Montegut, far down the Terrebonne bayous, is an oil-and-gas and commercial-fishing community — families who make their living offshore, on crew and supply boats, and on the water. It is proud, hard-working, and no stranger to how dangerous the industry can be. When a worker from Montegut is hurt offshore, the company’s insurer begins protecting the company the same day.
Kopfler & Hermann has represented injured South Louisiana workers since 1977. Our Houma office is nearby, and we know the vessels, platforms, and maritime law that govern offshore work out of lower Terrebonne. Call (985) 851-3311 for a free, confidential consultation — no fee unless we win.
An offshore injury is not an ordinary “work accident.” Depending on where you were and what you were doing when you were hurt, your claim may fall under federal maritime law — not the Louisiana workers’ compensation system most people expect. Getting this wrong can cost an injured worker their recovery. The main frameworks are:
Every case is different, and no honest lawyer can promise a number. What the law allows an injured seaman or offshore worker to pursue generally includes:
Offshore and maritime claims run on federal deadlines, and which one applies depends on your job and where you were hurt:
That gap is exactly how workers lose good cases: someone assumes they have three years when they were really under the one-year LHWCA clock the whole time. On top of that, vessels get repaired, logs get overwritten, and crews rotate off. The sooner we’re involved, the more of your case we can protect. Don’t guess which deadline is yours — call us and we’ll tell you.
We know the reality: you may be offshore or on the water, you can’t always reach a lawyer right away, and the company will want a report fast. Here’s how to protect yourself:
Our Houma office represents injured offshore workers and mariners throughout lower Terrebonne Parish and South Louisiana, including Montegut, Bourg, Chauvin, Pointe-aux-Chenes, and Houma. If you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.
Generally, if you have a substantial connection to a vessel (or a fleet of vessels) in navigation and contribute to its work — courts often look at whether you spend roughly 30% or more of your time aboard — you may qualify as a seaman. It’s a fact-specific question, and one the company’s insurer has every incentive to answer in its favor. We look at it independently and honestly.
Almost certainly not. Injured workers nearly always have to give an incident report before they can reach a lawyer, and that’s expected. What matters most is what you signed and whether an insurer later got a recorded statement out of you. Bring us whatever you have or remember — the time to be careful is now, with the adjuster’s recorded interview and any settlement paperwork.
You generally have the right to seek your own medical evaluation. A company-selected doctor is not the last word on your health or your case.
Nothing up front. We handle these claims on a contingency basis — no fee unless we recover for you. Consultations are free.
Not necessarily — and it’s exactly the kind of thing an employer benefits from you believing. If you’re a seaman under the Jones Act, or your injury falls under the LHWCA, your rights may be much greater than the comp the company is offering. Let us check before you accept anything.
Don’t let the company decide what your injury is worth. Call Kopfler & Hermann at (985) 851-3311 for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll listen, answer your questions honestly, and tell you whether we believe you have a case worth pursuing. No pressure. No fee unless we win.
Kopfler & Hermann, Attorneys at Law — Helping Houma and the bayou since 1977
306 Grinage St, Houma, LA 70360 · (985) 851-3311
This page provides general information about Louisiana and federal maritime law and is not legal advice. Deadlines and rights vary by the specific facts of each case. Contact Kopfler & Hermann at (985) 851-3311 to discuss your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Kopfler & Hermann represents injured offshore, oilfield, and maritime workers across South Louisiana. If your community isn’t listed here, call us anyway — we serve the whole bayou region. Start with our Houma Maritime & Offshore Injury Lawyer hub, or choose a nearby community:
