Have you been injured in a boating accident in New Orleans, Louisiana? Contact Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers at (504) 294–3804 for a free consultation. Our experienced New Orleans boating accident lawyers can help you maximize your recovery.
Don’t settle for less than what your boat accident case is worth. Demand the best case results by trusting our top-rated legal team to fight for you. We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so contact our New Orleans law office today.
Why Choose Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Boating Accident Case in New Orleans, LA
Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is a top-rated personal injury law firm known for its detailed approach to litigation and multi-million-dollar case results. Backed by 50+ years of combined legal experience, we’ve taken on powerful corporations and won tens of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients.
When you hire us, you gain a dedicated team that treats your case with the urgency and attention it deserves. Our attorneys understand the unique challenges boating accident victims face, from complex liability issues to navigating maritime laws. We take the time to investigate thoroughly, build compelling evidence, and fight aggressively to hold negligent parties accountable.
Most importantly, we prioritize open communication and personalized service, ensuring you always know where your case stands and feel supported throughout the legal process. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced New Orleans personal injury lawyer.
We Represent Clients in All Types of Boating Accident Cases
We represent clients who’ve been injured in all types of boating accidents in New Orleans, including:
- Kayak accidents
- Canoe accidents
- Jetski accidents
- Speedboat accidents
- Sailboat accidents
- Tour boat accidents
- Pontoon boat accidents
- Airboat accidents
- Swamp boat accidents
- Fishing boat accidents
- Yacht accidents
- Barge accidents
- Commercial boat accidents
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law office in New Orleans to discuss the details of your specific boat accident right away. Members of our team can listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand what legal options might be available to you as you move forward.
How Much is My Boat Accident Case Worth?
A lot can affect the potential value of your personal injury claim after a boating accident in New Orleans, LA.
Important factors are:
- The severity of your physical injuries
- The types of injuries you’ve suffered and the part(s) of your body that have been affected
- The likelihood that you’ll be diagnosed with a permanent impairment or disability
- Short-term or long-term changes in your income and earning capacity
- Changes in your ability to work
- Your age and life expectancy
- Shared responsibility for the boating accident
- Changes in your overall quality of life
The more your medical bills cost, the longer you’re unable to work, and the less you’re able to enjoy your life after a boat accident in New Orleans, the more you can generally expect to recover through a civil boat accident claim. However, it is important to recognize that certain things, like contributory fault, can limit your case’s value.
The best course of action involves hiring an experienced Louisiana boat accident attorney near you in New Orleans to help you pursue compensation from a negligent boater, a boat manufacturer, a boat rental company, or another liable party. Working with an attorney can give you the knowledge and power needed to win your case and maximize your recovery.
What Causes Most Boat Accidents?
Situated on the Mississippi River and just a stone’s throw from the Gulf of Mexico, it’s no surprise that recreational boating is incredibly popular in and around New Orleans. The city is a major contributor to the state’s $3.9 million recreational boating industry.
While the city, state, and federal governments have boating laws in place to encourage safe boating practices, accidents still happen. Most often, these boat accidents can be avoided, but happen because someone is negligent.
Some of the most commonly cited causes of boating accidents include:
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Drug and alcohol use
- Operator inattention
- Operator distraction
- Speeding
- Ignoring boating safety rules and regulations
- Running aground
- Striking a fixed object
- Flooding
- Defective equipment
- Mechanical failure
- Improper wake handling
- Poor weather conditions
Anyone who contributes to a boat accident in New Orleans, either directly or indirectly, can be financially responsible for resulting damages. Our New Orleans boating accident attorneys won’t rest until we’ve learned why your boat accident happened and who’s at fault. When liability is clear, we’ll do everything we can to hold them accountable for your considerable losses.
What Compensation Can Be Awarded to New Orleans Boating Accident Victims?
When you file a boat accident lawsuit in New Orleans, you can seek two different compensatory damages: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the objective costs of your boat accident, which might include:
- Hospitalization and other medical bills
- Reduced earning capacity
- Temporary lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Long-term disability
- Lost job benefits
- Nursing care
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
Recovering economic damages ensures that the financial burden of your boating accident does not fall on you, but on the parties responsible for your injuries.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages help you deal with the more subjective losses you experience as a boat accident victim, which can include:
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Pain and suffering
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Embarrassment
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Chronic physical pain
- Emotional distress
The insurance company you’re up against will work hard to downplay your costs and suffering. Our New Orleans personal injury attorneys will counter their efforts, working hard to build a legal claim that forces the adjuster to negotiate fairly and make a fair settlement offer.
Can Shared Fault Affect My Louisiana Boat Accident Settlement?
Yes. Louisiana’s doctrine of pure comparative negligence applies to most recreational boating accident cases. The more you’re assigned responsibility for a boat accident in which you’re injured, the less compensation you can receive through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Expect a negligent boat operator or another liable party to point fingers and say you’re responsible for your boat accident. If you don’t fight back and dispute these allegations, it can significantly reduce your monetary award.
Common Boat Accident Injuries
Boating accidents can cause severe physical injuries, including:
- Crushing injuries
- Burn injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Degloving injuries
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis injuries
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Drowning injuries
- Hypothermia
- Eye injuries
- Chest injuries
- Leg injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Do your best to report a boating accident to the local police and seek immediate medical care at the closest emergency room once you’ve made it to shore. Once your condition is stable, reach out to our legal team to discuss your legal rights and options.
What Will it Cost to Hire a Boating Accident Attorney in New Orleans?
At Mansfield Melancon, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means our fees are based on the results we achieve. No win, no fee. That’s a promise we can make to you right now.
When we win your boat accident case, our fees are paid out of the settlement agreement or jury award we’ve obtained on your behalf.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Boat Accident Lawsuits in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, a two-year statute of limitations applies to most recreational boating accident cases. A shorter one-year statute of limitations applies to wrongful death cases when a New Orleans boating accident is fatal.
You have to file your personal injury claim before time runs out, or you’ll lose the ability to get compensation for your medical treatment, lost wages, and harder-to-value trauma.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced New Orleans Boating Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a boating accident in New Orleans, Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is here to fight for you. When someone else’s carelessness causes you harm, you deserve full and fair compensation. Our team will stand by your side, protect your rights, and work tirelessly to maximize your financial recovery.
With decades of combined experience and a history of winning significant settlements and verdicts, our award-winning New Orleans boating accident attorneys have the skill and dedication needed to handle even the toughest cases. Call today for a free consultation.
