Metairie residents were shocked this summer when a recreational boat collided with the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in June. The 21 foot fiberglass boat hit the bridge and was carrying five people, all family. According to Jefferson Parish and bridge authorities, one woman was injured when she and one other passenger were thrown from the boat. One of them was wearing a life jacket, while the other was thrown a life preserver while in the water.
Assessing the Boating Accident in Metairie, LA
Under General Maritime Law and Personal Injury, the injured woman in this scenario could have the standing to sue for injuries sustained from a recreational boating incident. The question, however, is who was responsible for the accident. For this scenario, there are a few points that must be taken into account:
- Could the driver have avoided the bridge?
- Was the driver being negligent?
- Did the driver intend to crash the boat into the causeway?
- Was there something wrong with the boat’s mechanics?
After a follow-up questioning with the driver by the authorities, he claimed that he had lost control of the steering, at which point the boat clipped the piling and crashed into the bridge.
If the boat’s steering had been faulty because of the manufacturer’s oversight, then the injured woman and her family have grounds to sue the manufacturer for negligence. However, if witnesses can prove that the driver was distracted while driving or not suited to drive the boat, then the driver could be sued for negligence.
Contact Our Team for A Free Case Review
In a case like this where multiple factors could be easily misconstrued, it’s important to have an educated and experienced team of attorneys on your side, especially ones familiar with maritime and personal injury law. J. Price McNamara, one such experienced personal injury lawyer with offices in Baton Rouge and Metairie, LA will answer your questions or even review your case for free. If you’ve been injured in a boating accident and are seeking compensation for damages or injuries, contact J. Price McNamara today for a free case review and consultation at (225) 201-8311.
Following graduation from Loyola Law School in New Orleans in 1990, Price McNamara served as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable John M Shaw, Chief Judge, United States District Court Western District of Louisiana.
Mr. McNamara founded J. Price McNamara ERISA Insurance Claim Attorney, and began putting his past experience to work for the injured and disabled clients he now represents against the insurance companies in personal injury and long term disability and other insurance disputes in both federal and state courts
