Maritime Injury Attorney in New Orleans, LA

Passionate Advocates for Your Rights & Your Future

A maritime injury lawyer helps offshore, vessel, dock, and port workers understand their legal options after a work-related accident on or near the water. Maritime workers face a unique set of hazards, both onshore and offshore, due to the demanding nature of their jobs and exposure to dangerous environments. Whether operating on a vessel, dock, barge, or offshore rig, the risk of serious personal injury remains high, especially when negligence by an employer or co-worker is involved.

If you were injured while working on or near the water, the laws that apply to your case may be different from a standard workplace accident claim. Maritime injury cases often involve federal statutes, vessel status, seaman status, employer responsibilities, and questions about where and how the injury occurred. A New Orleans maritime injury lawyer can help you understand which law may apply and what compensation may be available.

The Chopin Law Firm represents injured maritime workers in New Orleans, throughout Louisiana, and across the Gulf Coast. Our attorneys help workers and families take the next step after serious offshore, vessel, dock, and port-related accidents.

Common types of maritime injuries include:

• Slip and Fall Accidents: Slippery decks, poorly maintained walkways, and unsecured equipment often lead to serious falls.
• Burn Injuries: Explosions or fires on oil rigs or vessels can result in life-threatening burns requiring long-term treatment.
• Traumatic Injuries: Heavy machinery accidents can lead to broken bones, spinal injuries, or crushing injuries.
• Wrongful Death: In catastrophic incidents such as vessel sinkings or rig explosions, fatalities can occur, giving rise to legal claims under maritime wrongful death statutes.
• Exposure-Related Illnesses: Prolonged exposure to harsh weather, chemicals, or noise can cause hearing loss, skin conditions, or respiratory issues.
• Repetitive Strain and Overexertion: Continuous lifting, bending, or working in awkward positions often leads to chronic injuries over time.
• Deckhand Injuries: Deckhand injuries often happen in the line of duty—through heavy lifting, slippery decks, equipment failures, or rough seas.

Maritime accidents can also cause head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, shoulder and knee injuries, chemical exposure injuries, and long-term pain conditions. Some symptoms may appear immediately, while others can worsen over time after the worker returns to shore. Getting medical care and documenting the incident early can be important for both health and the legal claim.

What Counts as a Maritime Injury?

A maritime injury is generally defined as an injury that happens in connection with work on navigable waters, offshore locations, vessels, docks, shipyards, ports, or other maritime environments. These cases are different because more than one body of law may apply depending on the worker’s job duties, the location of the accident, and the type of vessel or worksite involved.

For example, an injured deckhand may have rights under the Jones Act, while a harbor worker may be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. An offshore worker injured on a fixed platform may have a different legal path than a seaman injured aboard a vessel. These distinctions matter because they can affect what benefits or damages may be available.

Who May Have a Maritime Injury Claim?

Maritime injury claims may involve many types of workers, including deckhands, captains, crew members, longshore workers, harbor workers, commercial fishermen, offshore oil and gas workers, shipyard employees, tugboat workers, barge workers, and workers injured near ports or docks. The key question is not always the worker’s job title. The facts of the work, the location of the injury, and the connection to maritime activity are often more important.

If you are unsure whether your injury is covered by maritime law, it is still worth asking. Many injured workers are told their case is only a workers’ compensation matter when another maritime law may provide additional rights.

Maritime Injury Representation Across the Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast is one of the nation’s most active regions for offshore work, vessel operations, oil and gas activity, cargo movement, commercial fishing, and port-related employment. At The Chopin Law Firm, we understand the risks maritime workers face and the legal issues that can arise after an offshore or vessel-related injury.

Our maritime injury attorneys represent workers and families across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, whether the accident happened on a vessel, an offshore rig, or dockside.

Louisiana Ports We Serve

Louisiana is home to some of the busiest ports and offshore hubs in the nation. Our New Orleans maritime lawyers frequently assist workers injured near:

• Port Fourchon – A vital hub for offshore oil and gas operations
• Morgan City – Known for its offshore drilling and shipbuilding activity
• Belle Chasse, Venice, and Grand Isle – Key launch points for Gulf workers
• Lake Charles and Baton Rouge – Major industrial and shipping centers
• Lafayette, Gretna, and Hammond – Growing hubs with diverse maritime operations

If you suffered an injury in any of these Louisiana locations, our maritime attorneys in New Orleans can help you pursue fair compensation.

Mississippi Maritime Representation

Our firm also handles cases for injured workers across the Mississippi coast, including:

• Gulfport and Biloxi – Central to shipbuilding, fishing, and cargo transport
• Pascagoula and Moss Point – Home to large shipyards and heavy industry
• Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Ocean Springs, Vicksburg, Greenville, and Natchez – Communities where maritime activity and river transport remain critical

Texas Offshore & Port Injury Claims

Texas is another cornerstone of Gulf Coast maritime activity, and our team is ready to assist workers injured in:

• Houston, Galveston, and Corpus Christi – Major centers for shipping, refining, and offshore drilling
• Port Arthur, Beaumont, and Brownsville – Known for petrochemical plants and maritime commerce
• Freeport, Texas City, Baytown, and Port Lavaca – Busy ports supporting Gulf trade and offshore supply

No matter where your injury occurred, our maritime injury lawyers understand the risks and challenges workers face throughout the Gulf.

Protections Afforded to Maritime Workers

Because maritime workers are employed in such a high-risk setting, it comes as no surprise that there are many laws and regulations governing their safety. These laws regularly come into play in a maritime injury case.

The basics of maritime injury law include the following:

• General Maritime Law: A major component of general maritime law is “maintenance and cure.” This governs the provision of medical care, living expenses, and lost wages to injured or ill seamen.
• The Jones Act: This act protects the livelihood and health of eligible seamen by protecting their rights to pursue a claim against various parties responsible for their injury.
• Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act: The LHWCA protects those maritime workers (and their widows, widowers, or eligible survivors in case of death) who are not afforded protection under the Jones Act.
• Death on the High Seas Act: This act protects a maritime worker’s spouse, children, and other dependents by giving them the ability to pursue a claim if negligence led to the death of the worker.

Speak with your New Orleans maritime lawyer today to see if you may be eligible for compensation under one of these acts. At The Chopin Law Firm, our firm can walk you through your options.

The Jones Act and Injured Seamen

The Jones Act may allow an injured seaman to pursue a claim when employer negligence contributed to the injury. A seaman is generally someone whose work contributes to the function or mission of a vessel and who has a substantial connection to a vessel or fleet of vessels.

Jones Act claims can involve unsafe working conditions, failure to provide proper equipment, inadequate training, unsafe staffing, negligent supervision, or dangerous vessel operations. These cases often require careful investigation because the details of the worker’s duties and the condition of the vessel can directly affect the claim.

Maintenance and Cure After a Maritime Injury

Maintenance and cure is a longstanding maritime protection for injured seamen. “Maintenance” generally refers to basic living expenses while the worker is recovering, and “cure” generally refers to reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the injury.

These benefits may apply even when fault is disputed. However, injured workers can still face delays, denials, or pressure to return to work before they are medically ready. If benefits are delayed or cut off, legal guidance can help determine what steps may be available.

Longshore and Harbor Worker Claims

Not every injured maritime worker qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act. Longshore workers, harbor workers, shipyard workers, and certain other maritime employees may be protected under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act instead.

The LHWCA may provide medical benefits and wage replacement for covered workers injured in maritime employment. These claims have specific procedures and deadlines, so it is important to act promptly after an injury.

What Compensation May Be Available?

The compensation available in a maritime injury case depends on the law that applies and the facts of the accident. Depending on the claim, an injured worker may be able to pursue medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, disability-related losses, maintenance and cure, and other damages allowed by law.

In fatal maritime accidents, surviving family members may have rights under maritime wrongful death laws. These cases are especially sensitive and often require a careful review of where the death occurred, the worker’s status, and whether negligence contributed to the incident.

What to Do After a Maritime Accident

After a maritime injury, your first priority should be medical care. Report the accident as soon as possible, explain how the injury happened, and make sure the incident is documented. Keep copies of medical records, accident reports, witness information, photographs, and any communication from the employer or insurance company.

You should also be cautious about recorded statements or paperwork presented soon after the accident. Maritime employers and insurers may begin investigating quickly, and early statements can affect the claim. Speaking with a maritime injury lawyer can help you understand your rights before making decisions that may impact your recovery.

Why Choose The Chopin Law Firm?

When disaster strikes, it’s important to have the skill and experience of a capable legal advocate on your side. Large maritime companies are notorious for denying workers the compensation they rightfully deserve. With more than 100 years of collective legal experience, our attorneys are more than capable of handling a wide variety of maritime cases. At The Chopin Law Firm, our New Orleans maritime lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to pursue just compensation.

Maritime injury cases can involve employers, vessel owners, contractors, insurance companies, medical providers, and federal law. Because our firm is based in New Orleans and focuses on this area of law, we help injured workers understand the process, gather the right evidence, and pursue the compensation available under the law.

Pursue Compensation with Chopin Law Firm!

Don’t leave your future up to chance. Let a skilled maritime lawyer in New Orleans pursue compensation on your behalf. We are passionate about effectively advocating for our clients’ rights and for getting to know them so that we can provide a legal solution that is tailor-fit to their circumstances.

If you were injured offshore, on a vessel, on a barge, near a dock, or at a Gulf Coast maritime worksite, you do not have to sort through these issues alone. The sooner you understand which law applies, the sooner you can make informed decisions about medical care, benefits, and your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do after a maritime injury in Louisiana?

Seek medical care, report the accident, and document what happened as clearly as possible. You should keep records of your symptoms, treatment, missed work, and any communications from your employer or the insurance company.

2. Do I have a Jones Act claim or a Longshore claim?

That depends on your job duties, your connection to a vessel, and where the accident occurred. A seaman may have rights under the Jones Act, while certain dock, harbor, shipyard, and longshore workers may be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

3. Can I recover compensation if my employer says the accident was my fault?

You may still have legal options, depending on the facts and the law that applies. Maritime cases often require a careful review of vessel conditions, safety procedures, training, supervision, and whether negligence contributed to the injury.

4. What is maintenance and cure?

Maintenance and cure are maritime benefits that may provide basic living expenses and medical care to an injured seaman. These benefits can be available while the worker is recovering from an injury related to service of the vessel.

5. How soon should I contact a maritime injury lawyer?

It is best to seek guidance as soon as possible after the accident. Maritime claims can involve strict deadlines, fast-moving employer investigations, and important evidence that may be difficult to preserve later.

6. How long do I have to file a maritime injury claim? 

Maritime claims are generally subject to shorter and more specific deadlines than typical personal injury cases, and the deadline that applies depends on which law covers your claim. A Jones Act claim generally must be filed within three years of the injury, while an LHWCA claim involves its own separate reporting and filing deadlines. Because these timelines can vary and mistakes can affect your rights, it is best to speak with a maritime injury lawyer as soon as possible after the accident.