How to Get a Fair Boat Accident Settlement

Contact a seasoned personal injury attorney as soon as you can if someone close to your heart was injured in an accident on a vessel. A skilled attorney can discover crucial evidence and insurance coverage that could result in a complete settlement from the accident.

Many states have amended their laws on contributory negligence. This can reduce your amount of compensation if you are partially responsible for an accident. A personal injury lawyer can contest these claims to ensure you the most compensation.

Medical Treatment

Medical bills can quickly pile as a boating accident results in serious injuries. Most of these costs are covered by the insurance of the victim. The victim may be left with high deductibles, coinsurance fees, and lost earnings due to missing work. Additionally, non-economic damages might be a possibility, for instance the suffering of others or loss of enjoyment of life.

An experienced lawyer can help victims obtain the financial compensation they require and deserve. They will review the facts of the case and determine who is liable to be held responsible for the accident. This could include investigating the cause of the accident, by requesting evidence and speaking with key witnesses.

It is crucial for injured victims to seek medical attention right away following a boating crash. This ensures that any serious injuries are properly treated and documented. Additionally medical records can be used to prove a claim for compensation.

Injured victims should be sure to report the accident to their insurance company. This is especially the case if the victim owned or operated the boat that was involved in the accident. Insurance companies will require information like names, contact details and registration numbers of all boat owners and witnesses. The lawyer will also request documentation, like photos and evidence of damage.

Documentation

It is important to keep in mind that just as you would in a car crash you can seek out compensation for medical bills and other losses after an accident with a boat. The amount you receive could cover a variety of expenses such as medical visits, Xrays, physical therapy and prescriptions and also the loss of income caused by being disabled to work.

It's a good idea to capture images of the accident scene and any visible injuries. It's also important to get the contact details of witnesses and anyone on any of the vessels involved in the accident. This will help to build your case should you decide to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party for their negligent actions.

In an injury lawsuit, there are four elements you must prove: the defendant owed the duty of care to you, that they violated this obligation, that their failure caused you to suffer injury and damages and that your injuries and damages resulted from the incident. In a boating lawsuit you may be able to name multiple defendants as responsible for the boating accident, based upon the level of negligence they showed and their role in the incident.

Never apologize or take responsibility for an accident. This could undermine the investigation process and could affect your claim for compensation for injuries sustained by boating.

Insurance Coverage

New Yorkers are accustomed boating and other water sports due to their easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, numerous lakes and other bodies of water. This recreational activity comes with unique liabilities that should be taken seriously. If you're injured in an accident while boating, consult an attorney for personal injury.

An attorney can help determine what insurance coverage is available for your case. Most boat owners and operators have liability insurance that covers any injuries caused by their actions. However, if the other party is not insured or underinsured, you could be entitled to additional compensation through an excess policy.

It is also important to check your own insurance policies for boating to ensure they're current and provide coverage for your specific boat. Generally speaking, these policies provide medical payment coverage to provide first aid treatment hospital bills, as well as other related expenses if you or someone else is injured on your boat. The policies also typically include a towing insurance that provides for on-site labor and towing costs up to your selected limits when your boat accident lawsuit becomes disabled in the water.

Physical damage coverage could include agreed value loss settlement which pays the entire amount of your policy in total loss circumstances or the actual cash value, which pays the current market value of your boat less depreciation. Certain policies offer pollution (spill) liability as well as pet and wreck removal insurance as well.

Legal Advice

You could be facing substantial damage as a result of a boating accident. These include severe injuries, property damage, and loss of income. The law attempts to compensate you for your loss, even though you can't change what happened. You'll need an experienced Fort Lauderdale attorney to make sure you get an equitable settlement.

It takes time to resolve the case of a boating accident. Our team will investigate the scene of the accident and determine what safety regulations were violated, how long those safety rules were in effect and who was responsible for enforcing them, and whether alcohol was involved. If there were multiple boat operators responsible it will be necessary to determine each operator's percentage of fault and decide on a settlement.

Although the most typical cause of boating accidents is human error, mechanical failure can also be the cause. This includes everything from engine malfunction and electrical system failure to propellers and rudders. Our lawyers can help determine if claims for product liability are appropriate if mechanical failure is the cause of your settlement.

Financial concerns can arise from serious injuries sustained during boating accidents, particularly when they require medical attention or physical therapy. Neck and back injuries, brain injuries and internal injuries are all common injuries.