
Were you or a family member injured in a boating accident in Baton Rouge, LA? Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for fair compensation. Call (225) 263-4787 for a free consultation with an experienced Baton Rouge boating accident lawyer today.
Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience handling complex injury cases. Since we opened our law firm, our Baton Rouge personal injury attorneys have recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients across Louisiana.
The person responsible for your injuries may owe you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact our law offices in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to schedule a free consultation today.
Why Choose Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to Help Me Recover Compensation After a Boating Accident in Baton Rouge, LA?

Recovering from an injury can be incredibly overwhelming. Your lawyer shouldn’t add to your stress. You deserve a lawyer who will put in the hard work and stand by your side at every stage of the legal process.
Our proven track record of success at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers stems from our client-centered approach. When you hire our Baton Rouge boating accident attorneys, you’ll have one-on-one contact with your lawyer. You’ll never be just another case number that disappears in a pile of files.
We’ve demonstrated that our small-firm approach generates big-firm results.
For our success, we’ve been recognized on a national level, including by:
- The National Trial Lawyers
- Super Lawyers
- The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
We’ve also earned over 350 five-star Google reviews. When you hire our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers, you’re hiring a team that goes all-in for our clients. Contact us today to learn more about how we can fight for you.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Louisiana?
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 92 accidents involving recreational boats were reported across Louisiana in 2024. At least eight people were injured in those accidents, and nine victims lost their lives.
Boating accidents can occur in the blink of an eye.
Our attorneys represent clients in cases involving all types of vessels, including cases involving:
- Fishing boat accidents
- Power boat accidents
- Accidents involving rental boats
- Jet skis and waverunners
- Sailboat accidents
- Kayak or canoe accidents
- Tour boat accidents
- Commercial boat accidents
- Tug boat accidents
Do you have questions about your legal rights after an accident on the water? Call our lawyers in Baton Rouge to schedule a free consultation.
What Is My Baton Rouge Boating Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury claim will depend on details unique to your accident and injury.
The most important factors to consider include:
- The nature of your injuries
- Your prognosis for recovery
- The circumstances of the accident
- The amount you’ve spent on medical treatment
- Your predicted future medical and rehabilitative costs
- How much income you’ve lost due to the injury
- Expected future lost education and career opportunities
- Your mental trauma and personal suffering
- Whether you are being blamed for your accident
- Available insurance coverage
At the outset, you may have very little idea how much your case is worth. You deserve to have that information. If you don’t understand how much your injury case is truly worth, you’ll likely walk away with less than you deserve. Expert testimony is almost always crucial in estimating your ongoing losses.
Our Louisiana boating accident attorneys can offer more information once we understand the facts of your case. Call for a free case review today to learn more about your case value.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Boating Accident Victims in Baton Rouge?
Damages in Louisiana are classified based on whether they compensate a victim for financial losses or non-financial losses.
Economic damages reimburse victims for the financial costs of an accident and injury, including:
- Current medical bills
- Anticipated future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are more concerned with the intangible, personal damage caused by an injury, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about the types of damages that your compensation award should include. Our lawyers are dedicated to helping injured victims hold negligent parties fully accountable for their losses. We’ll be here to help when you need it most.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Baton Rouge?
You can hire our team at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers without any upfront cost. Instead, we take clients on a contingency fee basis. When you hire us, you simply agree to pay a percentage of the compensation we recover in your case.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Partially Responsible for Causing a Boating Accident in Louisiana?
Generally, yes, unless you were 100% responsible for your own injuries.
As of 2025, Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. Fault is divided among all parties who share blame for an accident. Each party is then responsible for their percentage of fault.
The “blame game” is common in personal injury cases. Insurance companies will search for ways to blame a victim. When they succeed, they pay less than they otherwise would. That’s the entire nature of their business–maximizing profits.
If someone is blaming you, you don’t have to handle it alone. Our experienced lawyers know how to help you fight to minimize the impact of Louisiana’s shared fault rules.
Common Boating Accident Injuries in Baton Rouge, LA
An accident on the water can result in a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor to severe and life-threatening.
We represent victims who have suffered all types of injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Burns
- Facial injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Ankle and wrist injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Knee and leg injuries
- Skull fractures
- Brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries and injuries that result in wrongful death
A serious injury can change your life in unanticipated ways. Even a relatively “minor” injury can dramatically impact your life for weeks or months. You deserve a lawyer dedicated to getting the money you need and deserve during this challenging time.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents in Baton Rouge?
Accidents are most likely to happen when someone is careless or reckless. Negligent behaviors are the leading causes of accidents.
In boating accident cases, many accidents are caused by:
- Distracted boat operators
- Excessive speeds
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to other vessels on the water
- Hazardous weather conditions
- Drunk drivers and drug use
- Violation of navigational rules
- Congested waterways
- Limited visibility
- Failure to maintain the boat in a safe condition
- Mechanical failures
- Overloading the vessel
- Sharp turns
It can be more difficult to identify the cause or causes of accidents that occur on the water than on land. Hiring an experienced attorney is the best way to understand exactly what happened.
We Handle All Types of Boating Accident Cases
Our team helps clients in cases involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls overboard
- Running aground
- Collisions with another vessel or a fixed object
- Capsizing
- Swamping
- Accidents involving the vehicle’s propeller
If you have questions about your legal rights, count on our team for answers. Just call today for a free case review.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident in Louisiana?
Most personal injury cases in Louisiana are typically governed by a two-year statute of limitations. After the two-year anniversary of the accident passes, you’ll likely be prohibited from suing for damages.
While most cases can be resolved by negotiating a settlement with the defense, the threat of trial should always be on the table. Often, that threat motivates the insurance company to offer a fair amount.
How Do I Prove I’m Entitled to Receive Compensation After a Boating Accident in Louisiana?
When an accident occurs on the water, victims may also find it challenging to locate enough evidence to prove their case.
When you hire our attorneys, you can rest assured that we have the tools to locate any available evidence, including:
- Accident reports
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Evidence about conditions on the vessel
- Citations issued by LDWF
- The vessel’s maintenance records
- Eyewitness statements
- Medical records
Like any car accident victim, your goal is to prove that someone else was responsible for your injuries. Typically, that requires proof of negligence, or proof that someone failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution under the circumstances, and that you were injured because of it.
Contact Our Baton Rouge Boating Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Were you injured in a boating accident in Baton Rouge? Contact Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for legal assistance today. The sooner our Baton Rouge boating accident lawyers begin our investigation, the better.