Boat Accident Litigation
Boating is an enjoyable and exciting recreational activity that is also risky. If negligence leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.
A NYC boat accident attorney will assist victims of injuries to get the amount they are due. A claim includes the need for past medical expenses as well as other financial damages.
Damages
Although many people associate bodies of water with the Wild West in the United States There are laws governing the boats on rivers and lakes as well as oceans.
boat accident law Firms accidents may be governed by a variety of federal and state laws that are considered to determine if negligence was the cause. For instance, if the boat operator was drunk, it could make them vulnerable to civil litigation for negligence. Federal laws also deal with pollution and deaths on the sea. There are maritime regulations, such as the Jones Act, that provide injured workers and their families with similar compensation options to other industries.
If a loved-one was killed in a tragic
boat accident lawsuits accident family members can sue to recover damages, including lost companionship and funeral expenses. They may also sue for
boat accident Law firms pain and suffering. Families can recover money to cover medical costs from the past as well as future treatment.
A New York City boat accident lawyer can help you determine whether you or a loved one was injured in a boat accident. A personal injury lawyer can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat liability policies to determine what compensation you might be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. In addition, an experienced lawyer can determine if there are any other parties who could be responsible for the accident, such as the manufacturer of the defective boat or part.
Liability
Generally, injured boaters seek damages to recover medical expenses (past and anticipated), lost income due to time missed from work, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. The most serious injuries are back and neck injury as well as brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis and internal organ damage.
Boating accidents can involve many people who could be held accountable for the accident. These include the operator of the
boat accident lawsuits, passengers aboard at the time of accident, other boats or watercraft involved, the manufacturers of boats, their parts, engines and government agencies that place buoys to warn the public of dangerous conditions. A personal injury lawyer will be aware of the ins and outs of state law as well as federal maritime laws to determine who might be liable for a crash.
Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured at sea has similar rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to that, sailors who suffer injuries in international waters or outer continental shelf water have the right to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other federal maritime regulations. Families and maritime workers who have been injured as well as the relatives of sailors who died have rights under state workers compensation laws.
Gathering Evidence
The evidence collected during the initial stages of the legal process can aid in determining the strength of your case. Photographing the accident scene can help establish liability and reveal the circumstances of the boating accident. Eyewitnesses can also provide important information to help you prove your claim.
Medical records are essential for in determining the extent of your injuries and damage they cause. These records should include detailed details of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitative treatments, and the cost associated with these. You should also document any changes in your income and employment and other losses that are not financial in nature.
Injuries to the spinal cord and brain are common in boat accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or blunt force trauma when your head strikes the propeller of the boat. Most often, these injuries are life-changing.
Other types of maritime injuries result from mechanical issues, such as engine or electrical failure or steering system malfunctions and gear shift problems. Our NYC boating accident lawyers will look into these cases to determine whether the manufacturer is held accountable for the injuries sustained by accident victims.
How to File a Claim
You should seek medical attention immediately following an accident with a boat. However, you should consult with a lawyer before submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or any other person. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation that you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.
The legal process to seek compensation after a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the person or parties who are accountable. It is typical to present evidence in support of an insurance claim for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages can include medical expenses and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, including the loss of income resulting from missing work. Non-economic damages can include pain, suffering, and other forms of loss that may be difficult to quantify.
In certain cases the boat manufacturer or a part of the boat could be held accountable for an accident when their product was constructed or designed in a manner that was not safe. A New York boating accident lawyer could investigate the possibility product liability and seek compensation from the responsible parties.
In some cases it's not only the person who operates a boat who could be held responsible for the event of a crash. The owner of a vessel could be held accountable also, particularly when they are accountable for hiring or training the person who is operating their vessel, or permit someone who is not fit to operate the vessel on their premises.