You’ve Been in a Boating Accident—What Should You Do Now?

Time has likely passed since your boating accident. Each move you make now must be calculated. There are two priorities after your boat accident in Marksville:

  • Seeking medical attention
  • Retaining a personal injury lawyer

Seeing a medical professional is critical. If you need to seek compensation for injuries, you’ll need a record of those injuries. By visiting an emergency room, your doctor, or a walk-in clinic, you’ll establish that your injuries are accident-related. If you wait too long, liable parties may claim that your injuries are not accident-related. Don’t wait.

Hiring an attorney may be just as important as getting medical treatment. An attorney from our firm will serve several valuable roles, including:

  • Helping you find adequate medical care (yes, you may hire our firm even before you get medical attention)
  • Filing all necessary reports of your boating accident and resulting injuries
  • Preserving all accident-related evidence
  • Ensuring that you make no statements or take no actions that could compromise your case
  • Initiating an investigation of your accident

We have extensive experience handling boat accident cases in Louisiana. We know what must be done, and we waste no time once we accept a case.

What does Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Do for Boat Accident Victims?

Our team has helped clients with all types of water-related accident cases. For example, we secured $200,000 for a deckhand’s work-related back injury and $5.5 million for another injured maritime worker.
With an overall five-star rating on Google, we trust that our past clients can provide insight into what you can expect when we’re on your side:

  • “They helped me when the other party’s insurance wouldn’t answer my calls! They got the job done and efficiently!”
  • “Throughout my case, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers did everything we discussed on day one, with true professionalism and compassion… the comfort and support were immediate, and their experience and talent gave me my life back.”
  • “Their dedication to their clients is the best I’ve seen across any firm.”

We Can Help You File a Boating Accident Claim or Lawsuit

When individuals suffer an injury in a recreational boat accident, the legal theory of negligence could be used as the basis of a claim. Harmed individuals could file a claim or lawsuit against any person or entity whose actions led to their injuries.

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Establishing Negligence in a Boating Accident Case

For a successful personal injury claim, injured people must usually present evidence that the at-fault party owed them a duty of care. Injured parties must then demonstrate how the at-fault party’s actions breached this duty and how the breach caused the accident. Finally, victims must provide evidence of their injuries. By establishing this series of events, Marksville boat accident lawyers from our team may show a defendant’s liability for the accident. In doing so, we may be able to help you recover compensation for damages like:

  • Treatment of your injuries
  • Damage to your boat
  • Pain and suffering you endured
  • Wages and other income your injuries kept you from earning

Other damages may also be recoverable, which we can discuss when you hire us as your representatives.

The Lawsuit Filing Window for Boating Accidents in Louisiana

It’s worth noting that Louisiana has a particularly short filing window for personal injury lawsuits. Per CC 3493.1, you generally only have two years to initiate a civil action against the responsible party. Any actions filed after this date are generally subject to dismissal.

Talk to a Louisiana Local Attorney Today

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Laws Pertaining to Marksville Watercraft Accidents and How They Can Affect Your Case

Certain federal laws specifically pertain to claims arising from boating accidents related to maritime work. For example, the Jones Act applies to seamen who are injured on commercial vessels. The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) protects other maritime industry workers following a work injury.

These laws have unique applications for different accident claims relating to boats and ships. Consequently, many harmed parties rely on a Marksville boat accident lawyer to help explain the laws and how they apply to their situation.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act covers seamen who are injured while on commercial vessels because of employer or supervisor negligence or a poorly maintained vessel. Typically, this act covers a harmed seaman’s living expenses while they are unable to work and the costs of medical treatment. Injured workers may also receive alternative job training if they cannot return to their previous job. Furthermore, the Jones Act could compensate for pain and suffering and loss of future income.

In the context of the Jones Act, “seamen” include any individuals who spend at least 30 percent of their work hours serving on vessels in navigable waters. The term also includes people assigned to work with a vessel or a fleet of vessels, or those who work on a navigable vessel.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA)

While the Jones Act applies only to seamen, the LHWCA provides benefits for a wider variety of maritime industry employees. Unlike a traditional personal injury case, there is no requirement that an injured worker proves negligence to file a claim under the LHWCA. Instead, injured workers simply must demonstrate that the injury occurred while they were working. Eligible damages under the LHWCA may include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Two-thirds of lost wages
  • Wrongful death compensation

The LHWCA is the sole source of remedy for many injured maritime workers. Those who accept benefits under this act generally waive their right to file a personal injury claim. A boat accident attorney from our office in Marksville could help you determine the most favorable way to recover from your injury. Then, they could assist with collecting evidence of harm and negligence to support a compensation claim.

Any Boating Accident Victim Can Afford to Hire Our Firm

Our attorneys are dedicated to obtaining justice. We structure our fees to allow us to represent any deserving party, no matter their financial situation. This is called a contingency-fee arrangement.

With a contingency fee, you don’t pay us by the hour, nor do you pay us anything upfront when we accept your case. We will handle every step of your case—including expenses—before we receive any compensation from you.

If we secure a judgment or settlement, we’ll receive a portion of your winnings. If we don’t secure compensation, we don’t receive a fee. All case-related costs are ours to bear. This fee structure protects you from financial risk.

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Client Testimonials Hear from locals like you.

Toni is an absolute professional. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision. He...

Toni is an absolute professional. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients, ensuring every detail is handled with care and precision. Her communication is clear, and she truly cares about delivering results. I couldn’t recommend her more highly!

M
Mimi

Lake Charles

I highly recommend Derek Hebert to anyone in need of a skilled and trustworthy attorney. From the very beginning, Derek was professional, honest, and ...

I highly recommend Derek Hebert to anyone in need of a skilled and trustworthy attorney. From the very beginning, Derek was professional, honest, and incredibly responsive. He took the time to explain every step of the process in clear terms and always made sure I felt informed and supported.

His attention to detail, strong communication, and genuine dedication made a stressful situation much easier to navigate. Derek went above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcome, and I’m truly grateful for his hard work.

If you’re looking for an attorney who is knowledgeable, reliable, and truly cares about his clients, Derek Hebert is an outstanding choice.

B
Brylan Cormier

Lafayette

Courtney Marsh has a positive attitude and great attention to detail in her work!

R
Rhonda C.

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs...

The team at Laborde Earls is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. While I would recommend any team member, I would strongly urge you to speak with Mrs. Courtney. I spoke with her multiple times, and each time she was patient and answered every question I had. She made me feel like I was the only client. Grateful for her and Laborde Earls!

T
Tracie Martin

Alexandria

Elizabeth Lachney I absolutely hands down the best. She is very professional, knowledgeable and most importantly she is very respectful. She is one re...

Elizabeth Lachney I absolutely hands down the best. She is very professional, knowledgeable and most importantly she is very respectful. She is one reason why we use Laborde Earles Law Firm. They make you feel like family!

T
Tiffany Bardwell

New Iberia

They have good to keep me updated on the case but so far the settlement has not been reached.

L
Lisa S.

Renee McCaslin goes above and beyond to help the clients. Her attention to detail is unmatched! Her kind heart and sweet spirit both go a long way in ...

Renee McCaslin goes above and beyond to help the clients. Her attention to detail is unmatched! Her kind heart and sweet spirit both go a long way in making you feel heard and cared for. And, she’s, like, really pretty!

S
Sylvia Roy

New Iberia

I highly recommend hiring Laborde Earles for your personal injury needs. They have the most professional, friendly and communicative staff who are gua...

I highly recommend hiring Laborde Earles for your personal injury needs. They have the most professional, friendly and communicative staff who are guaranteed to work hard on your case and get the outcome you deserve. Brittani C. is one of the most organized, thorough and helpful paralegals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She keeps you informed and answers all your questions throughout the litigation process.

P
Patrick Conner

Baton Rouge

Each time I interact with a member of the Laborde Earls team I am always extremely satisfied with the service provided. I had the pleasure of speaking...

Each time I interact with a member of the Laborde Earls team I am always extremely satisfied with the service provided. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Marsh today. She was extremely knowledgeable in addition to being patient and empathetic. She was able to provide me with the necessary resources and provided me with encouragement throughout the process. I definitely recommend Laborde Earls! Ask for Courtney!

M
Megan C.

Over 1,700 5-Star Reviews

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Reach Out to Our Team Serving Marksville Today

If you have suffered injuries in a watercraft accident, reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to hire an injury attorney. The first consultation is free, and we serve clients in Lafayette, Alexandria, Marksville, New Orleans, and various surrounding parishes.

Contact our Marksville office to learn more about your legal options and begin working toward a favorable outcome.

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