Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable activity for the whole family, however, it can also be dangerous. If a negligent act leads to an accident, the victim and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries and losses.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims to receive the amount they deserved. A claim can be the need for past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws that govern the vessels on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can be governed by a number of federal and state laws which are considered when determining the degree of negligence. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, it could be a cause for civil lawsuits for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime laws, like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boat accident, the family members may sue them on behalf of damages such as the loss of companionship, funeral costs and pain and suffering. 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 help you determine whether you or a loved ones were injured in a boat accident. A personal injury lawyer will review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine what compensation you may be entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties that may be liable for the incident, such as the manufacturer of the boat or part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and Vimeo.Com lost earnings due to time missed from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple people who could bear legal responsibility for a collision, such as the grovetown boat accident lawyer's operator, other passengers who were aboard at the time of the incident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats and their engines or parts and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys to warn of dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury is familiar with federal and state maritime laws in order to determine who is responsible in the event of an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury on the sea is entitled to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation recipients. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to claim compensation under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured and the families of deceased sailors.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and determine how the boating collision happened. It's also important to obtain evidence from eyewitnesses, since they can provide valuable testimony which can back up your assertions.

Medical records are essential for finding out the extent of your injuries, and the damages that resulted. The records should contain thorough details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. Additionally, you should record any changes to your income or employment and other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are typically associated with brain and spinal cord injuries. Injuries in this category may result from oxygen deprivation carbon monoxide poisoning, blunt force trauma from hitting the head on areas like the propeller or sides of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering impact.

Other types of maritime injuries result from mechanical issues like electrical or engine problems in the steering system, as well as gear shift issues. In these cases, our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a company should be held accountable for injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately after an accident with a boat. However, you should consult a lawyer before giving an assurance to the insurance adjuster or another party. A lawyer can safeguard your rights, ensuring that you are compensated in a fair manner for damages.

To seek compensation following a boating collision it is necessary to submit an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically includes providing evidence to support a claim for economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses caused by the accident, as well as lost income due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and other intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In some cases, a boat manufacturer or parts of the boat could be held liable for a mishap if their product was designed or manufactured in a flawed manner. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.

In some instances it's not just the operator of a boat who may be held liable for a crash. 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 craft is allowed to use their property.