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PERSONAL INJURY

Boat Injury Lawyer in New Orleans

If you or a loved one has been injured in a boat or cruise ship accident, such as the recent collision involving the Atlantic Asphalt tanker and the docked American Heritage riverboat on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans, the team at Stag Liuzza is standing by to help.

Our team has decades of experience handling complex maritime and personal injury claims and has won billions of dollars for our clients. We encourage you to call us today at (504) 593-9600 or click the Schedule A Free Consultation button below.

What is a Boat Accident Claim?

A boat accident claim is a personal injury case filed when someone is hurt or killed in a recreational or commercial watercraft incident, such as a boat collision, capsizing, grounding, or passenger overboard event.

Because waterways are governed by a mix of state boating regulations and federal maritime law, these claims give injured victims a legal path to hold negligent boat operators, owners, or rental companies financially accountable. This allows injured passengers, swimmers, and other boaters to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

Unlike standard auto accidents, which follow straightforward state traffic codes, maritime personal injury claims often involve unique jurisdictional rules, strict reporting deadlines, and specialized safety standards. Victims can file a lawsuit if operator inattention, boating under the influence (BUI), excessive speed, poor vessel maintenance, or a lack of required safety equipment caused their injuries.

Who Qualifies to File a Claim?

If you are injured on the water due to someone else’s carelessness, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim for your damages. To have a valid case, you generally do not need to be a maritime worker—recreational passengers, swimmers, kayakers, and operators of other vessels are all protected. Specifically, a successful claim usually requires establishing these core elements:

The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care to operate or maintain the vessel safely;
They breached that duty through negligent or reckless behavior; and
That breach directly caused the accident and your resulting injuries.

Determining which laws apply often depends on whether the incident occurred on “navigable waters”, a legal term meaning waterways capable of supporting interstate or foreign commerce, such as oceans, major rivers, and coastal bays, or purely local, landlocked lakes. A boat accident lawsuit can be complex because victims must first determine the proper legal jurisdiction before proving fault and the full extent of their injuries.

COMMON BOAT ACCIDENT INJURIES

COMMON INJURIES SEEN IN BOAT ACCIDENTS

Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries

Blunt Force Trauma from Falling or Swinging Objects

Lacerations and Crush Injuries from Ropes, Lines, and Cables

Burns and electrocutions

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Toxic Exposures

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Concussions

Common Boat Accident Claims

HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED ON A BOAT ON THE WATER?

If you spend time boating on rivers, lakes, or coastal waters, you may be at risk of serious injury due to operator negligence, mechanical failure, or unsafe waterway conditions. Even a seemingly minor collision or onboard incident can lead to severe, life-altering trauma. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, common immediate injuries and symptoms following a serious boating accident include:

Concussions, dizziness, and confusion
Broken bones, sprains, and deep lacerations
Severe neck, back, and spinal cord trauma
Hypothermia or near-drowning complications
Burns from engine fires or electrical malfunctions
Internal bleeding or organ damage
And in extreme cases, permanent disability or wrongful death

While the immediate physical trauma of a boat crash is frightening, many victims do not realize the full severity of their injuries right away, adrenaline can easily mask the symptoms of soft-tissue damage or traumatic brain injuries in the hours following an incident. The real challenge often reveals itself in the weeks and months afterward. Severe boating injuries can require extensive surgeries, long-term physical therapy, and ongoing medical care. This can prevent you from returning to work, leading to overwhelming medical debt and lost income, while also causing lasting emotional distress and diminished quality of life.

If you or a loved one were hurt in a boating accident caused by a reckless operator, defective watercraft, or poorly maintained rental vessel, consider reaching out to the maritime and personal injury lawyers at Stag Liuzza in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our attorneys can review your case, investigate whether safety regulations were violated, and help you pursue full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering through a claim or lawsuit against the responsible parties.

CRUISE SHIP COLLISIONS AND PASSENGER ACCIDENTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI

If you are a passenger or crew member traveling on a major river cruise or commercial vessel along the Mississippi River, you face unexpected hazards—as starkly highlighted by the recent collision involving the American Heritage cruise ship and a tanker near the Port of New Orleans. Maritime traffic, heavy industrial shipping lanes, and congested port waters create high-risk environments where sudden impacts, jolts, or allisions can occur without warning.

When a massive cargo vessel or oil tanker collides with a passenger ship, the consequences can be devastating. Passengers can be violently thrown across decks or against cabin interiors, leading to severe fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and lacerations. Crew members working onboard are equally vulnerable to crush injuries from shifting heavy equipment, slips on compromised decks, or sudden emergency evacuations under hazardous conditions. Vessel operators, shipping companies, and pilotage associations have a stringent legal responsibility to maintain proper lookouts, adhere to navigation rules, and prevent catastrophic waterway crashes.

Operating or traveling on the Mississippi River comes with serious risks. If you’ve been hurt in a cruise ship collision or maritime accident, you may be entitled to seek substantial compensation. Depending on whether you were a fare-paying passenger or a working crew member protected under maritime laws like the Jones Act, you may have grounds to pursue a lawsuit or settlement for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Stag Liuzza are maritime injury and personal injury lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana who may be able to help you navigate your legal options following a major river disaster.

HURT BY A BOAT ACCIDENT? CONTACT STAG LIUZZA

If you’ve been hurt by a boat accident you should know that you have important legal protections and rights. Stag Liuzza are lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana with decades of experience with maritime accidents and billions won for our clients.

Stag Liuzza’s lawyers are here to help you seek justice for both yourself and your family. We’ll take the time to review your claim and fight to help you get the settlement or recovery you are entitled to.

TRIAL VICTORY

Results That Speak

$12.5 Billion

3M settlement for public drinking water systems

In March 2024, 3M finalized a settlement of up to $12.5 billion for U.S. public water suppliers to address PFAS contamination. The agreement covers water systems with current or future detections of "forever chemicals," with funds supporting testing, filtration, and infrastructure improvements.

$1.056 Billion

Grefer v. Alpha Technical

Jury verdict for property owners whose land was contaminated with radioactive materials from ExxonMobile oil and gas operations.

$15 Million

Verdict for Injured Pipeyard Worker

Verdict for pipeyard worker who contracted lung cancer from exposure to Radium-226 and other radioactive materials.

$11.25 Million

Settlement for Commercial Vehicle Injury

Policy Limits settlement for driver who crashed into parked commercial vehicle.

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No fee unless we win. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Our Attorneys

Meet the Team

With decades of combined experience in personal injury, environmental law, toxic torts, and complex litigation, Stag Liuzza's attorneys have the expertise to take on the most challenging cases.

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Michael G. Stag

CEO & Managing Partner

Over $16 billion in settlements and more than $1 billion in jury verdicts recovered for clients. Pioneered the field of oilfield cleanup litigation. Appointed by judges to leadership for several nationwide litigations.

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Ashley M. Liuzza

COO & Partner

Appointed co-lead class counsel in major environmental cases. Extensive PFAS litigation experience. Helps people who developed meningioma as a result of being prescribed Depo-Provera.

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Merritt Cunningham

Partner

Leads the pharmaceutical and medical device division. Extensive MDL and mass tort experience. Represents thousands of firefighters harmed by PFAS exposure.

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