9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Boat Accident Lawyer
How to File a Boat Accident Claim
Boating can be thrilling and fun, but when you're not careful it could turn dangerous. Boats must also adhere to strict safety guidelines to avoid injuries.
If you have been injured in a boating accident you could be entitled to compensation for medical bills and property damage. Contact a New York boat accident lawyer to increase your odds of winning.
1. Gather Evidence
When someone is involved in an accident while on a boat, the most important step is to gather evidence and get in touch with an attorney. It is also important to seek medical assistance immediately for any injuries. In order to support a claim medical documents and other evidence are needed. This includes both future and present medical expenses and loss of earnings, earning potential, damage to property as well as non-economic damages like suffering and pain.
Photos and video footage are valuable in preserving physical evidence at the scene of an accident. Eyewitness testimony can be an invaluable evidence source since it gives details regarding the collision that otherwise would remain unnoticed. Police and incident reports can be used to determine the chronology of what transpired in the incident.
A lawyer who is experienced can analyze the evidence to identify the parties that could be liable for the victim's injuries or losses. A boating accident negligence case typically involves multiple parties including the driver of the boat and the manufacturer or owner of the watercraft.
An experienced attorney is able to handle all communication between insurance companies and victims involved in the claim for compensation of the victim. A lawyer can assist victims not to say anything that could be used against them in a court of law and also aid victims in obtaining fair settlements for damages.
2. Report a crime
The first thing you should do after a boating incident is to ensure that everyone is safe. The next step is to contact the police in your area and Boat Accident Lawyer file a formal report. Based on the state's laws and regulations, you could have 48 hours to file reports if the accident resulted in injury or death which requires medical treatment above basic first aid. You could also have ten days to file a claim if the accident causes more than $2,000 worth of damage or if the boat gets lost.
You should also remain at the scene of the accident to help other boats or people, if possible, without putting your own safety or the safety of the victims. This will let the law enforcement officer to record important details, such as the circumstances of the accident and who was in the boat at the time of the crash and the reason for the crash.
Unfortunately, even well-trained and experienced boaters can be involved in accidents on the water due to someone else's negligence. A skilled attorney can identify the negligent party responsible for your damages, and help you pursue compensation. Damage to property, medical expenses and financial losses are all recoverable damages. A lawsuit against the party responsible could also result in financial compensation for your pain and discomfort or loss of quality life, and emotional distress that is caused by the incident.
3. Check for damage
After medical professionals have evaluated everyone's injuries and they are in a safe location it is crucial to look at the damage to the boat accident lawsuit. This is when you start contemplating your insurance policy and what it will cover.
A surveyor will be assigned to your claim and will come out to inspect the damage caused by the accident. They will compare the information you initially provided to the damage and then begin to determine the value of the damages.
Most boat accidents are caused by a combination of causes and it's impossible to control all of them. If there was a flaw in the boat accident lawyer, you may be legally able to file a lawsuit for product liability against the company who produced the boat.
In these cases it is imperative to hire a lawyer who has experience handling boating cases since they can construct an airtight case that proves that the manufacturer was accountable for the accident.
It is important to keep in mind that different types of boats are covered by insurance policies in different ways. For instance, homeowner's insurance, which covers home owners generally only covers small boats with engines less than 50 HP. This means that airboats, boat accident lawyer jet skis as well as larger vessels will not be covered by homeowner's insurance.
4. Contact an attorney
Notify your insurance company whenever you feel safe and have visited the doctor for any injuries. You'll likely have to do so even in the absence of a police report filed. Be cautious when supplying information to insurance companies as they will often try to blame someone else for an accident. This can decrease the amount of compensation that you receive. The NYC boating accident attorneys at Mirman, Markovits & Landau will do their best to disprove these claims and reduce the amount of fault attributable to you.
It is recommended to gather as the information you can on the other boat owners or operators involved in the incident. Included in this list are the names, addresses and phone number along with any insurance details. It is also helpful to have a copy the accident report filed.
Boat accidents can be a nightmare and can cause serious injuries. They can cause massive medical expenses, loss of wages, and even damages. The responsible parties should be held accountable for any harm they may have caused. The at-fault parties and insurance companies are not likely to provide the compensation you're entitled to It is essential to speak with an experienced New York injury attorney as early as possible. This will help even the playing field and allow you to concentrate on getting well.