The 10 Scariest Things About Boat Accident Legal
Boat Accident Litigation
Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting activity to enjoy, but it can be dangerous. If a negligent act leads to an accident, the victims and their families could be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries and losses.
A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can help injured victims demand the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to. A claim could include past medical expenses as well as other economic damages.
Damages
Although many people imagine bodies of water similar to the Wild West, there are laws that govern boats that are moored on lakes, rivers, and oceans in the United States. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws which are weighed in determining whether negligence occurred. For instance, if a boat accident lawyers operator was drunk, it could lead to civil lawsuits based on negligence. There are federal laws that deal with death and pollution at sea. Additionally, there are special maritime regulations like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway for compensation similar to workers compensated in other industries.
If a loved-one was killed in a boating accident, the family members may sue for damages, including loss of companionship, funeral expenses as well as pain and loss. Families can even recover money to pay medical bills in the past and future medical expenses.
A New York City boat accident lawyer can assist you to determine whether you or your loved ones were injured in a boat accident. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage as well as the responsible party's policies on boat liability to determine what damages you could be entitled to in a settlement or a verdict. An experienced lawyer will also be able to determine if there are any other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer, or even a part of the boat that was faulty.
Liability
In general, injured boaters seek compensation to cover medical expenses (past and future) as well as lost earnings due to working absences emotional trauma, and pain and suffering. Injuries that are serious typically involve back and neck injury, brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.
Boating accidents often involve multiple parties that could potentially bear legal responsibility for a crash, including the boat's operator, any other passengers who were onboard at the time of the incident, other boats and watercraft involved in the collision, manufacturers of the boats and their parts or engines and even the government agencies that are responsible for putting up buoys to warn of hazardous conditions. A personal injury attorney is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is liable for an accident.
Under the Jones Act, a worker on a vessel who suffers an injury on the sea is entitled to compensation that are similar to those of workers' compensation beneficiaries. Also, sailors who are injured in international waters or in outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make a claim under the Jones Act and other federal maritime regulations. Workers' compensation laws also apply to injured maritime workers as well as the families of sailors who have passed away.
Gathering Evidence
The evidence gathered in the beginning stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. For example, taking photographs of the scene of the accident can be useful in determining the degree of liability as well as establishing what caused the boating crash. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable information that will aid in proving your claim.
Medical records are essential for understanding the severity of your injuries, as well as the damage that resulted from it. The records should include thorough accounts of doctor and hospital visitations as well as rehabilitation procedures, surgeries, and costs associated with them. You'll need to record any changes in your income or employment capacity, as well in any other losses that are not financial.
Brain and spinal cord injuries are common in boating accidents. These injuries can be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation, or boat accident Lawyer blunt force trauma, when the head is struck by the propeller of the boat. These injuries can cause life-altering effect.
Other forms of marine injuries result from mechanical issues, such as engine or electrical failure in the steering system, as well as gear shift issues. In these instances our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if a manufacturer can be held accountable for the injuries suffered by victims of accidents.
The process of filing a claim
It is important to seek medical attention as soon as you notice an incident on the boat. However, you should consult a lawyer prior to submitting an admission to the insurance adjuster or any other party. Your lawyer can protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation that you are entitled to for the damages you have suffered.
The legal procedure for seeking compensation after a boat accident is to file an insurance claim or lawsuit against the party or parties that are liable. It is typical to present evidence to support an insurance claim for both economic and noneconomic damage. Economic damages include medical expenses and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident, as well as loss of income due to missing work. Noneconomic damages include pain, suffering, and other types of intangible loss that can be difficult to quantify.
In some instances the maker of a vessel or one of its components may be held accountable for an accident in the event that their product was defectively made or designed. A knowledgeable New York boating injury lawyer will determine if product liability is involved and seek compensation from the responsible parties.
In some cases, it is not just the boat's operator who is liable for a crash. The owner of a vessel is liable as well, especially in the event that they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their craft or if they permit a person who is not fit to operate the vessel on their premises.