With the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, vast bayous, and recreational lakes, Louisiana is a boating state — and boating and maritime injuries here are governed by an unusually complex web of state and federal law.
Recreational vs. Commercial Maritime
Recreational boating crashes — collisions, wake injuries, and incidents involving drunk operators — are often handled under state law and the operator's insurance. Commercial and offshore maritime injuries, however, may fall under federal laws like the Jones Act, general maritime law, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
Which body of law applies has a major impact on your rights and the compensation available, so it is critical to work with an attorney who understands maritime injury claims.
Common Causes
Boating injuries result from operator inattention and intoxication, excessive speed, equipment failure, overcrowding, and inadequate safety gear. Offshore workers face additional hazards on platforms, supply vessels, and rigs throughout the Gulf.
How Injury Claim Team Helps
Injury Claim Team is not a law firm — we are a free service that connects injured Louisianans with experienced personal injury attorneys who handle boat & maritime accident cases. There is no cost to you to be matched, and the attorneys in our network charge no fee unless they win your case. Call 973-566-5599 or request a free review and a specialist will reach out within the hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing upfront. Our network attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis — no fee unless they recover compensation for you. Your case review is always free and confidential.
For injuries occurring on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana's prescriptive period is generally two years; it was one year for earlier injuries. Claims involving government entities may have shorter deadlines, so it is important to act quickly.
Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault rule, so you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs and future care, lost income, the clarity of fault, and available insurance. A free case review is the best way to understand your claim.