A boating accident in New Orleans can damage or destroy your boat. Moreover, it can leave you and any passengers on your boat with serious injuries. The physical injuries and property damage from a boating accident can also leave you with serious financial consequences.
If you or someone you love was injured in a boating accident, you might have the basis of a personal injury insurance claim or lawsuit. If you can prove the cause, effect, and financial impact of the accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your accident-related damages.
A New Orleans boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can manage this entire process on your behalf when we represent you.
For a free case review, contact the personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today by calling (504) 777-7777. We may be able to represent you on a contingency-fee-basis with no up-front payments required to start.
Report Your Boating Accident without Delay
After a boat accident in New Orleans, you may be required to stop, help anyone who needs assistance, and exchange information with the other involved boat owner. The information you exchange should include names, contact information, and boat identification information.
Additionally, you are required to report a boating accident in much the same manner as you are required to report a car accident, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF). A report is mandatory if anyone on either boat:
- Is injured
- Is fatally injured
- Disappears
A report is also mandatory if more than $500 in damage is apparent. While the law makes a report mandatory in certain situations, itemizing the details of a boating accident in an official report is also a good idea, as your report may prove to be a useful piece of evidence of your damages in your personal injury case.
For a free legal consultation with a boating accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call (337) 777-7777
Additional Evidence in a Boat Accident Case
In addition to a boat accident report, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can collect evidence of the responsible party’s liability, such as:
- Photos or videos from the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Your medical records
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
When our personal injury team investigates your boating accident, we may ask you for any accident-related evidence or receipts that you have.
New Orleans Boating Accident Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Filing a Claim for a Boating Accident Has a Time Limit
Louisiana Civil Code § 3492 puts a general one-year statute of limitations on filing a personal injury lawsuit after a boating accident.
When Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers represents you, we work hard to file your claim on time. We do so because filing your claim late may mean:
- Your lawsuit cannot be filed
- Your lawsuit is dismissed without being heard
- The at-fault party might not be compelled to compensate you via a lawsuit
Avoid putting your potential right to financial recovery at risk by waiting too long and missing the deadlines in your case. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (504) 777-7777 for a free consultation on your case with a member of our team, including information on what specific deadlines pertain to you.
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Establishing the Cause of Your Boating Accident
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cited 4,168 recreational boat accidents in the U.S. in 2019. Of these, their statistics counted 2,559 injuries and 613 deaths. A slight increase in the number of accidents occurred in 2018, resulting in $55 million in property damage costs.
According to the USCG, the most often reported cause of boating accidents that resulted in fatalities in 2019 was alcohol use. Other common boat accident causes include:
- The boat operator not paying attention
- The boat operator lacking experience
- Not using a proper lookout
- Speeding
Whatever the cause of your boating accident, a New Orleans boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to identify the responsible party and collect evidence of how their negligence caused your accident, your injuries, and their financial aftermath.
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The Potentially Recoverable Damages in a Boating Accident Case
If you can prove that another party’s negligence caused your accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Depending on the details of your accident and injuries, recoverable damages in this type of case may include:
- Medical expenses until you are fully recovered
- Lost wages related to the time missed at work while recovering from your injuries
- Property repair expenses or their replacement value
- Pain and suffering
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can collect evidence of the value of your damages when we represent you.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Damages
Once we have the evidence of the responsible party’s liability and the value of your damages, we can present our case to the responsible party’s insurance company in settlement negotiations. If they refuse to make you a fair settlement offer, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can take your case to trial.
During this time, we can also handle all communications, deadlines, and paperwork in your case so you can focus your time and energy on your recovery. Our staff will be available to answer your questions and provide you with updates on your case throughout this process.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
You do not have to seek financial compensation alone. A New Orleans boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can manage all aspects of your insurance claim or lawsuit.
For a free, no-obligation consultation on your case with a member of our boating accident team, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (504) 777-7777 today.
If you qualify, we may be able to offer you representation on a contingency-fee-basis. There are no up-front payments required in this arrangement. Instead, our attorney fees come as a percentage of your settlement offer or court award if and when you win your case.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
