Boat Accident Litigation
Boating can be an exciting and enjoyable leisure activity, but it is also dangerous. If negligence causes an accident the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.
A NYC boat accident lawyer can assist injured victims in obtaining the full amount of damages they deserve. A claim may include past medical expenses as well as 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 boats on rivers and lakes as well as oceans. Boat accidents can be governed by multiple federal and state laws that are considered in determining if negligence occurred. If a boater is drunk, they could be liable for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths at the sea. Additionally, there are special maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families access for compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.
If a loved one has been killed in a fatal boat accident lawsuit accident family members can sue to recover damages, including loss of companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can also recover money for medical bills from the past and future treatment costs.
If a boat accident caused injuries to you or your loved ones A New York City boat accident attorney can assist you in determining what damages you might be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer will review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party’s boat liability policy to determine the type of compensation you may be entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. Additionally, a knowledgeable lawyer can assess whether there are any other individuals who are liable for the accident, including the manufacturer of the boat or component.
Liability
Typically, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost earnings because of time lost from work as well as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. The most serious injuries are neck and back injuries as well as brain traumas, fractured bones, and internal organ damage.
Boating accidents usually involve multiple parties that could be liable for legal liability for a accident, including the vessel’s operator, any passengers who were aboard at the time of the accident along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, the makers of the boats and their engines or parts, and even the government agencies that are responsible for putting up buoys to warn people of danger conditions. An attorney for personal injury is familiar with federal and state maritime laws to determine who is accountable for an accident.
Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat accident lawyers who suffers an injury on the sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers’ compensation recipients. In the same way, sailors injured on international waters or in the outer continental shelf waters have the right to submit a claim under Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. The state workers’ compensation laws also apply to maritime workers who are injured as well as the families of deceased sailors.
Gathering Evidence
The evidence gathered in the beginning stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene will help determine the liability and reveal the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses may also provide important information to back your claim.
Medical records are critical for establishing the extent of your injuries and damage they cause. They should contain detailed accounts of doctor and hospital visits surgery, rehabilitation as well as the expenses associated with them. You’ll need to record any changes in your income or capacity to work, as well as any other non-financial loss.
Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.
Other forms of marine injury involve mechanical failure that can result from engine or electrical failure as well as steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. Our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will examine these cases to determine whether the manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries suffered by accident victims.
How to File a Claim
While it is essential to seek medical attention for injuries immediately following a boat accident but you should not provide an account to an insurance adjuster or any other party without first consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can defend your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for damages.
The legal procedure for seeking compensation in the event of a boating accident involves filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party or parties that are accountable. This usually includes providing evidence to back a claim for economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other expenses associated with the accident, like lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible damages that are difficult to quantify.
In certain cases, a boat manufacturer, or a component of the boat can be held accountable for an accident if their product was designed or manufactured in a way that was defective. A New York boating accident lawyer will investigate the possibility of product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.
In certain situations the boat’s operator might not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. The owner of a vessel could be held accountable too, particularly in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their vessel, or permit someone who is not fit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.