Boat Accident Litigation

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

A NYC lawyer who handles lowell boat accident law firm accidents can help injured victims get the amount they are due. A claim could include past medical expenses, along with other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern the boats on rivers, lakes and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws which are weighed to determine if negligence was the cause. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, it could lead to civil litigation for negligence. Federal laws also deal with death and pollution at sea. Additionally, there are special maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access to compensation similar to workers' compensation in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident that killed them, the family can sue for damages, including loss of companionship and funeral expenses. They can also sue for 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 a loved one was injured in a boat accident. An attorney for personal injuries can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine the type of damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or verdict. An experienced lawyer will also be able to determine if there other parties that could be liable, like the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and expected), lost income due to the time they miss from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Serious injuries include neck and back injuries and brain traumas, as well as broken bones and internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many parties that could be held responsible for the crash. These include the operator of the boat, any passengers who were aboard at the time of the incident, other boats or watercraft involved, the manufacturers of boats and their parts, motors, and government agencies who place buoys to warn people about dangers. A personal injury lawyer will know the details of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who might be liable for a crash.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured on the sea has similar rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or outer continental shelf water can 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 and the families of sailors who died.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process can help determine the strength and validity of your case. Photographing the accident scene will help determine the liability and reveal how the boating collision happened. It is also crucial to get information from eyewitnesses since they can provide valuable testimony which can back up your claims.

Medical records are crucial for establishing the extent of your injuries and the related damages. These records should include detailed details of hospital and doctor visitations and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and Vimeo the costs associated with them. You will also need to note any changes to your income or employment as well as other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are typically associated with brain and spinal cord injuries. The injuries in this category can result from oxygen deprivation, Vimeo carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head against areas like the propeller, or on the side of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of maritime injuries include mechanical failures, such as engine or electrical failure in the steering system, as well as gear shift problems. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be held responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is important to seek medical attention for injuries as soon as you can following a boat accident however, you shouldn't make an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure that you are compensated in a fair manner for the damage.

In order to claim compensation after a boating accident, you will need to make an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is common to present evidence to support a claim for damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages can include medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, as well as the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible loss that is difficult to quantify.

In some cases, the manufacturer of a vessel or one of its components may be held accountable for an accident in the event that their product was defectively constructed or designed. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain instances the boat's owner might not be held liable for the outcome of a collision. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, in particular when the owner is 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 boat is allowed to use their property.