Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent act causes 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 claim the amount of damages they deserve. A claim includes an obligation to pay for medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws governing the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are taken into consideration in determining if negligence took place. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathway to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a tragic boat accident, the family could sue for damages including lost companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can recover money to pay for medical expenses from the past and boat accident lawyer future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine if you or your loved one was injured during an accident on the boat. A personal injury lawyer can examine your insurance policy and the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what compensation you might be able to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. Additionally, a knowledgeable lawyer can determine if there are any other parties who may be accountable for the accident, such as the manufacturer of the boat or component.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) as well as lost income because of time lost from work or pain and suffering emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

Boating accidents typically involve multiple people who could bear legal liability for a collision, including the boat's operator, passengers who were aboard at the time of the accident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their parts or engines and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is accountable in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation recipients. Similar, sailors injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters are able to submit claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and family members of sailors who have passed away are entitled to compensation under state workers insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather during the initial stages of the legal process can help determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident could be useful in determining the degree of who is responsible and how the boating collision occurred. It is also crucial to get evidence from eyewitnesses, since they can provide valuable testimony that supports your claims.

Medical records are essential for in determining the severity of your injuries as well as the damage that resulted from it. The records should contain thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. You'll need to document changes in your income and capacity to work, as well in any other losses that are not financial.

The spinal and brain injuries are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when your head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries could have a life-altering effect.

Other forms of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues like engine or electrical failure as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift problems. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will look into these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is essential to seek medical attention immediately for injuries after a boating accident but you should not provide a statement to an insurance adjuster or other party without consulting a lawyer. An attorney can help protect your rights, including ensuring that you get the right amount of compensation for the damages.

In order to claim compensation after a boating accident and you need to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically includes providing evidence to support a claim for financial and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, as well as loss of income due to missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering as well as other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some instances the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its parts could be held accountable for an accident when their product was not properly created or manufactured. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's liability is involved and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some instances, the boat operator Boat Accident lawyer may not be held responsible for a collision. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, particularly when they are responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel or when a person who is not fit to operate a craft is allowed on their property.