Boaters on New York waterways are not always as careful and attentive as they should be. Sometimes they make careless mistakes and cause boating accidents. If you suffered injuries in one of these collisions, you may be eligible to file for compensation to cover your medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. A boating accident lawyer in Bohemia, Long Island, can help you prove the at-fault boater acted negligently by breaking boating laws or safety protocols and caused the accident.
When you have worked with as many boating accident victims as the personal injury team from Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., you know how catastrophic the resulting injuries can be after a boat crash. We can help you recover compensation for your injuries, just like we have for many other clients in the past. We can hold the negligent boater who caused your accident financially responsible. Call our office today at 631-600-0000 and make an appointment for a free case evaluation with one of our Bohemia boating accident lawyers.
Who Is Liable for My Boating Accident Injuries?
The most common cause of boating accident injuries is a careless mistake from an inexperienced, intoxicated, or distracted boater. Perhaps contributing to this is the fact that New York boating regulations do not require boaters born before May of 1996 to take a required safety training course. Of course, the prevalence of alcohol on recreational vessels is also to blame for the high number of boating accidents on New York waterways.
Any time you take a boat out on the water, you accept an obligation to do what you can to keep others safe, operate the boat in accordance with boating laws, and follow all safety guidelines. If you act in a way that puts your passengers, swimmers, or other boaters at an unreasonable risk, you may be liable for the injuries that occur.
If a boater fails to properly maintain their craft, carry life vests for all passengers, or follow applicable boating laws, it can lead to an accident and injuries. We can file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against this negligent boater, holding the boat owner or operator liable for the injuries they caused.
In most cases, it is an individual who is liable in an accident. Occasionally, a rental company, corporation operating the boat, or even a parts manufacturer is liable. When we review your case, we can help you identify the negligent party or parties responsible for your accident and determine the best route to recover the compensation you deserve.
How Can I Get a Payout for My Injuries?
For most boating accident victims, we pursue compensation through a liability insurance claim based on the at-fault boater’s homeowner’s insurance policy. Many homeowners’ insurance policies cover hobby and recreational boats, including small fishing vessels and ski boats. If their homeowners’ insurance provides coverage for their boat, we can investigate the cause of your accident, collect evidence to show negligence and liability, and file a claim. In most cases, we can negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company without having to take your case to court.
If the accident involved a larger boat, a high-performance vessel, or a commercial craft, the owner may carry a liability policy to specifically cover their boat. We can pursue a claim based on this policy and likely still avoid court. The only reason we might need to file a lawsuit before attempting to file an insurance claim is if the boat owner does not carry any liability insurance coverage that might apply in your case.
There may also be other ways to collect compensation to cover your losses, including filing a claim with any uninsured/underinsured boater policy you carry. We recommend this type of coverage for all boaters. It is often much easier to recover compensation through this policy than by filing a lawsuit in court.
We can help you pursue the best option for compensation based on the facts of your case. We will fight for the full value of your claim and help you understand what is happening each step of the way. We will ensure you feel confident in your decisions throughout the process as we pursue the money you need and deserve.
What Types of Damages Are Recoverable in My Case?
Before we can file a third-party liability claim or lawsuit to recover a settlement, we need to complete a full investigation into your case to understand the complete range of your damages. We need to provide documentation to show both your economic losses and your pain and suffering.
While your exact damages will differ depending on the details of your case, some of the most common types we recover for our clients include:
- Emergency department, hospitalization, and doctor bills;
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses;
- Prescription medication costs;
- Future and ongoing care costs;
- Lost wages;
- Out-of-pocket costs;
- Property damage to your boat or other items; and
- Other accident-related expenses.
It can be difficult to prove the full extent and value of your pain and suffering. However, there are special formulas we can use to estimate a range for these losses. This allows us to approach the insurance company with a number that is fair to you and represents the full emotional impact of your injuries.
Contact a Boating Accident Lawyer in Bohemia, Long Island, Today.
At Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C., we are ready to go to work for you. We can help you recover the money you deserve after a Bohemia boating accident. We can identify the liable party or parties and fight to recover compensation on your behalf through an insurance claim or a civil suit. We offer complimentary case reviews to all Long Island boating accident victims and handle each of these cases on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay our legal fees unless we recover the money you deserve. Call our office today at 631-600-0000 to schedule your initial consultation.
