New Orleans
When a vessel collision, unsafe operation, equipment problem, or dangerous onboard condition causes an accident, passengers and others aboard the boat can suffer injuries that affect their health, income, and daily lives.
The Voorhies Law Firm, our New Orleans boat accident lawyers investigate how the accident occurred, determine whether maritime or Louisiana law applies, identify the parties responsible, and pursue the compensation available for the injuries and losses involved.
A boat accident claim arises when someone is injured because of negligent vessel operation, a collision, unsafe onboard condition, mechanical failure, or another incident involving a boat or vessel.
These claims may involve passengers, vessel operators, crew members, or others injured during transportation, fishing, charter, touring, or other activity on the water.
The Voorhies Law Firm’s current boat accident practice includes claims involving ferry boats, yachts, charter boats, sailboats, deep-sea fishing boats, water taxis, and other vessels.
Accidents involving private pleasure boats and personal watercraft may instead fit more specifically within the firm’s recreational boating accident practice.
Depending on where the accident occurs and the activity involved, federal maritime law or Louisiana law may govern the claim.
Boat accidents involving passenger, charter, commercial, and other vessels can involve federal maritime law as well as Louisiana law in certain circumstances. The applicable rules depend on where the accident occurred, how the vessel was being used, and the relationship between the injured person and the vessel.
A civil action for personal injury or death arising from a maritime tort generally must be filed within three years after the cause of action arose, unless another law provides a different deadline.
When an injured person is a qualifying seaman rather than a passenger, the Jones Act may provide a negligence claim against the employer. A seaman may also have separate rights under general maritime law, including maintenance and cure and claims involving an unseaworthy vessel.
When a wrongful death occurs on the high seas beyond three nautical miles from the shore of the United States, the personal representative may have a federal admiralty claim against the responsible person or vessel.
When Louisiana negligence law independently governs a claim, delictual actions are generally subject to a two-year prescriptive period from the date injury or damage is sustained.
The correct filing deadline should be determined from the individual accident rather than assumed. Passenger contracts, government involvement, maritime employment, or other circumstances may create additional rules or notice requirements.
For claims filed in New Orleans, a federal maritime case may proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana at the Hale Boggs Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Depending on the claim and available forum, a case may also proceed in Louisiana state court, including the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans at 421 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112. Venue and jurisdiction must be evaluated case by case.
STEP 1
Determine which law applies:
We review where the accident occurred, the vessel involved, how it was being used, and whether the injured person was a passenger, operator, crew member, or another party to determine whether maritime law, Louisiana law, or more than one source of law may apply.
STEP 2
Review the accident and medical record:
We gather available accident reports, medical records, photographs, witness information, vessel details, and other documentation showing what happened and the injuries that resulted.
STEP 3
Investigate the vessel and its operation:
Depending on the accident, we may examine vessel ownership, navigation decisions, speed, and available electronic or video evidence.
STEP 4
Identify every responsible party:
Liability may involve a vessel operator, owner, charter company, or equipment manufacturer. We review each party’s role rather than assuming one person or company is solely responsible.
STEP 5
Document the full impact of the injury:
We gather evidence of medical expenses, lost wages, future treatment, reduced ability to work, pain, disability, and other consequences of the accident.
STEP 6
Present and resolve the claim:
Some cases can be resolved through a documented demand and negotiation If a fair resolution cannot be reached, our attorneys prepare the case for the appropriate court.
The Voorhies Law Firm handles boat accident claims involving passenger transportation, charter operations, fishing vessels, tours, and other activities on Louisiana waters. Depending on the circumstances, our representation may include:
When an accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may also have rights under maritime or Louisiana law. Accidents involving defective vessel components may also support a related product liability claim. When a boat accident causes a brain injury, spinal injury, or another permanent condition, or even wrongful death, we can evaluate the catastrophic injury claim together.
Behind every boat accident case is a person who trusted an operator, a company, or a vessel to get them somewhere safely. When that trust is broken, we build the case around exactly what went wrong and who is responsible for it.
The Voorhies Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients, including a $4 million settlement involving a maritime accident that caused traumatic brain and serious spinal injuries, and a $1.65 million settlement for a maritime worker injured because of unsafe conditions and employer negligence.
Results may vary.
At The Voorhies Law Firm, we focus on determining how a boat accident occurred and building the case around the full effect of the injuries on our client.
If a boat accident has left you facing medical treatment, missed work, or uncertainty about who is responsible, The Voorhies Law Firm can review what happened and determine which maritime or Louisiana laws may apply. Acting early can also help preserve vessel records, witness information, and other evidence before it becomes more difficult to obtain.
It may. Maritime law can govern accidents occurring on navigable waters when the required maritime connection is present. Other accidents may fall primarily under Louisiana law. The location, vessel, activity, and relationship between the parties should be reviewed before determining which law, court, and filing deadline applies.
Responsibility may involve the vessel operator, owner, charter company, tour provider, maintenance contractor, equipment manufacturer, or another party. Some cases involve several companies with different responsibilities for navigation, vessel condition, passenger safety, and maintenance. We investigate those roles before determining which parties may be liable.
Possibly. Boat accident claims are not limited to collisions. A passenger may be injured because of an unsafe gangway, slippery surface, unexpected vessel movement, inadequate lighting, or failure to provide appropriate assistance while boarding or disembarking. Responsibility depends on who controlled the vessel or boarding area and what caused the injury.
A steering, engine, propulsion, electrical, or other equipment failure may raise questions about vessel maintenance as well as the design or manufacture of the failed component. Depending on the circumstances, the vessel owner, maintenance provider, operator, manufacturer, or another party may be involved in the claim.
Many personal injury and death claims arising from maritime torts are subject to a three-year federal filing period, but that is not universal. Louisiana-law claims may follow a different prescriptive period, and other rules can apply depending on the vessel, parties, and circumstances. The applicable deadline should be identified early.
