Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting recreational activity that can be risky. If negligence causes an accident the victim and their families may 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 may include past medical expenses, along with other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people think of 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 multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence occurred. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, it could be a cause for civil litigation for negligence. There are federal laws that deal with death and pollution at sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a boat accident, the family members may bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages that include funeral expenses, lost companionship as well as pain and suffering. Families can also seek reimbursement for past medical bills as well as future medical expenses.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved one was injured in a boating accident. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's boat accident lawyers liability policy to determine what type of compensation you are entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. A knowledgeable lawyer can assess whether there are any other parties who may be accountable for the incident, such as the manufacturer of the boat or part.

Liability

In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical costs (past and future), lost income from absence from work emotional trauma and suffering and pain. Injuries that are serious typically involve neck and back injuries, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

Boating accidents often involve multiple parties that could potentially bear legal responsibility for a collision, such as the boat's operator, any passengers who were onboard at the time of the accident or other watercraft and boats involved in the collision, the manufacturers of the boats and their parts or engines, and even government agencies responsible for placing buoys to warn people of danger conditions. A personal injury lawyer will know the details of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who may be liable for a crash.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has similar rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similarly, sailors who are injured in international waters or in outer continental shelf waters have the right to file a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the family members of sailors who have passed away are entitled to compensation under state workers law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected during the early stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and viability of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and establish the circumstances of the boating accident. It's also important to obtain information from eyewitnesses since they can provide evidence to support your assertions.

Medical records are essential to understanding the severity of your injuries as well as the related damages. These records should include thorough reports of hospital and doctor visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the expenses associated with these. You will need to document changes in your income and job capacity, as well as any other non-financial loss.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boating accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma when the head strikes the propeller of the boat accident law firms. The majority of the time, these injuries are life-changing.

Other kinds of marine injuries involve mechanical problems, such as electrical or engine problems, steering problems, and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident attorneys will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer can be held responsible for the injuries suffered by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

While it is vital to seek medical attention immediately following a boating accident, you should not offer an account to an insurance adjuster or boat any other party without consulting with a lawyer. Your attorney can protect your rights, and ensure that you receive the proper compensation for the damages.

To seek compensation following a boating collision, you will need to make an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. This typically includes presenting evidence to support a claim for financial as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment as well as other expenses associated with the accident, such as the loss of income resulting from missing work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and other intangible loss that may be difficult to quantify.

In some instances, a boat manufacturer or a part of the boat may be held accountable for causing an accident if their product was created or manufactured in a manner that was not safe. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's responsibility is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain situations the boat owner may not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, particularly when the owner is responsible for hiring and training the person operating their vessel, or if a person unfit to operate a craft is allowed to use their property.