portland boat accident lawsuit Accident Litigation

Boating can be an enjoyable and exciting recreational activity that is also risky. If negligence leads to an accident, the victims and their families may be entitled to compensation for the loss and injuries.

A NYC lawyer for boat accidents can assist injured victims in obtaining the amount of damages they are entitled to. A claim could include past medical expenses, as well as other economic damages.

Damages

While many people think of bodies of water like the Wild West, there are laws that govern boats that are moored on lakes, rivers and oceans throughout the United States. Boat accidents can trigger multiple federal and state laws that are weighed in determining whether negligence occurred. For example, if a boat operator was drunk, this could lead to civil lawsuits for negligence. Federal laws also deal with death and pollution at sea. Furthermore, there are specific maritime laws, like the Jones Act that give injured workers or their families a pathway to compensation similar to workers who receive compensation in other industries.

If a loved one died in a fatal boat crash family members may sue for damages, including lost companionship and funeral costs. They may also sue for pain and suffering. Families can get money to cover medical bills from the past and future medical treatment.

If a boating accident resulted in injuries to you or your loved ones and loved ones, a New York City boat accident attorney can help you determine the type of damages you are entitled to claim. An attorney for personal injuries can review your insurance coverage and the responsible party's boat accident law firm liability policy to determine what type of compensation you may be entitled to receive in a settlement or a verdict. A lawyer with experience will also be able to determine if there are other parties that could be liable, such as the manufacturer or a component of the boat that was defective.

Liability

Generally, injured boaters seek damages to cover medical expenses (past and expected) and lost income due to absences from work in pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and damage to their boats. Most serious injuries involve neck and back injuries and brain trauma, fractured bones, paralysis or internal organ damage.

In boating accidents, there are a variety of parties that could potentially bear legal responsibility for the crash, including the boat's operator, any passengers on board at the time of the crash along with other watercraft and vessels involved in the collision, as well as the manufacturers of the boats as well as their components or engines, and even government agencies responsible for putting buoys to warn people of danger conditions. A personal injury attorney is well-versed in both state and federal maritime laws to determine who is accountable for boat accident law firm an accident.

Under the Jones Act a worker on a vessel who is injured at sea enjoys the same rights as workers compensation beneficiaries. Similar to that, sailors who suffer injuries in international waters or the outer continental shelf waters are entitled to make claims under the Jones Act as well as other maritime regulations of the federal government. Families of injured maritime workers as well as families of sailors who have died are entitled to compensation under state workers insurance laws.

Gathering Evidence

The evidence you gather in the beginning stages of the legal process could help determine the strength of your case. Photographing the scene of the accident will help determine the liability and establish what caused the boating collision. Eyewitnesses may also provide valuable evidence to aid in proving your claim.

Medical records are crucial for determining the extent of your injuries and the damage that resulted from it. These records should include thorough reports of doctor and hospital visits, surgeries, rehabilitation treatments, and the cost associated with these. You will need to document the changes in your income and job capacity, as well in any other losses that are not financial.

Spinal cord and brain injuries are a common occurrence in boat accidents. These injuries can result from carbon monoxide poisoning, oxygen deprivation or blunt force trauma that occurs when your head strikes the propeller of the boat. In most cases, these injuries can be life-changing.

Other forms of marine injuries are caused by mechanical issues for example, engine or electrical failure or steering system malfunctions and gear shift issues. In these cases our NYC lawyer for boating accidents will investigate to determine if a company should be held responsible for injuries sustained by victims of accidents.

How to File a Claim

While it is important to seek medical attention for injuries immediately following a boating incident but you should not provide an account to an insurance adjuster or another party without first consulting a lawyer. Your attorney can protect your rights, including ensuring that you receive adequate compensation for the damage.

In order to obtain compensation following a boating collision, you will need to make an insurance claim or an action against the party(ies) responsible. This typically includes the presentation of evidence to support a claim for economic as well as non-economic damages. Economic damages are the cost of medical treatment and other costs associated with the accident, like lost earnings from work missed. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering and other intangible losses that may be harder to quantify.

In certain instances the boat manufacturer or parts of the vessel can be held liable for a mishap if their product was manufactured or designed in a way that was defective. A skilled New York boating injury lawyer can investigate whether product liability is involved and pursue compensation from the responsible parties.

In some cases, it is not just the boat's operator that could be held accountable for a crash. The owner of a vessel may be held responsible in addition, especially if they are responsible for hiring or training the person who operates their boat or allow someone who is not fit to operate an unfit boat to use their property.