Louisiana Lawyers for Boating Accident Injuries

Riding in a boat or going out on a fishing trip should provide nothing but relaxation, and for most Louisiana residents, it does. However, when a design defect leads to a collision or when someone on the water is acting negligently, an innocent victim can suffer critical, life-altering injuries. In the worst-case scenario, someone may even suffer fatal injuries from a boating accident. 

If you or a loved one has been in a serious boating or maritime accident, it is important that you consult with a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible. Louisiana state law recognizes that victims should not have to pay the consequences of boating accidents due to someone else’s reckless behavior. At Joubert Law Firm, APLC, our experienced boating accident lawyers can help evaluate your personal injury claim and inform you about your next steps going forward. Call (225) 777-8853 to schedule a free consultation today.

What is a Maritime Claim?

Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, refers to a body of laws that govern nautical matters, including maritime violations and disputes, and can be found at the state, federal, and even international levels. As such, maritime claims work to pursue and recover compensation for people who are injured on the water — not just in an area lake or on the gulf coast in recreational boating or fishing, but also those who work on oil rigs or fishing boats in the Gulf of Mexico or on the high seas. All commercial and personal watercraft accidents may come under a maritime claim, including anything from a lift boat capsizing to a jet ski accident.

If there was an injury sustained in the recreational boat or commercial vessel accident, the victim(s) may choose to file a maritime claim to seek compensation for any losses that may have resulted. If this applies to you or a loved one, it is important that you obtain the help of a skilled boat accident lawyer like those at Joubert Law Firm. 

What Causes a Boating Accident?

There are many different things that can both cause and contribute to boat accidents. Some of the more common causes of boating accidents include:

• Reckless Boating: When a boat operator drives the boat in a negligent and careless manner, they increase the risk of a boat accident and serious injuries occurring. 
• Dangerous Weather: Dangerous weather is something you can forecast but not control. Boaters may unexpectedly get caught in a bad storm while they are out using their personal watercraft, while others who work on boats often don’t have a choice but to endure the bad weather. Both can lead to potentially devastating accidents. 
• Speeding: Just as speeding is a common contributor to other motor vehicle accidents, it is also a common cause of watercraft accidents.
• Alcohol Use: The same laws apply to boaters as they do vehicle drivers: drinking alcohol while operating is prohibited. Still, many boaters break this law and consume alcohol while driving, putting both themselves and other boats at risk of a watercraft accident. The combination of drinking alcohol and boating is one of the primary causes of collisions on recreational vessels.
• Boat Defect/Engine Malfunction: When watercraft is improperly designed, manufactured, or maintained, it can lead to part or engine failure and a serious boat or jet ski accident. This may also make way for a premises liability lawsuit.

Common Boating Accident Injuries
 

Common injuries sustained in boating accidents include:

• Broken bones or fractures
• Loss of limbs
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Burns
• Loss of hearing or sight
• Paralysis
• Fatal injuries leading to wrongful death

If a victim is rendered unconscious as a result of being thrown off the boat or hitting their head on something, the risk of drowning also increases significantly. Filing a claim for your injuries begins with speaking to a Louisiana personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options. 

Who is Liable in Recreational Boating Accidents?

Recovering compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and past and future wages associated with the injury from the negligent party depends on providing evidence that someone else was not paying attention or not exercising appropriate care. If their reckless or negligent actions led to your injuries, the law holds them responsible for compensating you.

Boating accident cases and maritime claims frequently involve multiple responsible parties. It is often due to a boat operator acting recklessly, but can also be a passenger, another boater, the boat’s manufacturer, or any other watercraft, person, or entity whose negligence put others in a dangerous situation leading to injury or wrongful death. 

Your lawyer’s primary concern should be to investigate the cause of the collision and determine the identity of all liable parties. Our attorneys will investigate the impacts of the accident on your life and aggressively seek maximum compensation. 

How Our Boat Accident Attorneys Can Help

Boating and maritime accidents can turn your life upside down. If the accident led to serious and catastrophic injuries, you may never be able to return to work, or you may have to return to work on a limited basis. This significantly impacts your earning capabilities and can add additional stress and frustration when you are already coping with the challenges that come with recovering from your serious injuries. That’s exactly why the Baton Rouge boating accident attorneys at Joubert Law Firm are here for you.

At Joubert Law Firm, we represent clients in their personal injury claims from all over the Baton Rouge, LA area, including New Orleans and the surrounding gulf coast region. Our attorneys’ combined experience along with our dedication to providing only the highest-quality legal representation makes us the best choice for your maritime accident claim. Give us a call today to schedule your free initial consultation.

Recent Case Results

Our Louisiana injury lawyers have helped many victims across Southern Louisiana obtain maximum compensation for their boating accidents. A recent maritime collision case we took on involved the wrongful death of a recreational jet skier on a local lake. The decedent’s parents brought a wrongful death action against another recreational boater and used expert testimony to prove that the recreational boater was negligent in failing to see the client, striking the jet skier and killing him instantly. The parties reached a settlement at mediation, immediately before trial, for six figures.

You can see more of our past successful personal injury cases on our Case Results page.

Call the Baton Rouge Injury Lawyers at Joubert Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation

A boating accident can forever change a victim’s life. If someone else wasn’t paying attention, was drinking and boating, or was otherwise engaged in reckless behavior that put you and others at risk, you need to protect yourself by consulting with a lawyer as soon as possible.

At Joubert Law Firm, our Louisiana boat accident attorneys have extensive experience handling maritime claims and other claims where someone’s negligence caused an injury or death. We’ll provide you with a free case review of your boat accident claim where we’ll explore your legal options through a completely confidential consultation. If you decide to establish an official attorney-client relationship, we’ll get straight to work gathering evidence and building your case.

Remember, you have a narrow window of time in which you may be able to file a personal injury or maritime claim, so it is vital to obtain a lawyer sooner rather than later. We can help you. Call the Baton Rouge, LA injury lawyers at Joubert Law Firm at (225) 777-8853 or complete our online contact form to begin.

As a thank you to all military members and veterans and to show our appreciation for your sacrifice and service, we would like to offer a discount for your legal cases.