Houma Injury Questions, Answered
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Louisiana?
For most injuries that happen on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana generally allows two years from the date of injury to file suit (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1). Injuries before that date generally had a one-year deadline (La. Civ. Code art. 3492). Maritime claims under the Jones Act generally have three years, and claims against government bodies can have shorter notice rules. Because these deadlines are strict, it is wise to confirm yours early.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for a wreck in Louisiana?
It depends on your share of fault. For claims governed by Louisiana's amended comparative fault law (La. Civ. Code art. 2323, effective January 1, 2026), a person found 51% or more at fault recovers nothing, and a person found less than 51% at fault has their damages reduced by their percentage of fault. Insurance companies often push fault onto the injured person, so how the facts are documented matters.
Does Louisiana's "No Pay, No Play" law affect my car accident claim?
It can if you did not carry the required liability insurance. Since August 1, 2025, an uninsured owner or driver generally cannot recover the first 0,000 of bodily injury damages or the first 0,000 of property damage, even when the other driver caused the crash (La. R.S. 32:866). If you were insured, this rule does not limit your claim.
I was hurt working offshore out of Houma. Is that a Jones Act case?
Possibly. The Jones Act covers seamen, which generally means workers who spend about 30% or more of their working time on a vessel in navigation and contribute to its mission. Injured seamen can claim negligence and unseaworthiness and are owed maintenance and cure. Workers on fixed platforms, docks, or shipyards are often covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act instead. The right law depends on what you actually do, not your job title.
What should I do after an accident in Houma or Terrebonne Parish?
Call 911 so the Houma Police Department, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, or Louisiana State Police can make a report. Get medical care right away and keep every record. Photograph the scene, vehicles, and injuries, and collect witness names. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before you understand your rights.
Where is Kopfler & Hermann's office?
Our office is at 306 Grinage Street, Houma, Louisiana 70360, and our phone number is (985) 851-3311. Kopfler & Hermann has been serving Houma since 1977 and represents injured people across Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Assumption parishes and throughout South Louisiana.
This information is general and is not legal advice. Every case is different.
