How to File a Boat Accident Claim
Boating can be fun and thrilling, but it could quickly become dangerous if not cautious. Just like automobiles, boats must abide by strict safety guidelines to avoid injuries.
If you’ve suffered injury in an accident on the water, you may be eligible for compensation for medical expenses and property damage. To increase your chances of winning seek out a skilled New York boat accident attorney.
1. Gather Evidence
If you are involved in an accident while on a boat, the most important step is to gather evidence and contact an attorney. It is also important to seek medical attention right away in the event of any injuries that could have occurred. In order to support a claim medical documents and other evidence are required. This includes current and future medical expenses in addition to loss of earnings or earning potential, property damage and other non-economic damages, like suffering and pain.
Photos and video footage are useful in preserving physical evidence at the scene of an accident. Eyewitness testimony is an additional important piece of evidence, as it can provide valuable details about the causes of the collision that may be missed. Police and incident reports can be used to determine the chronology of what transpired in the case.
A lawyer with expertise can analyze the evidence to determine which parties could be accountable for the victim’s injuries or losses. A successful negligence case for an accident involving a west haven boat accident attorney usually involves multiple liable parties, including the boat’s owner and the owner or manufacturer of the watercraft.
A trusted lawyer can manage all communications with insurance companies who will be involved in a claim of a victim for compensation. A lawyer can help victims not to say anything that could be used against them in the court of law, and can aid victims in obtaining fair settlement offers for damages.
2. Make a Report
When a boating accident occurs the first thing you should do is make sure that everyone is safe. The next step is to contact the local police department and file a report. Depending on state laws and regulations, you could be given 48 hours to submit a report if the accident results in injury or death that requires medical attention beyond basic first aid. Additionally, you may be given ten days to file a claim if the accident causes more than $2,000 of damage or if the teague boat accident attorney is destroyed.
You should also be at the scene of the accident and assist other boats or individuals if you can, without putting at risk your own safety or that of the victims. This will help the law enforcement officer to record important details, like how the accident happened and who was on board at the time of the crash and the cause of the crash.
Even experienced and well-trained boaters could be involved in an accident on the water because of negligence of another. A knowledgeable lawyer can assist you in identifying the negligent party that caused the damage and seek compensation. Recoverable damages typically include your medical expenses, property damage and financial losses. Moreover, filing a lawsuit against the responsible party could result in monetary compensation for your pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other emotional distresses associated with the crash.
3. Inspect the Damages
After medical professionals have examined everyone’s injuries, and they are all in a safe place It is crucial that you take a close examine the damage to the boat. This is when you start considering your insurance policy and what it covers.
A surveyor will be assigned your claim and will come out to inspect any damage incurred by the accident. The surveyor will evaluate what you initially reported to the damage and then begin to determine the value of the damages.
It is impossible to control every single factor that can cause a boat crash. If there was a defect on the boat, you may be legally able to file a lawsuit for product responsibility against the company that created the boat.
In these cases, it is essential to retain a lawyer that has experience in handling boating claims because they are able to create an air-tight case that proves that the manufacturer was responsible for the accident.
It is also important to note that different kinds of boats are governed differently by insurance policies. Homeowners insurance, for example typically only covers small boats with engines below 50 HP. This means that jet skis, airboats as well as larger vessels will not be covered by homeowner’s insurance.
4. Contact an attorney
Inform your insurance company immediately after you feel secure and have visited an emergency room for any injuries. Even if you don’t have a police report, you will be required to notify your insurance company. You should be careful when providing details to insurance companies, as they may attempt to assign blame for an accident. This could reduce the amount of compensation you are granted. The NYC lawyers for boating accidents at Mirman, Markovits & Landau will do their best to disprove these claims and reduce the amount of fault that you are liable for.
It is beneficial to gather as the information you can about the other boat owners or operators that were involved in the accident. Included in this information are the names, addresses and phone number, as well as any insurance information. It is also beneficial to have a copy of the boating accident report which is filed.
warr acres boat accident attorney accidents can be scary and cause serious injury. They can lead to massive medical expenses, loss of wages, and damage. Those who are responsible are accountable for the harm they have caused you. The at-fault parties and insurance companies are not likely to give you the compensation you’re entitled to and it is therefore essential to consult a seasoned New York injury attorney as in the earliest possible time. This will allow you to focus on improving your situation and level the playing field.
