Boating Accident Attorney in Baton Rouge

If you suffered injuries in a boat accident in Baton Rouge, you might have the right to seek compensation from whoever caused the accident. The Thibeaux Firm can help you pursue the money you need for your medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.

At our boat accident law firm, we are devoted to standing by accident injury victims and getting the compensation they need to move on with their lives. Our business model is delivering personalized service and attention to each client, as well as providing value that few other law practices can.

Attorney Omar Thibeaux is known across Louisiana as “The 25% Attorney,” as he only takes a flat and fair 25 percent fee for the personal injury cases he takes on. This is much lower than the standard 33 to 40 percent other attorneys charge. With Attorney Thibeaux on your side, more of your recovered compensation stays in your pocket.

Contact The Thibeaux Firm for a free, no-obligation case review and consultation. Discover how a Baton Rouge boat accident lawyer can help you pursue the financial recovery you need and deserve.

How a Baton Rouge Boat Accident Attorney Can Help You

Recovering from injuries sustained in a boating accident can take considerable time and energy. Hiring a Baton Rouge boat accident attorney from The Thibeaux Firm can free you to focus on putting your life back together after a devastating accident.

Let our firm help you with your boat accident case by:

• Investigating the accident to recover evidence we can use to build your legal case
• Identifying liable parties and options for pursuing financial recovery for your injuries and losses
• Documenting your injuries, expenses, and losses to calculate what total compensation looks like in your case
• Filing your legal and insurance claims and dealing with insurance adjusters or defense attorneys to take the stress of the process off your shoulders
• Making a determined effort to secure the full financial recovery you need, whether through a negotiated claims settlement or by advocating your case in court and at trial, if necessary
• Never charging any upfront fees to begin your case

As home to “The 25% Attorney,” The Thibeaux Firm only asks for a 25 percent flat fee for accident cases. This means you pay nothing upfront and keep more money in your wallet if Attorney Thibeaux recovers compensation in your boat accident case.

What You Should Do if You Are Involved in a Boating Accident

Taking prompt action following a boating accident can protect your right to seek compensation for any injuries and property damage you suffered. First, report the accident to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF). You must immediately report an accident resulting in injury, death, disappearance, loss of a vessel, or $500 or more in property damage to the LDWF.

Other things you can do to prepare for a boat accident claim include:

• Notify your boating insurance provider if you have a policy
• Seek prompt medical attention to get examined for injuries you may have sustained in the accident
• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and request copies of all medical records related to your treatment and rehabilitation
• Keep all bills, invoices, or receipts for expenses you incur during your recovery
• Gather your income statements to calculate any lost earnings you’ve suffered due to your injuries

Finally, talk to a boating accident attorney from The Thibeaux Firm as soon as possible to discuss the next steps you can take to pursue financial recovery after an accident.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Boat Accident?

Various parties may bear responsibility for a boat accident in Baton Rouge, depending on the cause and circumstances of the accident. Common examples of liable parties in a boat accident claim include:

• The Vessel Operator – If you get hurt as a passenger on a boat, you may have a claim against the vessel’s operator if the accident occurs due to their negligence or recklessness, such as careless operation or failing to keep a proper lookout.
• The Vessel Owner – A vessel owner may bear responsibility for a boating accident due to inadequate maintenance and repairs that leave a vessel in a hazardous condition.
• Another Operator – You may have a boat accident claim against another vessel operator who negligently or recklessly hits your boat, whether you were the owner or a passenger.
• The Vessel’s Manufacturer – A boat manufacturer may be liable for a boating accident caused by a design or manufacturing defect in the vessel.
• A Boat Equipment Manufacturer – Equipment manufacturers can bear responsibility for boating accidents due to mechanical issues resulting from design or manufacturing defects.

What Compensation Can I Recover from a Boat Accident?

After a boat accident, you may have the right to pursue financial recovery for ongoing and future losses you sustain due to injuries and property damage. Your boat accident compensation can provide you with the money you need for:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency transportation, hospital stays, surgery, medications, doctor appointments, and therapeutic treatments
• Long-term care due to injury or disability
• Lost income, including lost future earning potential due to limitations on your ability to work
• Loss of employment benefits
• Household services, including childcare, housekeeping assistance, and home renovations or modifications
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Reduced quality and enjoyment of life
• Boat repair or replacement, as well as other property damage resulting from the accident

What Are the Louisiana Boating Laws?

Under Louisiana boating laws, all boat operators born after January 1, 1984, must have completed a state-approved boater education course to operate a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower or personal watercraft. Alternatively, an operator may have someone over 18 who has completed an approved boater education course accompany them when they operate a boat or personal watercraft. Individuals must be at least 16 to operate a personal watercraft.

Other boating rules and regulations in Louisiana include:

• Vessels passing head-on shall keep to their respective right.
• Any vessel overtaking another vessel may do so on either side but must grant right-of-way to the overtaken vessel.
• When vessels cross paths, the vessel on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vessel on the right.
• Motorboats must yield the right-of-way to non-motor-powered vessels, except when overtaken by non-motor-powered vessels, for deep-draft vessels that must remain in narrow channels, or when towing other vessels.
• Motorboats must maintain a direct course when passing sailboats.
• Vessels approaching landing docks or piers must yield the right-of-way to departing vessels.
• Vessels may not abruptly change course without first determining whether doing so may pose a risk of collision with another vessel.
• When an operator cannot determine the course of an approaching vessel, they must slow down to the minimum speed required to maintain steerageway until the other vessel has passed.
• Vessels yielding the right-of-way must reduce their speed, stop, reverse, or alter course to avoid a collision.
• Vessels with the right-of-way must hold course and speed unless necessary to avoid a collision.
• Vessels must issue warning signals in low visibility conditions.
• Vessels passing other vessels may not operate at speeds that create a hazardous wake or wash.
• Operators may not travel faster than the posted speed in established speed or wake zones.
• Vessels may not obstruct navigation channels, channel entrances, mooring slips, landing docks, launching ramps, or piers.
• Vessels shall keep at least 100 feet clear of diver’s flags.
• Operators must maintain a proper lookout.

Failing to follow Louisiana boating rules constitutes careless operation, a crime punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $300, or both a fine and jail time.

Finally, Louisiana’s statute of limitations on accident claims typically requires you to file a boat accident lawsuit within one year of an accident. Because of the short deadline, talk to a Baton Rouge boat accident lawyer from The Thibeaux Firm as soon as possible to start your claim and give yourself the best chance to file a lawsuit on time. Failure to file a lawsuit on time can put your right to recover the compensation you need after a boat accident in jeopardy.

What Are Common Causes of Louisiana Boating Accidents?

Many boating accidents in Louisiana occur due to careless or reckless actions by boat operators or owners. Some of the most frequent causes of boating accidents include:

What Are Common Injuries Someone Can Sustain in a Boating Accident?

Depending on the nature of a boating accident, an accident victim can sustain various injuries. Some common examples of a boat accident injury include:

Contact a Boat Accident Lawyer in Baton Rouge Today

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a boating accident in Baton Rouge, you need robust legal representation to help you fight for compensation for your losses, including your injuries, medical expenses, and lost income.

Contact The Thibeaux Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Baton Rouge boat accident attorney. Learn more about your legal options for holding the responsible parties accountable and how “The 25% Attorney” can help.