There are nearly 500,000 registered boats in New York. Each year dozens and dozens of people are seriously injured or killed in boat accidents in New York. Many victims of boat accidents are children. Such accidents happen on both recreational boats and commercial vessels. However, a majority of accidents happen on recreation crafts. A recreation craft is a boat that is used for family or personal use and recreation. These watercrafts can be a small motorized boat, a sailboat or even a wave runner. Water sports can also be a factor in a boat accident, such as fishing, jet skiing, scuba diving or water skiing. Many boat accidents occur because someone was negligent. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the types of boast that are involved in accidents most often include motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats. Depending on where the boat accident takes place, the law that will be applied to a boat accident is either maritime law or New York law. In addition, there is another set of laws that will apply if an employee is injured while working on navigable waters. If you are in need of a personal injury attorney because you were seriously hurt in a boating accident, it is a good idea for you to contact an experienced Brooklyn boat accident attorney from our office who will aggressively work to protect your legal rights.
Common causes of boat accidentsJust as there are many different types of boats and watercraft, there are also many different types of boating accidents. Boat accidents often include capsizing, passengers falling overboard, collision with another boat or structure, fire, and sinking or flooding. Most boat accidents are avoidable as they are often caused by negligence. Common reasons for boat accidents are operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed. As a result of such negligence victims suffer serious injuries and in some cases victims die. In fatal boat accidents the top contributing factor is alcohol use.
Ferry accidents also occur as a result of negligence on the part of the ferry operator or the company that manages the ferry business. Common causes of ferry accidents include operator error, excessive speed, alcohol or drug use, poor maintenance, overloaded vessel, poor hiring practices, and failure to follow safety standards. There are several ferries that operate in New York including the Staten Island Ferry, New York Water Taxi, East River Ferry, Hudson River Ferry and ferries to the 9/11 Memorial. While many ferry services in New York are owned by private operators, others such as the Staten Island Ferry are owned and operated by the New York Department of Transportation. There are special rules that need to be followed before you can move forward with a lawsuit against the government.
Boating injuries do not only occur on recreational watercraft and ferries. People who work on boats and ships also are sometimes injured in the course of employment. Maritime law, also referred to as admiralty law, is a distinct set of procedural and substantive rules that govern boats, ships, shipping, and other activities at sea or in any navigable waters. If you were injured while employed to work aboard a vessel as a seaman, crewmember, or commercial fisherman, you are protected by a federal maritime law called the Jones Act. 46 U.S.C. § 688. The Jones Act provides comprehensive coverage for crewmembers injured or killed through negligence of their employer.
Common boat accident injuriesThere are a variety of injuries that those involved in a boat accident may suffer. Only injuries that are deemed serious are compensable. Common serious boat accident injuries include broken bones, nerve damage, back injury, neck injury, traumatic brain injury, and spinal injury.
Pursuing compensation for your lossesA personal injury case arises when someone's negligence results in a victim suffering an injury. In the case of a boating accident
If another person's negligence resulted in you suffering serious injuries, you have the legal right to pursue compensation.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf another person's negligence caused the boat accident in which you were injured you deserve to be compensated for your medical bills, lost wages and the other losses that you sustained. Boating cases are complicated and require an understanding of not only personal injury law but also maritime law. Thus, it is important that you have experienced representation. The legal staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has extensive experience in handling claims from people injured in a variety of watercraft accidents as well as other types of accidents such as car accidents, bus accidents, construction accidents and airplane accidents. Contact an attorney at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Rockland County, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.