Boat Accident Litigation

Boating can be a thrilling and fun recreational activity, but it is also dangerous. If a negligent decision leads to an accident and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for losses and injuries.

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

Damages

Although many people imagine bodies of water as if they were the Wild West, there are laws that govern vessels that travel on rivers, lakes, and oceans in the United States. alfred boat accident lawsuit accidents can trigger a number of federal and state laws that are considered when determining the degree of negligence. If a boater is drunk, they may be sued for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths at the sea. There are maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with a similar compensation pathway to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, the family members may sue them on behalf of damages such as funeral expenses, lost companionship, and pain and suffering. Families can recover money to cover past medical costs and any future treatment.

If a boating accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones, a New York City boat accident attorney can help you determine the type of damages you may be entitled to claim. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine the amount of damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or verdict. A lawyer with experience can also determine if are any other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer, or even a part of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated), lost income due to absences from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Serious injuries include neck and back injuries, brain traumas, broken bones, and internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many people who could be held accountable for the accident. This includes the boat operator, passengers on board at the time of the collision and other watercrafts or boats involved, manufacturers of boats and their components, engines, and government agencies who place buoys to warn people about dangers. An attorney who handles personal injury cases will be familiar with both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is accountable for an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on the vessel that is injured at sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors injured in international waters, or outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. The families of injured maritime workers and the family members of sailors who have passed away have claims under state workers' compensation laws.

Gathering Evidence

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

Medical records are crucial for finding out the extent of your injuries as well as the damage that resulted from it. These records should include detailed reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, as well as the costs associated with these. You will also need to document any changes in your employment and income capacity along with other losses that are not financial in nature.

Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma, when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other kinds of marine injuries involve mechanical problems, such as electrical or engine failure, steering problems, and problems with gear shifts. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will look into these cases to determine whether the manufacturer should be accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

How to File a Claim

You should seek medical attention right away following an accident with a boat. However, you should consult a lawyer before giving a statement to the insurance adjuster or any other person. Your attorney can protect your rights, and ensure that you receive adequate compensation for the damage.

In order to claim compensation following 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 in support of claims for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other expenses arising from the accident, including lost earnings from work missed. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify.

In some cases a snohomish boat accident lawsuit manufacturer or parts of the vessel can be held responsible for an accident if their product was constructed or designed in a defective manner. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.

In certain situations the boat's operator might not be held responsible for the outcome of a collision. Owners of vessels can be held accountable, particularly if the owner is responsible for the hiring and training of the person operating their vessel or when a person who is not fit to operate a craft is allowed to use their property.