Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable activity for the whole family, however, it can also be dangerous. If negligence causes an accident the victim and their families may be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims demand the amount of damages they deserve. The claim may cover past medical expenses, along with other economic damages.

Damages

While many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws that govern the boats on rivers and lakes as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are taken into consideration in determining whether negligence occurred. If a boater is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. Federal laws also deal with death and pollution at sea. There are maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a fatal boat accident family members could sue for damages including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for suffering and pain. Families can collect money to pay for medical expenses from the past as well as future treatment.

If a boating accident caused injuries to you or your loved ones and loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine what damages you may be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine what type of damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any other parties that may be liable for the accident, such as the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and lost income because of time lost from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Serious injuries include back and neck injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents typically involve multiple people who could bear legal responsibility for the collision, including the boat accident lawsuit's operator, other passengers who were aboard 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 components or engines as well as the government agencies that are responsible for putting up buoys that warn of the dangers of conditions. A personal injury attorney is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is liable for an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who suffers an injury on the sea has rights to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters have the right to file a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the families of sailors who have died have claims under state workers insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected in the early stages of the legal process will help determine the strength and legitimacy of your case. For instance, taking photographs of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining liability as well as establishing how the boating collision occurred. Eyewitnesses may also provide important information to help you prove your claim.

Medical records are critical for in determining the extent of your injuries and injuries that result from them. These records should include detailed reports of hospital and doctor visits and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and the associated costs them. You will also need to document any changes in your income and employment as well as other losses that are not financial in nature.

Spinal cord and brain injuries are common in boat accidents. These types of injuries could result from oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma from hitting the head against areas like the propeller, or on the side of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries include mechanical issues, for example electrical or engine malfunctions, steering problems, and gear shift issues. In these instances our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is important to seek medical attention immediately for injuries following a boat accident, you should not offer an account to an insurance adjuster or other party without consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer will protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

In order to claim compensation following a boating accident you must file an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is typical to present evidence in support of a claim for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment as well as other expenses related to the accident, like the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the maker of a vessel or one of its components could be held responsible for an accident when their product was not properly designed or manufactured. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances it's not just the operator of a vessel who is liable for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel could be held accountable as well, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their boat or permit someone who isn't qualified to operate the vessel on their premises.