When boaters act negligently, they can put themselves and others at risk of an accident. Negligence can come in many forms while operating a boat, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, motoring in no-wake zones, or simply being an inexperienced boater.
If you or a loved one was sustained boating injuries in Abbeville, LA, our Abbeville boating accident lawyer may be able to help. We may be able to help you pursue compensation for your damages. We provide free case reviews for injured boaters or passengers.
Receiving Compensation Based on Your Abbeville Boat Accident Damages
Our Abbeville boating accident lawyer will help you recover compensation by identifying and valuing the expenses and losses you experienced. Upon reviewing your damages, we will monetize them and use the combined figure to determine appropriate compensation for your boating accident. Then, we can file a claim or lawsuit to seek financial recovery on your behalf.
We can help you seek compensation for boating accident damages such as:
- Current medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Limited earning capacity
- Property damages
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Other intangible losses
- Any related out-of-pocket expenses
Additionally, our firm can help your family pursue damages if your loved one lost their life in an Abbeville boating accident. These expenses and damages may include funeral costs, burial, loss of companionship, and more. Certain immediate family members can pursue these damages under the state’s wrongful death statute, CC Art. 2315.2. This includes:
- The spouse
- Children
- Parents
Our team will assess your case and determine if you qualify to pursue damages and the financial recovery that may be available to you. Our case reviews are always free and confidential.
Evidence is Important in an Abbeville, Louisiana, Boat Accident Case
To recover compensation for the damages you endured, you will need to obtain evidence to show that the other party caused the incident and your injuries, as well as the value of your case. Your evidence may include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage bills
- Eyewitness statements
- Accident reconstruction
- Relevant medical records
- Expert opinions
- Photos or videos
- Police or first responder reports
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we will need to review this evidence before pursuing insurance negotiations. We may be able to build a case to show that another boater, the manufacturer of a defective part, or another party is responsible for your boating collision. We will file an insurance claim or lawsuit against them to recover a financial award based on your damages.
How Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Can Help Your Case
According to the U.S. Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety Statistics, about 105 boating accidents occurred in Louisiana during 2019. They resulted in injuries, deaths, and property damages valued at more than $500,000. Boating injuries are more common than you may realize. Our team knows how to navigate these claims and believes you should not have to go through this alone.
There are many ways we can help your case, such as by protecting your rights during a boat accident claim. Our firm’s goal is to help you fight for a successful outcome. In many ways, boat collision cases are similar to car accident cases. We must take many of the same steps to build a case and hold the at-fault boater responsible. This could require us to:
- Review your case during a free consultation
- Explain your options for compensation
- Negotiate an insurance claim on your behalf
- Investigate your accident and obtain evidence
- Review your medical documents and recommend additional treatment if necessary
- Work to uncover fault, liability, and negligence
- Fight to get you fair compensation
- Handle all communications with insurance companies and attorneys
- File a personal injury lawsuit
- Fight for your award at trial if we can’t settle your case out of court
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers will manage the entity of your legal case from your initial consultation until we reach a settlement or receive a judgment. We represent our clients based on contingency. We will never ask you to pay any upfront fees. We get our fees from the recovery we secure in your case.
Proving Liability in Your Vermilion Parish Boat Accident Case
As the American Bar Association (ABA) notes, “liability stems from careless or thoughtless conduct or a failure to act when a reasonable person would have acted.” You will need to prove liability to collect damages.
In many cases, our team of boat accident lawyers can settle these claims through an insurance agreement and avoid trial. We can file a boating accident lawsuit for you if we cannot secure fair compensation during out-of-court negotiations with an insurance company.
Negligence is key in proving that liability occurred. Negligence, in general, is when someone acts carelessly, causing others harm. There are four factors required to prove negligence:
- The liable party owed you a legal duty of care.
- The party breached this duty, usually by violating laws or accepted safety practices.
- An incident occurred because of the breach.
- You suffered harm in the incident, including physical and financial damages.
For example, boater negligence could occur when a boater drives their vessel at high speeds through no-wake zones or other low-speed areas. In another example, negligence could occur when the boat manufacturer used faulty parts, resulting in an accident.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, our law firm will help you obtain evidence that proves another party was negligent. With proper evidence of negligence, we will help you establish the defendant is liable and hold them accountable.
You May Want to Consider Taking Legal Action as Soon as Possible
Per CC Art. 3492, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is generally within two years of the accident in question. If you fail to submit paperwork to begin a personal injury lawsuit for your boating accident before this time, your case may be dismissed. However, some exceptions may apply.
Developing a boat accident case takes time. We cannot get started until you discuss your case with us and sign on for our representation. We encourage you to call us as soon as you can so that we can assess the deadlines in your case.
Your case may have specific details that alter the timeline or take special consideration. For example, you may have more time if the victim was a minor. Some circumstances reduce how long you can wait to begin the civil process, though. You must meet these deadlines.
Speak with the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Team Today
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, the team from our Lafayette personal injury law office provides free case consultations for those injured in Abbeville, Louisiana, and nearby areas. We will discuss your boating accident and injuries with you today for free.
You can learn about your rights and options and our services. We will answer your questions and explain how our attorney may be able to help. Dial (337) 777-7777 now to speak with a member of our boating accident team for free.
