Boat Accident Litigation

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

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents will assist victims of injuries to claim the amount of damages they deserve. A claim can include past medical expenses, along with other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels that travel on rivers, lakes and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are weighed in determining if negligence took place. For instance, if a boat operator was drunk, this could be a cause for civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are also federal laws that deal with the issue of pollution and deaths at sea. There are maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, family members can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages, including funeral expenses, lost companionship and pain and suffering. Families may also seek compensation for medical bills from the past and future costs for treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or Boat accidents your loved ones were injured in an accident on the water. A personal injury lawyer can examine your insurance policy as well as the boat liability policies of the responsible party to determine the compensation you are eligible to receive as part of an agreement or Boat accidents jury verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties who could be responsible for the accident, such as the manufacturer of the defective boat or part.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to the absence of work, emotional trauma and suffering and pain. Injuries that are serious typically involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis, and internal organ damage.

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

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

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 photographs of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of the extent of liability and the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses also can provide important information to aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are essential to establishing the extent of your injuries and injuries that result from them. These records should include precise details of hospital and doctor visitations as well as rehabilitation procedures, surgeries as well as the expenses associated with them. Additionally, you should document any changes in your income or employment along with other losses that are not financial in nature.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma if the head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries can cause life-changing effect.

Other types of marine accidents involve mechanical issues, like electrical or engine problems or steering issues, as well as problems with gear shifts. In these cases, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if a company should be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

You should seek medical attention as soon as you notice an accident on the water. However, it is recommended to consult a lawyer before giving an admission to the insurance adjuster or to any other party. A lawyer can safeguard your rights, ensuring that you get the right amount of compensation for the damage.

To seek compensation for a boating incident it is necessary to make an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. This usually involves presenting evidence to justify a claim of economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses that result from the accident, as well as loss of income due to missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, as well as other losses that are more difficult to quantify.

In some cases the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its parts could be held accountable for an accident in the event of a product that was defectively constructed or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances the boat owner may not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. The owner of a vessel can be held liable as well, especially if they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their boat or permit someone who isn't qualified to operate the vessel on their premises.