The physical injuries and property damage from a boating accident can 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 boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can manage this entire process on your behalf when we represent you in New Orleans. For a free case review, you can reach out to the personal injury team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today. We may be able to represent you on a contingency-fee basis with no upfront payments required to start.
Potentially Recoverable Damages in a Boating Accident Case
Boating accidents can occur when one vessel crashes into another vessel or an object, such as a dock. They also can occur if someone suffers injuries in a slip and fall or trip and fall while aboard. 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
- Reduced earning ability
- Property repair expenses or their replacement value
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
Damages like pain and suffering can be challenging to prove because they have no dollar value that can be documented with a receipt or invoice. However, our lawyer who handles boating accidents in the New Orleans area can calculate these damages for you and pursue compensation for them.
Wrongful Death Damages May Be Recoverable
Unfortunately, some boating accidents result in fatal injuries. If you lost a loved one to such an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover damages on the decedent’s behalf under CC Art. 2315.2. Louisiana law allows only certain people related to the decedent to file a wrongful death action. If you are eligible to do so, we can work with you to bring a lawsuit forward.
If your wrongful death case is successful, you could recover compensation for your loved one’s medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, and lost household income and benefits. You also may be able to recover damages for grief over losing your loved one and the loss of mentorship and guidance.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can also collect evidence of the value of your injuries and damages when we represent you.
For a free legal consultation with a boating accident lawyer serving New Orleans, call (504) 777-7777
Evidence in a Boating Accident Case
In addition to a boating accident report, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can collect evidence of the responsible party’s liability, such as:
- Photos or videos from the accident scene
- Photos of the boats, ramps, or other structures involved
- Photos or videos of the victim’s accident injuries
- Witness statements
- Your medical records and statements from your doctor
- 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 (504) 777-7777
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 the case to their insurance company in settlement negotiations. If the insurance company refuses to make you a fair settlement offer, Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can take the case to trial.
We Will Manage Your Entire Case
During this time, we can also handle all daily communications, deadlines, and paperwork in the 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 the case throughout this process.
If you qualify to seek damages, we can offer you representation on a contingency-fee basis. There are no upfront payments required in this arrangement. Instead, our attorney’s fees come as a percentage of your settlement offer or court award if and when you win your case.
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Filing a Lawsuit for a Boating Accident Has a Time Limit
CC Art. 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 lawsuit on time. We do so because filing 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. During a free consultation on the case with a member of our team, we can review what specific deadlines pertain to your potential lawsuit.
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Report Your Boating Accident Without Delay
After a boating 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 & 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 property 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. This document may prove to be a useful piece of evidence of your damages in your personal injury case.
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 reported cause of fatal boating accidents 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 New Orleans boating accident, a 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.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
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. You do not have to seek compensation for these damages alone. A boating accident lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can manage all aspects of your New Orleans 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.
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