Do you need an oilfield and offshore injury lawyer in Patterson? Kopfler & Hermann has represented injured oil, gas, and offshore workers throughout south Louisiana since 1977, handling claims under Louisiana law, the Jones Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). We work on a contingency basis — no attorney’s fee unless we recover for you — and consultations are free. Offshore and oilfield injury claims carry firm filing deadlines, so it is important to speak with a lawyer promptly after an on-the-job injury.
Learn more: Houma oilfield and offshore injury lawyer. Last updated: September 14, 2026
Patterson, on the Atchafalaya in St. Mary Parish, has deep roots in the oilfield-service and offshore-support industry — from oilfield equipment and services to the aviation and marine support that keep Gulf operations running. The work sends local hands offshore and puts them around heavy equipment every day. When a Patterson worker is hurt on a job, on a vessel, or on a platform, the company’s insurer moves quickly to protect itself.
Kopfler & Hermann has represented injured South Louisiana workers since 1977. We know the St. Mary Parish oilfield and offshore industry and the federal law that governs these injuries. 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 oilfield and offshore workers throughout St. Mary Parish and South Louisiana, including Patterson, Berwick, Morgan City, Amelia, and Franklin. 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.
Yes. Not every case is maritime — some are ordinary Louisiana injury or workers’ comp claims, and some fall under federal law like the LHWCA or OCSLA. Part of our job is telling you honestly which path gives you the strongest recovery. The first consultation is free.
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:
