According to the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA), boating accidents cause hundreds of deaths and millions of dollars in damages every year. There are many different federal, state, as well as international maritime laws that govern boating accidents depending on where the incident occurred.
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we can help determine who is responsible for your losses and help you recover the cost of your economic and noneconomic damages. With the help of a Ville Platte boating accident lawyer, you may be able to recover expenses relating to medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and emotional trauma.
To get started with a free, no-obligation case review, call us today at (337) 777-7777.
Contributing Factors in Your Boating Accident
Your legal team will need to prove that because of another party’s negligence, you were involved in an accident that resulted in your injuries. Every personal injury claim, whether it is a car accident or boating accident, must be built on evidence. The information in your case will give your legal team an idea of how your accident occurred.
Some elements that may have contributed to your losses include:
- Reckless or careless boating
- Speeding
- Inexperience in operating a maritime vessel
- Operating a vessel under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue
- Overcrowding or overloading the vessel, which can prevent it from coming to a complete stop
- Misjudging the distance of a fixed object
- Engaging in aggressive or confrontational behaviors
- Operating a vessel without proper lighting
Liability in your situation will rest on the details of your case. One of those factors rests on the location of the accident. Accidents that occur close to the shore usually fall under state and federal laws, while accidents that occur farther offshore may be governed by international maritime laws.
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.
ClientHow a Ville Platte Boating Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Case
When we first speak with you, our first goal is to understand how your accident happened. For example, if your vessel was struck by another boater, we may be able to pursue compensation from that party. However, if your boat was involved in an accident due to a malfunctioning component, we may be able to seek financial recovery from the boat’s manufacturer.
Some of the steps we can take to improve your chances of recovering compensation include:
Collecting Evidence and Documentation
As we mentioned before, to be successful, your case must be built on evidence.
Pertinent pieces of information in your case could be:
- Your medical records, including your treatment expenses
- Insurance policy information
- Boat maintenance and usage logs
- The police report
- Any available photos or videos of the accident
The evidence in your case will be used to determine who can be held responsible for your losses.
Negotiating With Other Parties
Your Ville Platte boating accident lawyer will need to calculate the cost of your damages to determine the monetary value of your economic and noneconomic losses. After they have calculated a figure, they will approach the liable party and negotiate for a fair settlement. In many situations, according to the American Bar Association, many claimants are able to recover their losses without having to go to court. However, this cannot be said for every personal injury claim.
Preparing Your Case For Litigation
Depending on the outcome of your legal team’s negotiation proceedings, you may not have to file a lawsuit. Yet, if your case does make it to court, your lawyer can handle all the paperwork and filings that go along with this process. From there, your compensatory options will be at the discretion of a judge’s ruling.
You do not have an unlimited amount of time to take action. Under Louisiana Civil Code §3492, you only have one year from the date of your boating accident to take your case to court. If you do not take action within the state’s statute of limitations, your case could be time-barred, and you could be prevented from taking your case to court.
Your Ville Platte boating accident lawyer will perform services that meet the needs of your situation. To learn more about what they are, call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777.
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 | ClientRecovering Compensation in a Boating Accident
Your lawyer will divide your losses into economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include items related to tangible financial losses and can have their value backed up with receipts. Noneconomic damages relate more to the psychological sphere of a boating accident, and can be calculated based on the severity of your injuries.
Examples of damages you may be able to recover in a successful case include:
- Medical bills, including the cost of hospitalization and emergency transportation
- Lost wages, if your injuries caused you to miss time from work
- Reduced earning capacity, if you were unable to return to your previous field of employment
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Emotional trauma
- Dismemberment
- Disfigurement
- Disability
You may be able to recover the cost of items that we have not listed here.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientOur Legal Team Is Ready to Help
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we are determined to help you recover the cost of your accident-related expenses so that you can move forward with your life. After being in a boating accident, serving as your own legal advocate can be exhausting. When you work with us, you get to focus on yourself while we take on your legal matters.
Our team works on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if we cannot recover compensation on your behalf, then you do not owe us our attorney’s fees. We are just as invested in your case as you are.
If you were injured in a boating accident, call us today at (337) 777-7777.
