Every year, passengers are injured in Staten Island and New York City ferry accidents. These accidents can leave victims facing mounting medical bills, lost income, and significant pain and suffering.
If this happens to you, it’s crucial to understand the compensation you're entitled to for your physical and financial recovery.
At Hofmann & Schweitzer, our maritime injury lawyers represent injured ferry passengers every year, helping them secure the compensation they deserve. Below, we discuss the damages you may be eligible to recover after a ferry accident.
Medical Expenses and Ongoing Treatment Costs
When you're injured in a New York City ferry accident, the responsible party should cover your immediate and future medical expenses. These damages can be substantial, especially for serious injuries.
Medical expenses may include:
- Ambulance services
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- Diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans
- Follow-up medical appointments
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy or other rehabilitation therapies
- Medical equipment such as braces, crutches, or wheelchairs
In cases involving permanent injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for future medical treatments and care needs that medical experts anticipate you'll require.
Your attorney will work with medical professionals to document all current expenses and project future costs based on your prognosis, ensuring that your settlement or verdict accounts for the full scope of your medical needs.
Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity
A Staten Island or New York City ferry accident can significantly impact your ability to work, resulting in substantial financial losses that go beyond your immediate medical bills.
Lost Income for Employees
Lost income covers the income you've already missed due to your injury, including regular salary or hourly wages, overtime, bonuses, and other employment benefits. Your attorney will calculate these losses based on your employment records and tax returns to establish a clear picture of your pre-accident earnings.
Lost Income for Self-Employed or Independent Contractors
For self-employed individuals or those with variable income, documenting lost income may require additional evidence such as contracts, invoices, or business records. These materials help demonstrate what you would have earned had the ferry accident not occurred.
Diminished Earning Capacity
If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous position or limit your ability to work in the future, you may be entitled to compensation for diminished earning capacity. This calculation considers factors such as your age, education, skills, and employment history to determine how the injury will affect your lifetime earnings.
Vocational Rehabilitation
In severe cases where victims suffer permanent disabilities after a New York City or Staten Island ferry accident, damages may include vocational rehabilitation costs to help you train for a new career that accommodates your limitations. These damages aim to place you in the financial position you would have been in if the accident hadn't happened.
Pain, Suffering, and Other Non-Economic Damages
Beyond the quantifiable financial losses, ferry accident victims may experience significant non-economic damages that deserve compensation.
Physical Pain
Physical pain and discomfort resulting from your injuries can persist long after the accident, affecting your daily life and overall well-being. Compensation for this suffering acknowledges the physical distress you've endured and may continue to experience.
Emotional Suffering
Many ferry accident victims also suffer emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These psychological impacts can be particularly severe for passengers who experienced traumatic events during the accident, such as fearing for their lives or witnessing others being injured.
If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you previously enjoyed, you may receive compensation for loss of enjoyment of life. This might include hobbies, sports, or social activities that added value to your life before the accident.
While these non-economic damages can be more challenging to quantify than medical bills or lost wages, they often constitute a significant portion of the compensation in New York City and Staten Island ferry accident cases.
Property Damage and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
A Staten Island ferry accident can also result in damage to your personal property and various incidental expenses that add to your financial burden.
Personal items such as smartphones, laptops, jewelry, or clothing may be damaged or destroyed during a ferry accident. You're entitled to compensation for repairing or replacing these items based on their fair market value at the time of the accident.
Transportation costs to and from medical appointments, including parking fees, public transportation fares, or rideshare expenses, can accumulate quickly during your recovery. Keep receipts for these expenses to ensure they're included in your claim.
If your injuries require modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate physical limitations, these costs may be recoverable. Modifications might include wheelchair ramps, bathroom grab bars, or specialized vehicle controls.
Additional household services you may need to hire due to your injuries, such as cleaning services, lawn care, or childcare, can also be included in your compensation claim. These expenses recognize that your injuries may prevent you from handling tasks you previously managed yourself.
When pursuing a claim after a New York City ferry accident, it's essential to track all these expenses meticulously, keeping receipts and documenting why each expense was necessary due to your injury.
