Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and enjoyable leisure activity, however, it can also be dangerous. If a negligent act leads to an accident, victims and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can assist injured victims in obtaining the full amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim will include the need for past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels on lakes, rivers and oceans in the United States. boat accident law firms accidents can be governed by multiple federal and state laws that are taken into consideration in determining if negligence occurred. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could be a cause for civil lawsuits for negligence. There are also federal laws that 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 to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a tragic boat accident family members can sue for damages, including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can also recover money for past medical bills and future treatment costs.

If a boat accident caused injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining what type of damages you may be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine what compensation you may be entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. A knowledgeable lawyer can determine if there are any other parties who could be responsible for the accident, including the manufacturer of the defective boat or part.

Liability

In general, boaters who are injured seek compensation to cover medical costs (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to absence from work emotional trauma, and suffering and pain. The most serious injuries are back and neck injuries, brain traumas, broken bones and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple people who could bear legal liability for a collision, such as the boat accident law firms's operator, other passengers aboard at the time of the crash or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats as well as their components or engines and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury attorney is familiar with federal and state maritime laws to determine who is accountable in an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel injured at sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors who are injured in international waters or outer continental shelf waters are able to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws of the state laws also apply to maritime workers who have been injured as well as the families of deceased sailors.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather in the beginning stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help determine the extent of liability and reveal how the boating incident occurred. Eyewitnesses can also give crucial information that can aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are critical for understanding the severity of your injuries and the associated damages. These records should include precise details of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and costs associated with them. You'll need to document changes in your income and employment capacity, as for any other financial loss.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boat collisions. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other forms of marine injury result from mechanical issues like engine or electrical failure or steering system malfunctions and gear shift problems. In these cases our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a company should be held responsible for injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can after a boating accident, you should not offer an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can safeguard your rights and ensure that you receive adequate compensation for the damages.

In order to claim compensation following a boating collision and you need to file an insurance claim, or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is standard to provide evidence in support of an insurance claim for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses that result from the accident, including lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages can include pain, suffering, and other forms of losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some instances, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its parts could be held responsible for an accident when their product was not properly constructed or designed. A knowledgeable 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 may not be held accountable for an accident. Owners of vessels can be held responsible, especially when the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person operating their vessel or when a person not qualified to operate a craft is allowed to use their property.