NYC Boating Accident Lawyer

We’re award-winning trial attorneys with 130+ years of combined litigation experience, and a proven ability to get top results for deserving clients like you. Our law firm has won tens of millions in settlements and jury awards – and now we’re ready to get you top results, too. Contact our law office in New York City to set up a time for a free, no-obligation case assessment now.

The Platta Law Firm Can Help You Fight for Maximum Compensation After a Boating Accident in NYC, NY

How did your boat accident happen? What caused it? Who’s to blame? Who’s financially on the hook for the costs of your injuries and trauma? What can you do to protect yourself if the at-fault party tries to blame you?

These answers aren’t always straightforward. To set yourself up for a financial victory, it’s important to enlist the help of a qualified and experienced NYC personal injury lawyer near you. When you choose The Platta Law Firm, you benefit from a team of top-rated litigators with over a century of combined experience handling tough cases like yours. We’ve built our careers by taking on powerful corporations and insurance companies and demanding justice on behalf of our deserving clients. With our law firm in your corner, you’ll send a clear signal that you’re serious about winning your case and maxing out your settlement options. Our boating accident attorneys in NYC will handle every aspect of your case:

• Review the results of investigations conducted by local, state, and/or federal government agencies.
• Coordinate an independent inquiry into your boating accident.
• Gather critical pieces of evidence, including vessel maintenance records, toxicology reports, photographs, video footage of the accident, property damage, medical records, and accident reports.
• Find and interview eye-witnesses to the boat accident.
• Consult with boat accident experts and specialists as we build and calculate the value your claim.
• Work to secure a maximum settlement during negotiations with the at-fault part and/or insurance company.

As accomplished litigators, our team will always prepare a case as if it’s going to trial. This can help us put our best foot forward during the claims process and ensure that we’re more than ready if you don’t receive a fair offer. We’ll be prepared to reject lowball offers and represent you at trial, if necessary. At The Platta Law Firm, we know that boating accidents can be expensive and stressful. The cost of hiring a boat accident attorney shouldn’t add to the burden you’re experiencing. That’s why we work on contingency. You only pay if our law firm wins your boating accident case.

NYC Boat Accident Statistics – 2021 Update

Every year, there are dozens of boating accidents reported on waterways surrounding New York City. All five boroughs and neighboring Long Island see a sizable number of maritime accidents annually.

In 2021, there were 73 reported boating accidents in the greater New York City metropolitan area. Nearby Westchester had 27 boat accidents of its own.

Many of the accidents reported on New York City waterways – including the Long Island Sound, the Hudson River, the East River, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Harlem River – result in serious injuries and/or death. According to 2021 boat accident statistics, at least 56 people were injured and 7 people were killed on NYC waterways.

Representing Clients in All Types of NYC Boating Accident Cases

Boating is incredibly popular in and around New York City, especially during the summer months. As the waterways become more crowded with commercial and personal watercraft, accidents tend to increase. At The Platta Law Firm, we handle all types of boat accident injury cases, including:

• Kayak accidents
• Canoe accidents
• Jetski accidents
• Sailboat accidents
• Water taxi accidents
• Cruise ship accidents
• Fishing boat accidents
• Duck boat accidents
• Sightseeing boat accidents
• Ferry accidents
• Commercial fishing accidents

Our extensive experience handling different types of boat accident claims can be a huge benefit to you as you seek compensation. Call our law office in NYC to set up a time to discuss the specific details of your boat accident case today.

What Causes Most NYC Boating Accidents?

According to the New York State Parks Department, the leading causes of boating accidents include:

• Alcohol use
• Speeding
• Hazardous waters
• Improper anchoring
• Failure to vent
• Reckless operation
• Mechanical failure
• Operator inattention
• Inexperienced operator
• Overloading
• Inclement weather
• Improper lookout

While vessel defects and bad weather can contribute to boat accidents, operator negligence is the leading contributor to collisions on NYC waterways. When boat operators aren’t careful, accidents are more likely to happen.

Understanding Liability for NYC Boat Accidents

So who’s liable for your boating accident in New York City? Under state law, liability extends to anyone who contributed to the wreck. This includes contributions that were direct or indirect. Depending on the specific circumstances of your boat accident, potentially liable parties could include:

• Negligent boat operators
• Vessel owners
• Vessel mechanics
• Boat passengers
• Boat rental companies
• Vessel manufacturers
• Government agencies

Our boat accident attorneys in NYC will carefully review the facts and evidence of your case, working hard to identify anyone who might have contributed to your collision. Once liability is clear, we’ll actively seek full compensation from all at-fault parties.

What if I’m Partly to Blame for my Boat Accident?

It’s important to know that sharing responsibility for your NYC boat accident can impact your financial recovery. New York operates under a pure comparative negligence system.

Damages will be reduced if you share blame. Let’s say that you’re assigned 15 percent of the blame for a New York City boat accident. You suffer serious injuries in the wreck, with costs totaling $1,000,000.

However, you’ll be entitled to a maximum settlement of $850,000 when shared fault is factored into the equation. Don’t be shocked if an insurance company or negligent boat operator tries to blame you for your accident. If they can shift liability, they can limit how much they have to pay for your injuries. Our NYC boat accident attorneys will be ready for these types of allegations and work to disprove them. If you are partly responsible, we’ll dig deep to uncover evidence that helps to limit your liability and protect your financial recovery.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Boat Accident Victims in NYC?

Boat accidents can be costly and traumatic. Fortunately, by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit, you can seek compensation to offset these consequences. Typically, boat accident victims are entitled to damages for their financial losses (economic awards) and life changes (non-economic awards). This can include money for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Disability
• Reduced earning capacity
• Rehabilitation
• Nursing care
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Reduced enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Emotional distress

Our experienced personal injury attorneys in NYC won’t let the insurance company dictate what your boat accident case is worth. We’ll enlist the help of qualified experts and specialists, and rely on their insight as we build a strong claim on your behalf. When it’s time to negotiate, we’ll have substantive evidence and support for your damages, which can help to secure a settlement or award that really represents what your boat accident case is worth.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a New York
Boat Accident?

Under New York state law, you will generally have three years from the date of a boat accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. If a spouse, child, or parent dies in a fatal NYC boat accident, you’ll have just two years to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. You can’t let the statute of limitations expire before you take action. Once the deadline passes, you lose the right to demand the financial compensation you need and deserve.

Common Boat Accident Injuries

Boat accidents can be scary – and for good reason. Unlike car accidents and other types of accidents on land, boat accident victims are susceptible to water-related injuries. Some of the most commonly reported boat accident injuries include:

• Hypothermia
• Hypoxia
• Drowning
• Traumatic brain injury
• Concussion
• Spinal cord injury
• Broken bones
• Nerve damage
• Soft tissue damage
• Burns
• Back injury
• Neck injury
• Whiplash
• Amputation
• Severe cuts and lacerations
• Catastrophic injury
• Wrongful death

It’s important to render medical aid to injured passengers and operators immediately after a boat accident in NYC. Once you’ve reached dry land, seek professional medical treatment at the closest hospital or emergency care center in New York.

Call Our Trusted NYC Boating Accident Lawyers for Help Today

You deserve the time and opportunity to recover from your catastrophic boat accident injuries. Let the experienced NYC boating accident lawyers at The Platta Law Firm take on your fight for compensation for you. We’ll stand up to the negligent boat operator, corporation, insurance company, and anyone else who attempts to stand between you and the compensation you need and deserve. Benefit from our 130+ years of combined experience and proven ability to win top results. Call our law office in NYC, NY to set up a free consultation now.