Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable leisure activity, but it is also dangerous. If a negligent act causes to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident attorney can assist injured victims to receive the amount they are due. A claim includes the demand for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.

Damages

Many people think of bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern boats on rivers, lakes and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws which are weighed in determining if negligence took place. For example, if a black mountain boat accident law firm operator was drunk, it could make them vulnerable to civil lawsuits for negligence. There are federal laws that address death and pollution at sea. Furthermore, 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 who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, the family can sue for damages including the loss of companionship, funeral costs, and pain and suffering. Families can seek compensation to cover past medical costs as well as future treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved one was 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 what amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of a settlement or jury verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if are other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or the part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated) as well as lost income because of time lost from work in pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Most serious injuries involve neck and back injuries as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many parties who could be held liable for the crash. These include the operator of the wolverine lake Boat accident lawyer, passengers who were aboard at the time of the incident as well as the other watercraft or boats involved, the manufacturers of boats as well as their parts, engines and government agencies that set up buoys to warn people about dangerous conditions. An attorney for personal injury is familiar with federal and state maritime laws to determine who is accountable in an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has the same rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to this, sailors who are injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters can file claims under the Jones Act as well as 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 law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather during the initial stages of the legal process could help you determine the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene will help determine the liability and determine how the boating incident occurred. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can provide evidence which can back up your claims.

Medical records are vital for understanding the severity of your injuries, and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include precise accounts of doctor and hospital visitations as well as rehabilitation procedures, surgeries, and costs associated with them. You will also need to document any changes in your income and employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.

Boat accidents are usually caused by brain and spinal cord injuries. The injuries in this category can be caused by oxygen deficiency, carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma from hitting the head against areas such as the propeller or the side of the boat. These injuries can cause life-changing effect.

Other types of marine injuries are caused by mechanical problems, such as engine failure or electrical failure, steering problems, and gear shift issues. In these instances, our NYC boating accident lawyers will determine if the manufacturer should be held responsible for injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

Making a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention immediately following an incident on the boat. However, it is recommended to consult a lawyer prior to submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or another party. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, and ensure that you receive adequate compensation for any damages.

The legal process for seeking compensation after a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are liable. It is commonplace to present evidence in support of claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, which includes lost earnings due to missed work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some cases a boat manufacturer or parts of the boat can be held liable for an accident when their product was constructed or designed in a defective manner. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances the boat's operator might not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, in particular when they are responsible for the hiring and training of the person who operates their vessel, or when a person not qualified to operate a craft is allowed on their property.