If you’re from South Louisiana, you know that being on the water is part of our way of life. Whether it’s working, hunting, fishing, wakeboarding, or just cruising around, boating is simply in people’s DNA down here. Unfortunately, with so many folks using lakes, bayous, and coastal areas for recreation, accidents are bound to happen. If you’ve been injured in a boating accident, a personal injury attorney may help you recover damages if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.
What Is Negligence?
Negligence is a legal term that means someone failed to act with reasonable care. In a lawful society, citizens have a general responsibility to act with reasonable regard for the safety of others. When someone’s conduct falls below that standard, it’s fair to say that they have been negligent. If their negligence directly causes another person to sustain injuries, the injured party may be able to sue for damages. A boat operator might be found negligent if they failed to pay attention and collided with another boat or didn’t have safety equipment on board for their own passengers. Maritime and admiralty laws apply to accidents that occur in navigable waters of the United States. You should strongly consider hiring a lawyer experienced in handling these cases. A regular car wreck lawyer may not know anything about maritime law.
What Can You Recover?
If you’ve been injured in a boating accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover damages. Some losses are immediately apparent, such as the cost of medical bills, lost wages from missed work, or damage to your own boat. They could also reveal themselves later by not being able to do what you love to do – boating, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, etc. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you consider all of the damages suffered, not just the obvious ones.
Work Directly With an Attorney
If you or a loved one have been injured in a boating accident, the costs of medical bills, missed work, and more can quickly add up. You need a personal injury lawyer who can get you the help you need. The compassionate and talented attorneys at Smith Shanklin Sosa will help you determine if you have a case and pursue a remedy in your best interest. Our lawyers will work directly with you throughout your case and will help connect you with a doctor if you have any untreated injuries. For a free consultation, call us at 225-424-6094 or fill out our online form.