If you were injured working in the Gulf of Mexico — on a vessel, an offshore platform, a shipyard, or a Houma dock — federal maritime law controls your claim, not Louisiana workers’ compensation. The wrong analysis can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in recoverable damages. Our Houma maritime lawyers handle every maritime framework: Jones Act, LHWCA, OCSLA, general maritime law, and Death on the High Seas Act.
At Kopfler & Hermann, we’ve represented south Louisiana maritime workers and their families since 1979 from our office at 306 Grinage Street in downtown Houma. Forty-five years in the heart of Louisiana’s maritime industry has taught us how every operator, contractor, and insurance carrier in the Gulf builds their defense — and how to take it apart.
Call (985) 851-3311 for a free consultation, or use our online contact form.
Houma maritime injuries fall under several overlapping federal frameworks. The wrong classification can cost an injured worker their case. Our Houma maritime lawyers analyze every claim under each applicable statute to identify the route that produces the largest recovery.
The Jones Act covers crew members assigned to a vessel in navigation — deckhands, tankermen, captains, mates, engineers, cooks, and roustabouts working aboard crewboats, supply boats, tugs, jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, drillships, and lift boats. It provides full negligence damages — past and future medical, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. Our Houma Jones Act lawyers handle every variation of seaman injury claims.
The Longshore Act covers maritime workers who don’t qualify as seamen — dock workers, ship repair workers, shipyard employees, fish processors, container terminal workers, and harbor pilot crew. It provides workers’ compensation benefits plus the powerful Section 905(b) third-party claim against vessel owners. Our Houma longshore and harbor workers lawyers handle LHWCA claims from initial filing through Department of Labor appeals.
For fixed platforms attached to the outer continental shelf, OCSLA applies the law of the adjacent state — Louisiana — to negligence claims. This is critical for workers on production platforms, well jackets, and other fixed structures off the Louisiana coast. Our Houma offshore injury lawyers handle OCSLA fixed-platform cases.
General maritime law covers passengers, recreational boaters, and others who don’t fit into the Jones Act or LHWCA. It also governs unseaworthiness claims against vessel owners for vessels with defective equipment, untrained crew, or unsafe conditions.
Houma sits at the heart of the Gulf of Mexico maritime industry. Our practice covers workers across every Louisiana maritime sector:
Maritime work in the Gulf carries unique hazards. The cases we see most often in Houma include:
The recoverable damages in a maritime case depend on which federal framework applies. Across the laws, our Houma maritime lawyers fight to recover:
Joseph Kopfler and Jerry Hermann have built their practice around south Louisiana maritime workers for more than four decades. The reasons clients choose us:
The hours and days after a maritime injury can determine the outcome of your case. Important steps:
The Jones Act covers seamen — crew members assigned to a vessel in navigation. The Longshore Act covers maritime workers at qualifying locations who aren’t seamen, such as dock workers and shipyard employees. The Jones Act allows recovery for full negligence damages including pain and suffering. The Longshore Act provides workers’ compensation benefits plus third-party claims against vessel owners.
Most maritime employers carry P&I (Protection and Indemnity), Jones Act, and Longshore Act insurance. These policies are designed to limit your recovery — not to maximize it. An experienced Houma maritime lawyer fights the insurance carrier on your behalf to recover everything you’re legally entitled to.
Kopfler & Hermann handles maritime cases on contingency. There is no fee unless we recover money for you. Free consultations and free case evaluations.
Jones Act claims must generally be filed within three years of the date of injury. LHWCA notice must be given within 30 days and a formal claim filed within one year. General maritime law claims also follow a three-year limitations period. Some claims have shorter deadlines — talk to a maritime lawyer immediately.
Yes — the Jones Act specifically allows seamen to sue their employer for negligence. This is one of the most important differences from ordinary state workers’ compensation, where employer lawsuits are typically barred.
Fixed platforms on the outer continental shelf fall under OCSLA, which applies Louisiana state negligence law. You can pursue claims against your employer for negligence and against contractors or third parties who contributed to your injury.
If you or a family member was injured working in the Gulf of Mexico or at a Houma maritime worksite, call our Houma maritime lawyers at (985) 851-3311 for a free consultation. We respond to maritime injury inquiries within 24 hours and travel to meet injured workers when needed. Our office is at 306 Grinage Street, Houma, LA 70360.
