Injured in a Boating Accident? Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers Can Help.
Louisiana has one of the most active boating communities in the country. With the state’s Gulf coastline, inland channels, and countless other waterways, boating is simply a way of life here. But when negligence happens out on the water, the consequences can be devastating. Sadly, the legal process that follows a boating accident can be just as overwhelming as the accident itself.
If you were injured in a boat accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The boat accident lawyers at Dudley DeBosier are here to help you understand your rights and fight for maximum compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What to Do After a Boating Accident in Louisiana
The steps you take after a boating accident are critical. Doing the following can have a significant impact on your personal safety and the strength of your accident claim:
- Seek medical attention immediately. Even if your injuries seem minor, get evaluated. Some injuries aren’t obvious right away.
- Report the accident. In Louisiana, boating accidents that result in injury, death, or property damage that exceeds $500 must be reported to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Document the scene. Take photos of the vessels, the surrounding area, any visible injuries, and relevant conditions, such as weather or water visibility.
- Gather information. Collect the names, contact information, and insurance details of all involved, as well as contact information from any witnesses.
- Avoid discussing fault. Don’t give recorded statements to insurance representatives before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact a boat accident lawyer right away. Evidence on the water can easily get washed away. Acting quickly gives your legal team the best chance to collect evidence and build a strong case.
How We Help Boat Accident Victims
When injured in a boating accident, the first thing you’ll want to do is seek legal representation. In Louisiana, the typical statute of limitations on personal injury claims is two years, but we encourage you to contact us right away. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can begin collecting evidence and building a claim.
When you hire us to handle your boat accident claim, we’ll begin building a claim for you by taking the following steps:
- Compiling written statements from the involved parties and witnesses
- Determining who is at fault for the injuries sustained
- Dealing with insurance negotiations on your behalf
- Photographing and recreating the scene to gather key insights
- Helping to pay immediate medical bills and compiling medical records
The attorneys at Dudley DeBosier have the experience to assist you through your entire claim and get you the compensation you are owed for personal injuries and other claims. We help people who have been injured in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Houma, and Denham Springs.
Contact our team today for a free consultation.
Common Boating Accidents on Louisiana Waterways
Common causes of boating accidents include operator inattention or inexperience, excessive speed, boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to follow rules, reckless operation, operating in unsafe weather, overloaded or overcrowded vessels, poor boat maintenance, and defective equipment. Those failures can lead to any of the following types of accidents:
Collision Accidents
Collisions between vessels are among the most common boating accidents on Louisiana waterways. These crashes can involve two recreational boats, a boat and a fixed structure like a dock or bridge pylon, or a vessel striking a submerged object. At faster speeds, the impact force can be catastrophic. This is particularly dangerous for passengers without seatbelts or other protection.
Capsizing Accidents
When a boat overturns, everyone on board is suddenly in the water. This is often a disorienting, panicked situation with limited time to react.
Capsizing can be caused by operator error, overloading, sharp turns at high speed, large wakes from passing vessels, or sudden severe weather. Passengers who cannot swim, who aren’t wearing life jackets, or who become trapped beneath the vessel face the greatest risk of drowning or serious injury.
Ejection Accidents
Being thrown from a boat is one of the leading causes of serious boating injuries and fatalities. Ejected passengers may strike the water, the vessel itself, or nearby objects with significant force. In many cases, ejection accidents involve a second, equally dangerous hazard: the boat’s propeller.
Propeller Accidents
Propeller strikes are among the most devastating injuries in recreational boating. A spinning propeller can cause severe lacerations, amputations, and life-threatening blood loss in seconds.
These accidents often involve ejected passengers, swimmers in the water near a vessel, or situations where an operator failed to account for people in the water before restarting the engine. If you or a loved one suffered a propeller injury, a thorough investigation into exactly what happened is critical.
Jet Ski and Personal Watercraft Accidents
Jet skis and other personal watercraft are fixtures on Louisiana lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Considering how exposed riders are, injuries from these accidents tend to be particularly severe.
Riders who are thrown, struck, or submerged can suffer broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and even death. These accidents aren’t always the rider’s fault. Faulty rental equipment, negligent maintenance, or a defective watercraft can all play a role. Our lawyers can help determine who bears responsibility.
Tour Boat and Charter Vessel Accidents
Louisiana accommodates countless tourists year-round, and tour boats operating in places like the Atchafalaya Basin, the bayous surrounding New Orleans, and along the Gulf Coast carry large numbers of passengers at a time. When a tour boat operator is negligent, it can harm many people at once. These cases often involve commercial operators who carry their own insurance and legal teams.
Guided Fishing Boat Accidents
Guided fishing trips are popular across Louisiana’s coastal marshes, lakes, and offshore waters. Passengers on these trips place their trust in the guide to operate the vessel safely.
When a guide operates recklessly, ignores weather warnings, overloads the vessel, or fails to carry required safety equipment, they can be held liable for any injuries that result. The boat owner and any company that booked or managed the trip may share responsibility.
Drowning and Near-Drowning Accidents
Not every boating accident involves a collision or mechanical failure. Falling overboard, capsizing, and flooding can all result in drowning or near-drowning incidents with lasting consequences.
Near-drowning survivors may face hypoxic brain injury, respiratory complications, and long-term neurological effects. When these horrific incidents occur because someone was negligent or reckless, those responsible can be held accountable for their actions or inaction.
Maritime Industry Claims for Injured Workers
Not all boating accidents involve recreational vessels. Louisiana’s waterways support a major commercial maritime industry, and workers on those waters face serious danger every day. If you were injured while working on a boat, barge, or any vessel, you may have rights under federal maritime law. These federal laws include the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
These claims are quite different from standard personal injury cases and require attorneys who understand maritime law. Dudley DeBosier handles both recreational boat accident claims and maritime worker injury cases across Louisiana.
Compensation For Louisiana Boating Injuries
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be entitled to the following compensation:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced ability to earn
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
Boating accident claims may involve multiple insurance policies and complex liability questions. Having experienced legal representation ensures that nothing is overlooked and that everything you need is accurately calculated.
Contact Our Louisiana Boating Accident Lawyers Today
At Dudley DeBosier, we know that every client’s experience is unique. We take the time to understand what you’ve been through, what you’re facing now, and what you need going forward.
Our team treats all clients like family and fights hard to make sure insurance companies don’t take advantage of you in your time of need. We don’t stop fighting until we’ve uncovered every avenue of compensation available.
With our No Fee Guarantee®, there are no upfront costs. Our fees are contingent upon the outcome of your case, so there is no risk in reaching out. Call us today for a free consultation.
