Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable leisure activity, but it is also dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident the victim and their families may be entitled to compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC boat accident attorney can assist injured victims in getting the amount they are due. A claim will include the need for past medical expenses as well as other economic 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 be governed by multiple federal and state laws that are weighed in determining whether negligence occurred. If a boater is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. There are federal laws that address pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

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

If a boating accident has caused injuries to you or your loved ones and loved ones, a New York miles city boat accident lawsuit Whitehall boat accident Lawsuit accident lawyer can help you determine what type of damages you could be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer will examine your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine the type of compensation you are entitled to in a settlement or verdict. A lawyer with experience can also assess if there are any other parties that could be accountable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was defective.

Liability

In general, boaters who are injured seek damages to recover medical costs (past and future) and lost income due to working absences emotional trauma, as well as pain and suffering. Serious injuries commonly involve neck and back injuries or brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve many parties who could be held liable for the crash. These include the operator of the boat, passengers aboard at the time of the accident and other watercrafts or boats involved, the makers of boats as well as their parts, engines and government agencies who place buoys to warn people about dangers. An attorney for personal injury will be knowledgeable of federal and state maritime laws to determine who is responsible in an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury at sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Additionally, sailors injured on international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to claim compensation under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. The state workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who are injured as well as the families of sailors who have died.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected during the early stages of the legal process can help determine the strength and effectiveness of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can be helpful for determining responsibility as well as establishing what caused the boating crash. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can be a valuable source of evidence that can support your assertions.

Medical records are essential for in determining the extent of your injuries as well as the damage they cause. The records should include thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits and surgeries, rehabilitation treatments as well as the expenses associated with them. You'll need to record any changes in your income or employment capacity, as well with any other non-financial losses.

Spinal cord and brain injuries are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma if your head strikes the propeller of the boat. Often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other types of maritime injuries are caused by mechanical issues that can result from electrical or engine problems as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift problems. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate these cases to determine if the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention immediately following an accident with a boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer before submitting an account to the insurance adjuster or any other party. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve for any damages.

The legal process to seek compensation after a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the person or parties who are responsible. This typically involves providing evidence to back a claim for economic 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 include pain, suffering as well as other intangible losses which are harder to quantify.

In certain cases, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its parts may be held accountable for an accident when their product was not properly constructed or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine whether a product liability is at stake and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances it's not just the person who operates a boat who is liable for an accident. The owners of boats can also be held accountable, especially if the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person who operates their vessel or when a person who is not fit to operate a vessel is allowed on their property.