Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If negligence leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for injuries and loss.

A NYC boat accident attorney can assist injured victims in getting the full amount they deserve. A claim can include past medical expenses, as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people imagine bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern the vessels that travel on rivers, lakes and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence occurred. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, it could lead to civil lawsuits for negligence. There are also federal laws that address pollution and deaths at sea. There are also maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation options to other industries.

If a loved-one was killed in a boat accident, the family can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages that include lost companionship, funeral expenses as well as pain and loss. Families can collect money to pay for medical expenses from the past and future medical treatment.

A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or your loved one was injured in a boat accident. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. Additionally, a knowledgeable lawyer can determine if there are any other parties that may be liable for the accident, such as the manufacturer of a defective boat accident law firm or boat part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and anticipated), lost income due to the time they miss from work in pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Most serious injuries involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis and organ damage.

Boating accidents can involve many people who could be held accountable for the accident. These include the operator of the boat, any passengers who were aboard at the time of the incident as well as other watercraft or boats involved, boat manufacturers, their parts, engines and government agencies that put up buoys to alert people of dangers. A personal injury lawyer will be aware of the rules and regulations of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who may be liable in a collision.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who is injured at sea has rights to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar to this, sailors who are who are injured in international waters or outer continental shelf waters have the right to claim compensation under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. The state workers' compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who are injured and the families of sailors who died.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence gathered in the beginning stages of the legal process can help you determine the strength of your case. For boat accident attorney instance, taking photos of the scene of the accident could be helpful for determining liability as well as establishing how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses can also give crucial information that can back your claim.

Medical records are essential to in determining the severity of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include thorough details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the costs associated with these. You should document any changes in your income or employment capacity, as well in any other losses that are not financial.

The spinal and brain injuries are common in boat collisions. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma if your head strikes the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-changing effect.

Other kinds of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues, like engine failure or electrical failure in steering, abrasions, and gear shift issues. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will analyze these cases to determine whether the manufacturer can be accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention for injuries immediately following a boat accident, you should not offer an account to an insurance adjuster or other party without consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can defend your rights and ensure you get the compensation you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

The legal procedure to seek compensation following a boat accident involves filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. This usually involves providing evidence to back a claim for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include medical costs and other expenses that result from the accident, which includes lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and other types of intangible loss that can be difficult to quantify.

In some cases the boat manufacturer or parts of the boat could be held accountable for causing an accident if their product was manufactured or designed in a way that was defective. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In some cases the boat's owner might not be held responsible for an accident. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, especially in the event that the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel or boat accident attorney if a person unfit to operate a craft is allowed on their property.