Boat Accident Litigation

Boating is a fun and thrilling recreational activity that can be risky. If negligence causes an accident the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents will assist victims of injuries to get the amount they deserved. A claim could include past medical expenses and other economic damages.

Damages

Although many people imagine waters like the Wild West, there are laws that govern the vessels on lakes, rivers and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents can involve various laws, both state and federal, that are considered when determining negligence. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, this could be a cause for civil lawsuits for negligence. There are federal laws that address pollution and deaths on the sea. There are maritime regulations, like the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation pathway to other industries.

If a loved one was killed in a boating accident, family members can bring a lawsuit on their behalf to recover damages such as funeral expenses, lost companionship and pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover past medical costs and future medical treatment.

A New York Webster city boat Accident Attorney boat accident lawyer can help you determine if you or your loved ones were injured in an accident on the boat. A personal injury lawyer will look over your insurance policy and the policies regarding liability for boats of the responsible party to determine what compensation you might be able to receive as part of an agreement or jury verdict. In addition, an experienced lawyer can determine if there are any additional parties who could be responsible for the incident, such as the manufacturer of a defective boat or boat part.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters pursue damages to recover medical expenses (past and expected) as well as lost income due to time missed from work or pain and suffering emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Injuries that are serious typically involve back and neck injury as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

Accidents involving boats can involve many parties that could be held liable for the crash. This includes the operator of the boat, any passengers who were aboard at the time of the accident and other watercrafts or boats involved, boat manufacturers as well as their parts, engines and government agencies that place buoys to warn the public of dangerous conditions. A personal injury attorney will be familiar with both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is responsible in an accident.

Under the Jones Act, a worker on a boat who is injured at sea is entitled to a compensation equal to that of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Similar to sailors who suffer injuries in international waters or outer continental shelf waters are able to claim compensation under the Jones Act as well as other federal maritime regulations. Injured maritime workers and relatives of sailors who died have claims under state worker law on compensation.

Gathering Evidence

Evidence gathered in the initial stages of the legal process can help determine the strength and validity of your case. For instance, taking pictures of the scene of the accident can help determine the liability as well as establishing how the boating collision occurred. Eyewitnesses can also give valuable evidence to back your claim.

Medical records are crucial for finding out the extent of your injuries and injuries that result from them. These records should include detailed details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the costs associated with these. Additionally, you should record any changes to your income or employment as well as other non-financial losses.

Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in middletown boat accident law firm accidents. These injuries may be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when the head hits the propeller of the boat. These injuries can have a life-changing impact.

Other types of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues, for example electrical or engine malfunctions, steering problems, and problems with gear shifts. In these instances, our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will determine if the manufacturer should be held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.

Filing a Claim

While it is vital to seek medical attention for injuries immediately following a boat accident but you should not provide an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting with a lawyer. A lawyer can help protect your rights and ensure you get the money you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.

In order to claim compensation following a boating accident, you will need to submit an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the party(ies) responsible. It is common to present evidence in support of the claim, which includes damages both economic and noneconomic. Economic damages include the costs of medical treatment and other expenses arising from the accident, for example the loss of income resulting from missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and any other intangible loss that is difficult to quantify.

In some instances, a boat manufacturer, or a component of the vessel can be held responsible for an accident when their product was created or manufactured in a flawed manner. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the parties responsible.

In certain instances, the guadalupe boat accident attorney operator may not be held accountable for the outcome of a collision. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible as well, especially in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who is operating their boat or permit someone who is not fit to operate the boat on their property.