How to File a Boat Accident Lawsuit

Severe boating accidents can cost a lot. A personal injury attorney can help you determine who is accountable and how to claim.

In general, just like in motor accidents in vehicles, it is imperative to show that the negligent party was in breach of his duty to care, and that was the cause of your injuries. There are a number of important elements of evidence that your lawyer needs to gather to support your case.

Damages

The most frequent damages resulting from boating accidents are medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. The degree of your injuries will play a large role in determining how much you can expect to get from a settlement or a jury award. Catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or permanent disfigurement often result in larger settlement or verdict amounts.

Medical expenses can include hospital bills, ambulance service charges doctor's visits, therapy, medication and other related costs. Your attorney will establish your past and future medical expenses. In some states you may also be entitled to compensation for future costs resulting from injuries. This could include the cost of a home health aid or additional physical therapy sessions as well as a loss of earning capacity in the future.

Liability is easier to establish if the boat owner or operator did not maintain their vessel, or had an insufficient amount of safety equipment on board. If the wheat ridge boat accident attorney did not have whistles, flares or fire extinguishers, they are likely that they contributed to the accident.

A personal injury attorney can assist you in meeting the burden of proof, by gathering evidence such as witness statements, photographs or videos of accidents and medical records regarding your injuries. Your attorney can also challenge the claim that you are partially responsible for the accident.

Expert Witnesses

In any personal injury case having a reliable network of experts who can provide testimony is the best method to prove the claim for compensation. While eyewitnesses may help prove that the accident occurred, expert witnesses have specialized qualifications that make them credible experts in their matter. They are compensated for their opinion, and they can provide an enormous amount of credibility to the case.

For example an expert in marine engineering witness could recreate the technical incidents of an accident on the water by studying evidence like speed calculations and how visibility impacts collisions. They may also testify whether safety regulations were observed, or if any were not.

A medical professional is an important expert witness. They can testify on the extent of your injuries, as well as the long-term consequences. They can also discuss the effects of your injuries on your life, which can impact the amount of damages you claim.

Admiralty and maritime expert witnesses are able to conduct investigative investigations into the cause of accidents involving recreational boats and personal watercrafts, as well commercial vessels and their crew. They also can provide evidence and analysis on maritime laws whiproving that the person responsible for your injuries breached a legal obligation and that the violation was the proximate cause of your injuries. Our lawyers will review the evidence to determine who is responsible for your boating accident and pursue compensation on behalf of you.

As soon as you can after a boating accident, it is essential to seek medical treatment for your injuries. A doctor can help document your injuries and link them directly to the incident. Additionally, it is crucial to document your wounds and bruises and keep a log of your experiences. The organization of these documents will speed up the claim process and assist your lawyer in building your case.

Sometimes, the party accountable for your injuries doesn't have to be present in order to be liable. For example, you could sue the company that made the boat if it has an inadvertent manufacturing defect or failure to warn you of potential dangers. Our team will review your case to determine if you have a valid claim.

If there's a valid claim against the person responsible, our attorneys will start by filing a lawsuit with the court, which contains all the pertinent details about the accident and the damages you are seeking. The discovery process is initiated, where the parties exchange pertinent information, including interrogatories or sworn depositions. Then, a settlement is reached or the case is referred to trial.