According to the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety (CG-BSX), 4,168 boating accidents occurred in the United States in 2019, which led to:
- 613 fatalities
- 2,559 injuries
- About $55 million of property damage
Lake Pontchartrain near Metairie is a common boating location, where locals and tourists alike enjoy recreational water festivities. However, boat owners must follow state regulations to ensure the safety of their passengers and other boat users in the water. Failure to do so can result in severe damages, injuries, and even death.
You or your loved one might be owed compensation for a boating accident if it was caused by a negligent party. Boating accidents can be varied, depending on the type of vessel involved. These accidents might apply to personal boats, such as yachts or sailboats, to commercial ships, such as fishing vessels and cargo ships or freighters.
No matter what kind of vessel your case deals with, if your injury occurred while on a water vessel or because one struck you, a Metairie boating accident lawyer may be able to work on your case. For a free consultation to discuss the details of how your accident occurred, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 777-7777 today.
Boat Owners Must Abide by Boating Laws in Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (WLF) presents an exhaustive list of regulations people must follow when operating a water vessel and other watercraft, which includes jet skis. According to the WLF, people who wish to operate a boat with at least 10 horsepower must be born after Jan. 1, 1984, and they must have completed a boating safety education course, per Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §34:851.36.
The statute literature in Louisiana goes in-depth on the regulations boat operators must follow, some of which include:
- RS §34:851.27: boat operators are prohibited from speeding and must follow posted speed limit signs. In Jefferson Parish, boat operators are also prohibited from being within 250 feet of “any structures on any water bottoms in Lake Pontchartrain leased by said local governing authority from the state for recreational purposes.”
- RS §34:851.4: boat operators are prohibited from being careless when operating their vessels. They must give right of way when appropriate and maintain a direct course when passing other vessels, among other rules.
- RS §14:98: boat operators are prohibited from driving a water vessel while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
- RS §34:851.10 and RS §34:851.18: boat operators have a duty to keep their passengers, staff, and vessel safe from harm. They may be held liable for any damages, injuries, or fatalities they cause in an accident.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientYou May Be Able to Receive Compensation for Your Boating Accident Injuries
A Metairie personal injury lawyer can help you assess your damages to determine which losses may be compensable under the law. Typically, these damages are split between economic and non-economic losses.
Economic losses have a tangible, monetary amount and might include the victim’s medical expenses, income loss, and property damage costs. For specific examples, these damages might include:
- Costs for property damage to your water vessel
- Costs for emergency aid or hospital care
- Wages you lost for the days you could not go to work because of your injuries
- Costs for property damage inside the water vessel, such as personal items and equipment
- Costs for rehabilitation treatment or physical therapy
- Costs for casting or medical support devices, such as a wheelchair
Non-economic losses, however, do not have a tangible, monetary amount and might be more general, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in activities
- Loss of quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Loss of independence due to a permanent disability
Wrongful Death
In recreational boating accidents, the CG-BSX reports that drowning was identified as the cause of death in 79% of boating accident fatalities, often due to a lack of wearing a life jacket. If you lost a loved one in a boating accident, you might be eligible to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit on their behalf if you are the decedent’s surviving spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian. If no surviving members are present, a personal representative of the decedent may file.
Damages that are commonly award in wrongful death cases include:
- Funeral costs
- Burial or cremation costs
- Loss of financial support from the decedent
- Loss of emotional support from the decedent, such as to a child or spouse
- Loss of consortium
- Medical costs if the decedent received treatment just before their death
Our Metairie wrongful death lawyers understand that coping with the loss of a loved one might make it difficult for you to process each kind of damage you have endured since their passing. At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we are patient with our clients, knowing that they may be going through tough, emotional changes in their lives.
We can calculate your damages for you and explain these value estimates once we determine the financial worth of your case. It begins by calling our firm at (337) 777-7777. Once you decide to work with us, a Metairie boating accident lawyer can take matters into their own hands and do the work necessary to complete your case.
Statute of Limitations
If you decide to pursue compensation via a personal injury lawsuit, you must submit your lawsuit by the filing deadline set by the statute of limitations. Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §3492 generally gives people one year since the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Your boating lawyer can monitor this deadline and let you know when it is approaching if your insurance claim negotiations seem to slow down or come to a standstill.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientGet a Metairie Boating Accident Lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
If you would like assistance from a legal professional who has experience in maritime and personal injury laws, consider getting a Metairie boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. Our firm handles various cases within personal injury law, including cases about boating collisions. We would love to review your case in a free case evaluation, which you can start by calling (337) 777-7777.
For many people, boating is a pleasurable pastime. However, when a fun time out in the water turns into a tragic accident, we want you to know that you do not have to go through this legal battle on your own. Let the team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers fight for the compensation you need. Call now.
