Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and fun recreational activity, however, it can also be dangerous. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, the victim and their families could be entitled to monetary compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident lawyer can help injured victims demand the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to. A claim could include past medical expenses, as well as other economic damages.

Damages

Many people think of bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern the vessels on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents may be a result of many federal and state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. For instance, if the suffolk boat accident Attorney operator was drunk, it could be a cause for civil action for negligence. There are federal laws that deal with pollution and deaths at sea. In addition, there are specific maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation that is similar to workers compensated in other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a fatal boat crash family members could sue for damages including loss of companionship and funeral expenses. They can also sue for suffering and pain. Families can recover money to pay for medical expenses from the past as well as future treatment.

If a boat accident caused injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York redwood city boat accident lawsuit boat accident lawyer can assist you in determining what type of damages you might be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can look over your insurance policy and the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine the type of compensation you are entitled to receive in a settlement or verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any other parties who may be accountable for the accident such as the manufacturer of the defective boat or component.

Liability

In general, boaters who are injured seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future), lost income from absence from work emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. The most serious injuries are neck and back injuries, brain traumas, broken bones, and internal organ damage.

Boating accidents usually involve multiple people who could bear legal responsibility for a accident, including the vessel's operator, other passengers who were aboard at the time of the crash along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their engines or parts, and even authorities responsible for putting buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury lawyer is aware of 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 enjoys the same rights to those of workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to that, sailors injured in international waters, or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to submit claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and family members of sailors who have passed away have claims under state worker insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can be helpful for determining the extent of liability and how the boating collision occurred. It is also crucial to get information from eyewitnesses since they can offer valuable evidence that supports your assertions.

Medical records are essential to in determining the severity of your injuries and the damages that resulted. They should contain detailed details of hospital and doctor visitations surgery, rehabilitation and the associated costs them. You should document changes in your income and employment capacity, as with any other non-financial losses.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boat collisions. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if the head hits the propeller of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other types of marine accidents involve mechanical problems, such as electrical or engine malfunctions such as steering issues, engine failure, and gear shift issues. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is held responsible for the injuries sustained 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 a statement to an insurance adjuster, or another party without consulting with a lawyer. An attorney can help protect your rights, ensuring that you get the right amount of compensation for any damages.

In order to seek compensation after a boating accident, you will need to submit an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. It is commonplace to present evidence to support an insurance claim for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other expenses associated with the accident, such as lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and other intangible losses that are difficult to quantify.

In some cases, the manufacturer of a boat or one of its components could be held responsible for an accident when their product was not properly made or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can determine if a product's liability is involved and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases there are instances where it is not only the operator of a boat that could be held accountable for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel can be held liable too, particularly when they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their craft or if they allow a person who isn't fit to operate the vessel on their premises.