Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and fun recreational activity, however, it can be a danger. If negligence leads to an accident the victim and their families could be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims demand the maximum amount of compensation they deserve. A claim may include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws that govern boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents may be a result of various federal and Boat accident lawyer state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be sued for negligence. There are federal laws that deal with the issue of pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are specific maritime laws, like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is comparable to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boat accident, the family can sue them on behalf of damages that include lost companionship, funeral expenses as well as pain and loss. Families can seek compensation to pay for medical expenses from the past as well as future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or a loved one was injured in a boat accident law firm accident. A personal injury attorney 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 the settlement or verdict of a jury. In addition, an experienced lawyer can determine if there are any other parties that may be liable for the accident, including the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat component.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected), lost income due to the time they miss from work as well as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Injuries that are serious typically involve neck and back injuries or brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple people who could bear legal liability for a crash, boat accident lawyer including the boat's operator, passengers on board at the time of the crash, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their engines or parts as well as the government agencies that are responsible for putting up buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is aware of 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 boat who is injured at sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation recipients. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and relatives of sailors who died have rights under state workers compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help establish liability and help determine how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses can also give crucial information that can help you prove your claim.

Medical records are essential to determining the extent of your injuries and the damages that resulted. The records should contain thorough accounts of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. It is also necessary to keep track of any changes in your income or employment and any other non-financial losses.

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 when the head hits the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-changing effect.

Other kinds of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues, like electrical or engine problems, steering problems, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

The process of filing a claim

It is important to seek medical attention immediately following an accident on the water. However, you should consult with a lawyer prior to giving an admission to the insurance adjuster or any other person. Your attorney can protect your rights, ensuring that you receive the proper compensation for damages.

The legal procedure for seeking compensation after a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are responsible. This usually involves presenting evidence to support a claim for financial and noneconomic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, which includes the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages are those that result from pain and suffering and other intangible losses which are harder to quantify.

In some cases, a boat manufacturer, or parts of the boat can be held accountable for a mishap if their product was constructed or designed in a way that was defective. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain situations the boat's operator might not be held accountable for an accident. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, in particular if the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel, or when a person who is not fit to operate a boat is allowed to use their property.