Both personal and commercial watercraft are familiar sights along Louisiana’s various coastlines and waterways. Unfortunately, some individuals who operate these vessels ignore or fail to follow proper safety precautions and legal requirements for boating in these waters. If you are injured in a boat accident, you may wish to seek the advice of a Marksville boat accident lawyer from our firm.
If another person’s negligence led to your boat accident injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. You could seek compensation for the medical bills, time lost from work, pain, and suffering, and other damages you suffered following a boating accident. A caring personal injury attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers could help explain the legal theory of negligence and assist you with any potential legal claims.
What Past Clients Have to say About Our Law Firm
Our team has helped clients with all types of water-related accident cases. For example, we were able to secure $200,000 for a deck hand’s work-related back injury and $5,500,000 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 Law Firm 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.”
For a free legal consultation with a boat accident lawyer serving Marksville, call (318) 777-7777
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 to file a claim alleging injury. This means harmed individuals could file a claim or lawsuit against any person or entity whose actions led to their injuries.
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 were a breach of the 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 attorneys from our team may be able to show a defendant’s liability for the accident and the cost of your injuries to the insurance company or court. 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 §3492, you only have one year to initiate a civil action against the responsible party. Any actions filed past this date are generally subject to dismissal.
Marksville Boat Accident Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
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, while other maritime industry workers are protected following a work injury under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.
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 can apply to a victim’s situation.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act covers seamen who are injured while on commercial vessels as a result of employer or supervisor negligence, or due to a poorly maintained vessel. Typically, this Act covers a harmed seaman’s living expenses while they are unable to work, as well as the costs of medical treatment. It may also pay for alternative job training if an individual is unable to return to their previous job. Furthermore, it could provide compensation for pain, 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 wide 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
Since the LHWCA is the sole source of remedy for many injured maritime workers, though, people who accept benefits under this Act waive their right to file a personal injury claim. A dedicated 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 claim for compensation.
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Reach Out to the Attorney on our Marksville Team Today
If you have suffered injuries due to a watercraft accident, reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to hire a dedicated injury attorney. The first consultation is free, and we serve clients in Lafayette, Alexandria, Marksville, New Orleans, and various surrounding parishes.
Call our Marksville office now to learn more about your legal options and begin working toward a favorable outcome at (318) 777-7777.
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