Were you or a loved one hurt in a boating accident in Lake Charles, LA? Contact Hale Injury Lawyers for immediate assistance. An experienced Lake Charles boating accident lawyer can help you fight to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and the pain and suffering the injury has caused.
Since 2008, our team has been working hard to help clients like you recover fair compensation for your losses. We put over 61 years of combined experience to work in every case. Our talented attorneys have already secured tens of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Call our law offices in Lake Charles, Louisiana at (337) 888-4253 to schedule a free consultation.
How Can Hale Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover Compensation After a Boating Accident in Lake Charles, LA?
Boating accidents can be both dangerous and terrifying. In addition to suffering serious physical injuries, you may be traumatized by the whole event. If someone else was responsible, our Lake Charles maritime accident attorneys are here to help you hold them accountable.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we’re here to help you stand up to the insurance companies. We want to make sure they really understand how much the injury has impacted your life.
Over the years, we’ve been listed as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers. We’ve also been recognized as some of the Top Trial Lawyers in America.
When we handle your boat injury claim, we will:
- Conduct an investigation to determine why the accident happened
- Defend against claims that you caused the accident
- Consult experts who specialize in issues relevant to boating accidents
- Assess the value of your personal injury case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies for the full compensation you deserve
Don’t risk walking away with a lowball insurance settlement. Contact our Lake Charles personal injury lawyers to learn more about how we can use our skills to your advantage.
How Common Are Boating Accidents in Louisiana?
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 103 boating accidents were reported across the state of Louisiana in 2022. Unfortunately, many of those accidents were severe and resulted in injury or death. 29 people were killed in fatal boating accidents that year. At least 85 victims were injured.
These statistics encompass all types of recreational boats, including those involving:
- Cabin motorboats
- Open motorboats
- Sailboats
- Personal watercraft
- Pontoon boats
- Rental boats
- Airboats
- Jet skis
If you were injured in a boating accident, contact our lawyers in Lake Charles today. We offer free case reviews so you can understand your legal options without risk.
What is My Lake Charles Boating Accident Case Worth?
The two most important issues to consider when assessing the value of your boating accident claim include:
- The overall severity of your injuries
- Whether those injuries will have any long-term or permanent impact on your life
The most severe injuries require the most extensive and costly medical treatment. When an injury will have a long-term impact, it’s much more likely that the victim will struggle with reduced earning capacity and a diminished quality of life.
Having an experienced lawyer in your corner gives you the best shot at convincing the insurance company to offer a full settlement. Your lawyer can gather detailed information about how the accident and injury have affected your life.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Boating Accidents in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
If you’re hurt in a boating accident in Lake Charles, you can pursue compensation for your economic damages and non-economic damages. Under Louisiana personal injury laws, victims deserve to be made financially whole again after an accident.
That means you should recover compensation for any financial costs associated with the accident and injury, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care and assistance
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Long-term disability
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Your non-economic damages are designed to make up for the consequences of a boating accident that don’t have a set financial value, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Trauma
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement or scarring
- Chronic pain
- Loss of consortium
Our lawyers have the skills and resources to effectively fight for every dollar you deserve. We know that you may be struggling after a serious trauma. We’re prepared to support you in any way possible.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a lawyer who can help you get the money you deserve.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for Causing a Boating Accident in Louisiana?
Louisiana has pure comparative negligence laws. You can recover partial compensation if you were partly responsible for the accident. You only lose your right to recover damages if you were 100% to blame.
That said, sharing fault will impact the amount of money you take home. Your compensation is reduced to reflect your share of fault. So, if you were 50% responsible, you can only take home half of your settlement or verdict.
Our Team in Lake Charles Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Boating Accident Injuries
Accidents that occur on the water sometimes result in injuries that are even more serious than those that happen on land. Victims are vulnerable to similar injuries but are also exposed to water-related risks like drowning. It can also be more difficult to get the victim to the hospital quickly for prompt medical care.
At Hale Injury Lawyers, we often represent victims who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Damage to the face and eyes
- Burns
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull fractures
- Nerve injuries
- Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Hypothermia
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Prompt medical care always reduces the risk of complications. If you were hurt, see a doctor as soon as you can. Once you’ve been treated, contact our law firm for help with the legal issues.
What Causes Most Boating Accidents in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Every year, people are injured or killed in boating accidents. Most of those accidents are preventable. Like any car accident, they tend to happen because someone was careless.
According to the National Safe Boating Council, the top causes of boating accidents include:
- Operator inattention
- Inexperienced boat operators
- Failure to keep a proper lookout
- Excessive speeds
- Machinery failures
At Hale Injury Lawyers, our lawyers handle all types of boating accident claims in Lake Charles, including those involving:
- Violation of navigational rules
- Running aground
- Sinking or flooding
- Capsizing
- Drunk driving
- Operating the vessel under the influence of drugs
- Careless or reckless boating
- Sharp turns
- Congested or hazardous waters
- Mechanical failures
- Overloading
- Slippery surfaces
- Explosions or fires
- Defective equipment
- Collisions with other vessels
- Collisions with fixed objects
- Falls overboard
- Slip and fall accidents
- Poor weather conditions and limited visibility
It’s important to identify all factors that played a role in your boating accident. The more information we have about why the accident happened, the more likely it is that we’ll recover full financial compensation for your losses.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation After a Boating Accident in Louisiana?
As in motor vehicle accident cases, boating accident claims tend to be based on negligence.
Negligence means that:
- Someone had a legal duty of care – or a legal responsibility to behave carefully
- They breached that duty through some careless or reckless act
- The breach, in turn, caused an accident
- A victim suffered damages, or injuries
Many different types of evidence can be useful in establishing these elements. The Coast Guard might conduct an investigation and prepare accident reports. Witnesses may have valuable information about what happened. Our Lake Charles boating accident attorneys will even evaluate the boat and any other vessels involved in your accident.
Every case is different. The bottom line is that you can count on us to conduct a thorough investigation of our own. We’ll do everything possible to locate the strong evidence you need to prove you deserve compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Boating Accident Under Louisiana Law?
The length of time you have to file a lawsuit depends on the laws that govern your case. Lake Charles is only 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s possible that federal or maritime laws could impact your case in addition to Louisiana state law.
Under Louisiana law, you have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after an accident. Once the two-year deadline passes, you lose your right to sue for damages.
Don’t let the deadline pass without taking legal action. Contact our team for a free case review today.
Contact a Lake Charles Boating Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If a day on the water resulted in a serious injury, our lawyers at Hale Injury Lawyers are here to help. We know how to determine who owes you compensation–and we know how to prove it. Contact us today at (337) 888-4253 to learn more about how an experienced Lake Charles boating accident lawyer can help you get the money you deserve.
