A Lawyer Can Help You File a Boat Accident Lawsuit
A boating accident could lead to severe medical bills, financial hardship and even bankruptcy. A lawyer can assist you to receive the money you are due.
In general, you might be able recover damages in the event that you can prove the person or entity, owed you an obligation of care, and then breached it. This resulted in your injuries. There are four key elements to a successful boat accident attorney accident lawsuit:
Damages
Boat accident victims are entitled, just like other victims of personal injury, to compensation for their losses. These damages can include medical expenses loss of wages, future earning capacity as well as property damage, suffering and emotional anxiety.
The amount of money you receive from a jury will depend on your injuries and the length of time it will take for you to recover. Jury settlements and awards tend to be greater for serious injuries. These can be trauma to the brain (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and permanent disfigurement.
It could be difficult to determine who should be held liable for your boating accident. Your attorney will assess the cause of the accident and identify any other parties who may be liable the responsibility for your loss. This could include the owner of the boat, other boat drivers as well as any other individuals who may have been aboard when the incident occurred.
In some instances it could be possible to file a claim against the manufacturer of the boat in case there is evidence of an issue with the part that caused your injury. This is called product liability and is covered by laws that are applicable to automobile manufacturers. It is essential to speak with an attorney as soon as you can should you be considering this kind of claim. An attorney can guide you through the entire process and ensure that all damages are repaid.
Liability
It is important to understand boat accident that just like with an automobile accident an injury lawsuit against a boating company must prove four elements to be successful. This involves proving the defendant’s duty of care, breach of that duty of care, the actual damages, and the causation. This is a complicated task that requires the expertise of a personal injury lawyer.
Unsuspecting and negligent behavior can lead to accidents while boating. Safety regulations for boats must be followed, similar to road rules. If the accident was the result of drunkenness or use of drugs the person could also be accountable. It is also important to keep in mind that boating operations require a high degree of concentration and awareness due to the unpredictability of the weather and water.
In an accident that results in a boating injury, the victim can recover compensation for their losses and expenses. These costs can include medical expenses directly and lost wages due a loss of work. They can also include property damage and suffering and pain. If you have health coverage generally, it will cover a portion of these costs. This is particularly applicable to maritime workers who are covered through the Jones Act, a century-old regulation that provides injured maritime workers with a path to recovery similar to workers’ comp.
Preparation
While the sum of money won’t bring the family member who was injured or killed in a boating accident, compensation for damages can assist families with the financial burdens that accompany their losses. But, just like car accidents, boating accidents typically involve multiple parties who may share liability for the crash, which is why it necessary to seek competent legal representation in seeking compensation.
Usually, victims of boat accidents are able to recover the same types of damages that they would be able to recover in a lawsuit for car accidents, including property damage, medical expenses and lost wages resulting from time lost at work. Additionally, they can seek damages for emotional trauma and pain and suffering, in addition to loss of enjoyment in their lives.
Boating accidents can result from a variety of causes, however in many cases a person or a company is held liable for an accident occurring on the waterway due to their carelessness. Boat owners, boat operators, and employers are common defendants.
Workers Compensation benefits are offered to boaters injured in an incident. However, this is a different procedure than filing personal injury lawsuits for the same incident.
Filing
A serious boating accident can be devastating regardless of whether or not you own a luxury yacht or a modest fishing boat. An experienced lawyer can assist with obtaining compensation for your losses.
Similar to car accidents, those who are injured in a boating accident could make a personal injury claim against the at-fault party for damages. A successful lawsuit could cover medical expenses loss of income, discomfort and pain, and other financial losses as a result of the incident. The severity of your injuries play a big role in how much the defendant must pay you. For instance, a person suffering from a brain injury that is traumatic or severe spinal cord damage is likely to face substantial medical bills as well as loss of future earning capacity.
In addition to showing negligence A plaintiff must also establish the causality. This means that your injuries resulted from the defendant’s inability to exercise reasonable care to avoid harming others on water. Examples of breaches include operating a boat under the influence of alcohol, recklessly loosing control of a boat or not allowing enough space for other vessels.
An experienced attorney can evaluate the evidence to determine which parties are liable for your accident. The attorney will also negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company of the defendant as well as other legal counsel. If a settlement is not reached the case will be heard at trial, at which point the jury will decide on the liability and damages.