Manhattan Boat Accident

Each year far too many people are seriously injured or killed in boat accidents in New York. Such accidents happen on both recreational boats and commercial vessels. Victims are both passengers and crewmembers. However, a majority of accidents happen on recreation watercraft. A recreation craft is a boat that is used for family or personal use and recreation. Such watercraft include sailboats, fishing boats, speedboats, jet skis, and wave runners. Many boat accidents occur because someone was negligent causing victims to suffer serious and deadly injuries such as brain injuries. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the types of boats that are involved in accidents most often include motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats. Depending on where the boat accident occurred and who was injured, there are different laws that may apply. Because of the legal complexities often associated with a boat accident, it is recommended that you call an experienced Manhattan boat accident lawyer from our office who will aggressively work to protect your legal rights.

Each year in the United States there are thousands of recreational boat accidents and hundreds of people are killed. Just like car, SUV, truck and motorcycle accidents, most boating accidents are caused by negligence. For example, one of the most common reasons for recreational boat accidents is some time of error or recklessness on the part the operator such as excessive speed, alcohol use, the operator not paying attention, or operator inexperience. Other types of negligence that leads to boat accidents include improper lookout and mechanical failure.

There are a variety of injuries that those involved in a boat accident may suffer. Only injuries that are deemed serious are compensable. Common boat accident injuries that are serious include:

• Back injuries
• Bone fractures
• Neck injuries
• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

Each of these serious injuries will have a significant impact on your overall well-being and your ability to work. For example, a back or neck injury can lead to chronic, debilitating pain and limited mobility. A brain injury can cause permanent memory loss, vision or hearing loss, cognitive problems, paralysis, dementia and headaches. Broken bones can take weeks to heal and frequently have complications such as infections. Paralysis is often a permanent condition, requiring lifelong care.

Being seriously injured in a boating accident is devastating as victims are left in physical pain, are unable to work and often face financial challenges. An important step toward stabilizing financial challenges is holding the person whose negligence caused your injury legally accountable. You can do this by filing a personal injury claim and demanding damages for:

• Medical bills- Doctors, specialists, hospital, emergency room, medication, surgery, outpatient treatment, medical equipment physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
• Lost income- Lost wages, missed bonuses, missed promotions, lost benefits, lost self-employment income, and loss of earning potential
• Pain and suffering- Chronic pain, disfigurement, permanent disability, depression, other emotional suffering

If a loved one was killed, you should contact an experienced attorney about filing a wrongful death claim in order o recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, loss of support, loss of consortium and other losses.

Boat accident cases are extremely complicated and may involve state, federal as well as international law. To make sure that your case is properly handled it is critical that those who represent you have the experience and resources to ensure that your rights are protected. Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims from people injured on a variety of watercraft including fishing boats, water skis, cruise ships, jet skis, commuter ferries, and sailboats. Contact us 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, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.