type of compensation you might be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if are other parties that could be liable, like the manufacturer or a component of the boat accident attorney that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost earnings due to absences from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Injuries that are serious typically involve neck and back injuries as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple people who could bear legal responsibility for the accident, including the vessel's operator, any passengers on board at the time of the incident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their parts or engines and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer will know the details of both state law and federal maritime laws to determine who could be liable for a crash.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to compensation similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar to this, sailors who are who are injured in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to claim compensation under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and relatives of sailors who died have claims under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather in the beginning stages of the legal process can help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine liability and establish how the boating collision happened. It is also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can provide evidence which can back up your claims.

Medical records are essential to finding out the extent of your injuries, as well as the damage that resulted from it. They should contain detailed details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the costs associated with these. It is also necessary to note any changes to your income and boat accident law firm employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are typically caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma when your head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-changing effect.

Other types of marine injuries are caused by mechanical failures, such as engine failure or electrical failure, steering problems, and gear shift issues. In these cases our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if the manufacturer should be held liable for the injuries suffered 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 with a lawyer prior to giving a statement to the insurance adjuster or any other person. A lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for any damages.

In order to seek compensation after a boating accident it is necessary to file an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. This typically includes providing evidence to justify a claim of economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses that result from the accident, which includes the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and any other intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In some instances the maker of a vessel or one of its parts can be held liable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively made or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's liability is involved and pursue compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain situations, the boat operator may not be held liable for a collision. The owner of a vessel can be held liable in addition, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their boat or allow someone who isn't qualified to operate an unfit boat to use their property.