The settlement a lawyer negotiates after a boating accident is a combination of various expenses and losses. While they cannot tell you the exact amount of damages you can recover, your lawyer can explain the damages they can request on your behalf and how the negotiation process works.
Even two people injured in the same accident can help widely divergent case values, making it difficult to determine what the average settlement is for a boating accident. A boating accident lawyer in your area will carefully assess your case and fight for the best possible financial resolution for you.
How a Lawyer Will Calculate the Value of Your Boating Accident Case
A boating accident can have numerous causes and contributing factors. Identifying the cause of your accident also identifies the negligence that entitles you to recover damages. To determine the monetary value of your case, your boating accident lawyer will collect:
- Medical bills
- Proof of income
- Property repair receipts
- Property replacement estimates
Neither you nor your family should experience financial hardship because of someone else’s action or their failure to take appropriate action. Your lawyer will collect the evidence your case requires and work to avoid having your damages undervalued or underpaid.
Medical Bills and Related Economic Damages
Depending on the extent of your injuries, medical bills after a boating accident can be varied and substantial. They may include:
- Assistive devices
- Emergency room fees
- Hospital admissions
- Rehab and therapy
- Surgical procedures
- Treatment-related travel
Additional economic damages you may collect could cover current and future lost wages and loss of future earning ability, property damage, destruction, and diminished property value.
Pain and Suffering and Additional Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are intangible, and their value can be more challenging to document. Your lawyer will collect tangible evidence to support your compensation demand for:
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional trauma
- Diminished quality of life
Your written prognosis and medical records can support their value, along with additional documents that prove the toll the accident and your injuries have taken on your life.
Wrongful Death Damages if a Boating Accident Led to a Fatality
If your family lost a loved one in a boating accident, your wrongful death lawyer will fight for appropriate compensation. Such damages can include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of your loved one’s income
- Loss of their household contributions
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Loss of guidance and support
Your lawyer will explain who can file a wrongful death action and which family members can benefit from a resulting financial award.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
A Boating Accident Lawyer Can Handle the Details of Your Case
When you hire a lawyer to take on the at-fault party and their insurance company, you can focus your time and attention on getting well. In the meantime, your lawyer will:
- Provide service tailored to your specific needs
- Bring familiarity with state and local law to your case
- Collect statements from lay and expert witnesses
- Compile, sort, and organize your evidence file
- Reply promptly to your questions and concerns
- Draft and file your insurance claim or lawsuit
- Handle all verbal, written, and virtual communication
Your lawyer will also negotiate a settlement on your behalf and will take your case to court if they cannot reach an agreement.
They will represent you on a contingency fee basis and will only receive compensation after they recover it for you.
Your Lawyer Can Explain the Potential Timeline of Your Case
Just as your case has its own unique monetary value, it will have its own settlement timeline. Your lawyer cannot predict how long it will take to resolve your case, but they will explain the following factors that contribute to the timeline:
- The time it takes to investigate the accident
- The weight of the accumulated evidence
- The number of negotiation rounds
- Depositions and discovery
- Whether your case goes to trial
- Negotiation response times
Given sufficient notice, your personal injury lawyer will respect the statute of limitations in your case. In general, Georgia law gives you two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, according to O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33.
How Your Evidence Can Steer Your Case Toward a Settlement Versus a Trial
Most accidents like yours are resolved with a settlement based on the weight of the evidence. Your lawyer will build the strongest possible case file for you that includes evidence like:
- Coast guard records
- Witness statements
- Photos and videos
- Boat repair records
- Maintenance logs
- First responder reports
Causes of Boating Accidents
You do not have to prove the cause of your accident on your own. Your lawyer will have resources and investigators who can get to the bottom of your accident to determine its causes and contributing factors, which can include:
- Drug and alcohol use
- Distracting driving
- Boat or equipment failure
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Operator inexperience
Types of boating accidents can also vary and include falling overboard, falls on slippery decks and surfaces, and collisions with other watercrafts and even docks and boat decks. The cause of your accident matters, so your lawyer can determine it and pursue the appropriate party for compensation.
Get Help Determining the Value of Your Boating Accident Case
If you or someone you love was injured in a boating accident, our legal team will explain the average settlement for a boating accident and the specific value we assign to your case. Our goal is to recover all the damages you are entitled to receive.
Contact Kaine Law today for a free consultation.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
