Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it could be dangerous. If a negligent action leads to an accident, the victim and their families could be entitled to financial compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC lawyer who handles boat accidents can help injured victims get the amount they deserved. A claim includes an obligation to pay for medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people associate 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 can trigger various federal and state laws which are considered when determining negligence. For instance, if the boat accident attorneys operator was drunk, it could lead to civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are also federal laws that address pollution and deaths at sea. There are also 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 was killed in a boating accident, family members can sue on their behalf for damages, including lost companionship, funeral expenses and pain and suffering. Families may also seek compensation to pay medical bills in the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining if you or your loved ones were injured in a boating accident. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what compensation you are entitled to in a settlement or verdict. A lawyer with experience will also be able to determine if there other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer or part of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical costs (past and future) as well as lost income resulting from time away from work, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. The most serious injuries are back and neck injury as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis, and internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many parties that could be held responsible for the crash. This includes the operator of the boat, any passengers aboard at the time of the collision as well as other watercraft or boats involved, the makers of boats and their components, engines and government agencies who place buoys to warn people of dangers. A personal injury lawyer can be familiar with the details of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who could be held accountable in the event of a collision.

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 beneficiaries. Also, sailors who are injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled 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 rights under state workers' compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather during the initial stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the extent of liability as well as establishing the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses can also give important information to aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are critical for finding out the extent of your injuries and the damage they cause. These records should include detailed accounts of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and the costs associated with them. You'll need to record changes in your income and Boat accident Attorneys job capacity, as well for any other financial loss.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boating accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma, when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat accident attorneys. These injuries can cause life-altering effect.

Other forms of marine injuries include mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine failure, steering system malfunction and gear shift issues. In these instances, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a company should be held accountable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately following a boating accident. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving an account to the insurance adjuster or any other person. A lawyer can defend your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

In order to obtain compensation following a boating collision you must make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is standard to provide evidence in support of claims for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other expenses associated with the accident, such as lost income from missed work. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering and other intangible damages which are harder to quantify.

In some cases the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its components could be held accountable for an accident if their product was defectively created or manufactured. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is at stake and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases the boat's owner might not be held responsible for an accident. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, particularly when they are responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel or in the event that a person who isn't fit to operate a vessel is allowed to use their property.