Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and exciting recreational activity that can be dangerous. If a negligent action leads to an accident and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident attorney will assist victims of injuries to get the compensation they deserve. A claim could include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats that are moored on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger many laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. There are federal laws that address the issue of pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are special maritime laws, like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a boating accident, the family members may sue for damages, including funeral expenses, lost companionship as well as pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover medical costs from the past and future medical treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved ones were injured in an accident on the boat. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what type of damages you could be entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. A lawyer with experience will also be able to determine if there other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

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

Boating accidents often involve multiple people who could bear legal liability for a collision, such as the boat's operator, any passengers on board at the time of the accident as well as other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats and their components or engines and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. An attorney for personal injury will be familiar with both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is at fault for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. In the same way, sailors injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters have the right to make a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families of injured maritime workers as well as family members of sailors who have passed away are entitled to compensation under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected during the early stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and effectiveness of your case. For Boat Accident Attorney instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining liability as well as establishing how the boating collision happened. It is also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses, as they can provide evidence which can back up your assertions.

Medical records are essential to in determining the severity of your injuries, as well as the damages that resulted. The records should contain thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. You should also keep track of any changes in your income and employment as well as other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are usually linked to spinal cord injuries. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if the head hits the propeller of the boat. These injuries can cause life-changing impact.

Other forms of marine injury result from mechanical issues that can result from electrical or engine problems as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift problems. In these instances our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention as soon as you notice an accident on the water. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving an account to the insurance adjuster or to any other party. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure you get the money you deserve for damages.

In order to claim compensation for a boating incident it is necessary to file an insurance claim, or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This usually includes presenting evidence to support a claim for economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to the cost of medical treatment and other expenses related to the accident, including the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, as well as other losses that are more difficult to quantify.

In some instances the boat manufacturer or an element of the boat may be held accountable for a mishap if their product was designed or manufactured in a defective manner. A New York boating accident lawyer can investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases there are instances where it is not only the boat's operator who could be held responsible for the event of a crash. The owner of the vessel is liable as well, especially when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their vessel or permit a person who is unfit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.