zanesville boat accident attorney Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and fun recreational activity, but it is also dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC lawyer who handles boat accidents can assist injured victims in getting the compensation they deserve. A claim is the need for past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws that govern the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can involve various laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, this could make them vulnerable to civil lawsuits based on negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one has been killed in a boat accident, the family can sue for damages that include lost companionship, funeral expenses as well as pain and loss. Families can also recover money for past medical bills and future treatment costs.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine if you or your loved one was injured in a boat accident. A personal injury lawyer can examine your insurance coverage and the responsible party's policies on montoursville boat accident law firm liability to determine what type of compensation you may be entitled to in a settlement or verdict. An experienced lawyer can also determine if are any other parties that could be responsible, for instance the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was faulty.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical costs (past and future) and lost income due to time away from work emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple parties that could be liable for legal responsibility for the collision, including the boat's operator, any passengers on board at the time of the accident, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, the manufacturers of the boats as well as their components or vimeo engines and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer can be familiar with the details of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who may be held accountable in the event of a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who is injured at sea is entitled to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar to 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 and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the families of sailors who have died have claims under state worker compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process will help determine the strength and viability of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and reveal the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses may also provide important information to support your claim.

Medical records are critical for establishing the extent of your injuries and the related damages. The records should include thorough accounts of doctor and hospital visitations and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments and the associated costs them. You'll need to document any changes in your income or employment capacity, as as any other non-financial loss.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boat accidents. These types of injuries could result from oxygen deprivation, carbon monoxide poisoning or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head on areas like the propeller or side of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other types of marine injuries are caused by mechanical failures, such as electrical or engine malfunctions, steering problems, and gear shift issues. In these cases our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate to determine if a company should be held responsible for injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

It is important to seek medical attention immediately after an accident with a boat. However, it is recommended to consult a lawyer prior to submitting an account to the insurance adjuster or any other party. An attorney can help protect your rights, including ensuring that you are compensated in a fair manner for any damages.

To seek compensation for a boating incident, you will need to make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically involves the presentation of evidence to support a claim for financial and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other costs associated with the accident, for example the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In certain cases the maker of a vessel or one of its components could be held responsible for an accident if their product was defectively designed or manufactured. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances, the boat operator may not be held liable for an accident. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible too, particularly when they are accountable for hiring or training the person operating their vessel, or allow someone who is unfit to operate the vessel on their premises.