If a marine vessel collision left you significantly injured, consult with a seasoned Marksville boat accident lawyer immediately.
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 can assist you with any potential legal claims.
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.
For a free legal consultation with a boat accident lawyer serving Marksville, call (318) 333-3198
What does Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Do for Boat Accident Victims?
We handle each case on an individual basis. When we review your case, we’ll explain in detail what we can do for you. Each client has different needs and goals, with one common theme: each boat accident victim we represent seeks a financial recovery.
Steps we will generally take on your behalf include:
- Gathering evidence from the accident, which may include videos of the accident, photographs of damage, an accident report, and toxicology reports
- Dealing with any insurance companies involved in the post-accident process
- Calculating the monetary value of your damages
- Determining which damages entitle you to compensation
- Developing a case strategy
- Informing liable parties that we are seeking compensation
- Negotiating a settlement
- Going to trial when necessary
We never assume which turns your case will take. We fight tirelessly for a fair settlement and remain open to the possibility of trial. Our team does whatever is necessary to seek fair financial recovery for you.
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 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 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.”
Marksville Boat Accident Lawyer Near Me (318) 333-3198
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.
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 attorneys 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 §3492, you generally only have one year to initiate a civil action against the responsible party. Any actions filed after this date are generally subject to dismissal.
Click to contact our Marksville Personal Injury Lawyers today
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.
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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.
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.
Call or text (318) 333-3198 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
