Boat Accident Legal Isn't As Tough As You Think

Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent decision leads to an accident, victims and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for injuries and losses.

A NYC boat accident attorney will assist victims of injuries to get the compensation they deserve. The claim may cover past medical expenses, along with other economic damages.

Damages

While many people associate 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 which are weighed in determining whether negligence occurred. If a boat driver is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths at the sea. There are also maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathways to other industries.

If a loved one died in a boating accident that killed them family members could sue for damages including lost companionship and funeral costs. They can also sue for pain and suffering. Families can even recover money for medical bills from the past and future medical expenses.

If a boating accident has caused injuries to you or your loved ones If you or your loved ones were injured, a New York City boat accident attorney can help you determine what type of damages you might be entitled to claim. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policy to determine what compensation you may be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. Additionally, a skilled lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties who could be responsible for the accident, including the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat component.

Liability

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

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could be liable for legal liability for a collision, including the boat's operator, passengers who were aboard at the time of the crash, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, boat accident attorney as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their engines or parts, and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys that warn of the dangers of conditions. A personal injury lawyer will be knowledgeable of both state and federal maritime laws in order to determine who is responsible for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on an vessel that is injured on the sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar, sailors injured in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Injured maritime workers and families of sailors who have died have rights 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 legitimacy of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of responsibility as well as establishing how the boating collision happened. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable evidence to support your claim.

Medical records are vital for understanding the severity of your injuries, and the damages that resulted. They should contain detailed details of hospital and doctor visits surgery, rehabilitation, and costs associated with them. You will also need to record any changes to your employment and income capacity and any other non-financial losses.

Boat accidents are typically associated with brain and spinal cord injuries. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma, when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-altering effect.

Other forms of marine injuries result from mechanical issues that can result from engine or electrical failure, steering system malfunction and gear shift issues. In these instances, our NYC boating accident lawyers will determine if a manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

Filing a Claim

It is crucial to seek medical attention immediately for injuries following a boating incident however, you shouldn't make a statement to an insurance adjuster, or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can safeguard your rights and ensure that you receive adequate compensation for the damages.

The legal process for seeking compensation in the event of a boating accident involves filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. This usually involves providing evidence to support a claim for economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other expenses arising from the accident, like lost earnings due to missed work. Non-economic damages include pain, suffering, and other forms of loss that can be difficult to quantify.

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

In some instances there are instances where it is not only the boat's operator who could be held responsible for a crash. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible in addition, especially if they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or permit someone who isn't qualified to operate an unfit boat to use their property.