How to File a Boat Accident Claim Boating can be fun and exciting, but it can quickly turn deadly if not careful. Just like cars, boats must follow strict safety rules to prevent injuries. If you've been injured in a boating incident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses as well as for property damage. Contact a New York boat accident lawyer to increase your chances of winning. 1. Gather Evidence When someone experiences an accident while boating, the most important step is to gather evidence and get in touch with an attorney. You should seek medical assistance immediately for any injuries. To support a claim medical records and other evidence is needed. This includes both future and present medical expenses, loss of earnings or earning potential, damage to property and other non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. Photos and video footage are useful in preserving physical evidence at the scene of an accident. Eyewitness testimony is another vital element of evidence, as it can provide crucial information about the causes of the collision that may be omitted. Police and incident reports can be used to establish a time line of what happened during the investigation. A lawyer who is knowledgeable is able to review the evidence and determine which parties may be accountable for the victim's injuries or losses. A claim for negligence in a boating accident typically involves multiple parties including the boat's operator 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 can assist victims in obtaining fair settlement offers for damages. 2. Make a Report When a boating incident occurs the first thing you need to do is make sure that everyone involved is safe. Then, you should contact the local police and file a formal report. Based on the laws of your state and regulations you may only have 48 hours to file an official report in the event of serious injury or death requiring medical treatment above basic first aid. Alternatively, you may have 10 days to file a report when the accident causes more than $2,000 worth of damage or if the boat is destroyed. You should also remain at the site of the accident and assist other boats or people, if possible, without putting your safety or that of the victims. This will let the law enforcement officer to note crucial details, including what caused the accident and who was on the boat at the time of the crash and the cause of the crash. Even well-trained and experienced boaters can get into accidents on the water because of negligence of another. A skilled attorney will assist you in identifying the responsible party responsible for your damages and pursue compensation. Medical expenses, property damage and financial losses are all recoverable damages. A lawsuit against the responsible party may also result in monetary compensation for your pain and discomfort as well as loss of quality of life, and emotional stress caused by the incident. 3. Inspect the Damages After medical professionals have examined everyone's injuries and they are secured it is crucial to look at the damage to the boat. This is the time to start thinking about your insurance policy and what it covers. A surveyor will be assigned to your claim and will come out to look at the damage caused by the accident. He or she will evaluate the damage to the one originally stated by you. They will then begin to figure out how much the damages might be worth. Most boat accidents are caused by a combination of factors, and it is impossible to control all of them. If there was a flaw in the boat, you might be in a position to file a claim for product liability against the company who created the boat. In these instances it is vital to find a lawyer who has experience in handling boating claims because they can build an air-tight defense that proves that the manufacturer is responsible for the accident. It is also important to keep in mind that various types of boats are covered differently by insurance policies. For instance homeowners insurance will generally only cover smaller boats with engines with less than 50 HP. The homeowner's insurance policy does not cover jet skis, larger vessels or airboats. 4. Contact an attorney Inform your insurance company immediately after you feel secure and have visited a doctor for any injuries. Even if there's no police report, you will be required to notify your insurance company. Be cautious when you provide details to insurance companies, as they may try to determine who is at fault for an accident. This can reduce the amount of compensation you are given. The NYC lawyer for boating accidents at Mirman Markovits & Landau work hard to disprove and limit these claims. If you're able then it's a great idea to gather information on the other boat operators or owners that were involved in the crash. Included in this information is their names, addresses and phone number along with any insurance information. It is also beneficial to have a copy the report of a boating accident that is filed. Boat accidents can be frightening and cause serious injuries. They can be a source of massive medical expenses, loss of earnings and damages. The parties responsible must be held accountable for the harm they caused you. https://vimeo.com/709639588 -fault parties as well as insurance companies will not offer you the compensation you deserve willingly, so it is important to consult a seasoned New York injury attorney as in the earliest possible time. This will help to level the playing field and allow you to focus on healing.