Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and thrilling activity for the whole family, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent act leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to financial compensation for losses and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accident settlement accidents will assist victims of injuries to claim the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to. A claim can include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States, there are laws governing the boats on lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Boat accidents can involve multiple federal and state laws that are weighed in determining if negligence occurred. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also address pollution and deaths at sea. Additionally, there are special maritime regulations like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a boat accident, family members can sue for damages including the loss of companionship, funeral costs, and pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover medical bills from the past and any future treatment.

A New York City boat accident attorney accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or your loved one was injured during a boat accident. An attorney for Boat Accident Litigation personal injury can examine your insurance policy and the policies on boat liability of the responsible party to determine what amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive as part of the settlement or verdict of a jury. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can assess whether there are any other parties who may be accountable for the accident, including the manufacturer of the boat or component.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to cover medical expenses (past and anticipated) and lost income due to absences from work in pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damages to their boats. The most serious injuries are neck and back injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones, and internal organ damage.

In boating accidents, there are a variety of people who could bear legal responsibility for a collision, including the boat's operator, any other passengers who were onboard at the time of the incident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, the makers of the boats and their parts or engines and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is aware of the specifics 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 a vessel who is injured at sea has rights to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Additionally, sailors injured in international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers injured and the families of sailors who have passed away.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence collected during the early stages of the legal process will aid in determining the strength and legitimacy of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident can help determine the extent of liability and establish how the boating incident occurred. Eyewitnesses can also give important information to help you prove your claim.

Medical records are essential to understanding the severity of your injuries and related damages. They should contain detailed reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, as well as the costs associated with these. You should document changes in your income and employment capacity, as in any other losses that are not financial.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boat accidents. Injuries in this category may result from oxygen deficiency carbon monoxide poisoning, or blunt force trauma that results from hitting the head against areas like the propeller or sides of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.

Other forms of marine injury result from mechanical issues, such as electrical or engine failure as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will investigate these cases to determine if the manufacturer should 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 and you should not make an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. Your lawyer will protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for damages.

The legal procedure to seek compensation after a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the person or parties who are responsible. It is standard to provide evidence to support claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other expenses arising from the accident, such as lost earnings due to missed work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering and other intangible damages that are difficult to quantify.

In some instances, the manufacturer of a boat accident claim or one of its parts could be held responsible for an accident in the event that their product was defectively constructed or designed. A New York boating accident lawyer can investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some instances, the boat operator may not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. The owner of the vessel could be held accountable in addition, especially in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or permit a person who isn't qualified to operate the boat on their property.