Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and fun recreational activity, but it is also dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for injuries and Boat Accident Law loss.

A NYC lawyer who handles boat accidents can help injured victims get the full amount they deserve. A claim will include the demand for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

Although many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws that govern the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining whether negligence occurred. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could open them up to civil lawsuits for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at the sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime regulations such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access for compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a tragic boat accident family members can sue for damages, including loss of companionship and funeral expenses. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can collect money to pay for medical expenses from the past and any future treatment.

A New York City boat accident law accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or your loved one was injured during an accident on the boat. An attorney for personal injury can review your insurance policy and the boat accident settlement liability policies of the responsible party to determine the compensation you are eligible to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties who may be accountable for the incident, such as the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat component.

Liability

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

Boating accidents often involve multiple parties who could have legal responsibility for a collision, including the boat's operator, any other passengers aboard at the time of the accident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their components or engines, and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys to warn people of danger conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of federal and state maritime laws to determine who is at fault in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a Boat accident law who is injured at sea has rights to compensation similar to those of workers' compensation recipients. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or boat accident Law the outer continental shelf waters can claim compensation under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who have been injured and the families of deceased sailors.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength and validity of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and establish how the boating collision happened. It is also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can be a valuable source of evidence to support your claims.

Medical records are essential for finding out the extent of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. The records should contain thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the costs associated with these. You will need to document the changes in your income and capacity to work, as well as any other non-financial loss.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when your head strikes the propeller of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other kinds of marine injuries include mechanical issues, for example electrical or engine malfunctions or steering issues, as well as problems with gear shifts. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents 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

It is important to seek medical attention immediately following an incident on the boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving a statement to the insurance adjuster or any other party. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

The legal procedure to seek compensation for a boating accident involves filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. It is commonplace to present evidence to support claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages are those incurred as a result of medical treatment as well as other expenses arising from the accident, for example lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In some instances the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its parts could be held responsible for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively created or manufactured. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer will determine if product liability is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain instances, the boat operator may not be held liable for a collision. The owner of a vessel could be held accountable as well, especially in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or permit someone who isn't qualified to operate the boat on their property.