In the United States, there are around 5,000 boating accidents each year.
If you were in one of those boating accidents in New Orleans, you may not be sure of what to do next.
Thankfully, the protocol is similar to being in a car accident, but keep reading to figure out what to do so that you can be safe and also help a future personal injury case.
Ensure Everyone’s Safety
The first thing you need to do is make sure that everyone involved is safe. If anyone sustained injuries, they should get medical attention as possible.
Make sure that everyone who was on the boat is still on the boat as well. There’s a possibility that someone may have gone overboard. If someone has, try your best to get them safely on the boat while still remaining safe as well.
Call 911
Once you know that everyone is safe, call 911 as soon as possible. You may not have cell reception right away, but you should try and get a hold of the Louisiana Marine Patrol or the Coast Guard.
You can also make a distress call on your VHF radio. The Coast Guard will monitor those channels in case there are any accidents. You can also try using flares or other methods to alert other boaters of your situation.
Seek Medical Attention
When emergency professionals get there, make sure that everyone gets some type of medical attention. Even if the injuries are minor, you should still go to the doctor.
That way, if you do pursue a case, you have all of the necessary documentation to help your case. These are important documents that will be used against the person who caused the boating crash.
If someone does have serious injuries, you should consult a personal injury attorney. Boating accident claims are very complicated, and they normally involved multiple different dependents.
Report the Accident
When emergency professionals get there, they’ll take a report of the accident. They can help with a written report, which normally needs to be filed within two days of the accident.
The state boating authorities will write about the cause of the accident, a death, disappearing vessels, totaled boats, or more injuries or property damages.
You can find the right forms with your state’s boating authority.
Gather Information
You’ll also want to gather as much information as possible. This includes the contact information of the person on the other boat. If any witnesses saw the accident, you’ll want to get their contact info later.
You’ll also want to get the insurance and policy number for the other boat operators. It might help to take pictures of everything as well so you have easy access to all of it.
Learn More About How to Handle Boating Accidents in New Orleans
These are only a few steps to take to handle boating accidents in New Orleans, but the next step is finding a good lawyer.
We know that finding a good boating lawyer can be challenging, but thankfully we have the experience!
Check out our website to learn more about how we can help with your case.