Born in Houma. Built for offshore workers. Since 1981.
45 Years in South Louisiana | 32nd JDC Veterans | Multi-Million Dollar Maritime Recoveries
The Gulf of Mexico does not forgive mistakes. Neither do the companies and insurance adjusters who show up when an offshore worker gets hurt.
Kopfler & Hermann has been in Houma since 1981. Joe Kopfler was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1977, opened this office on Grinage Street, and has handled Jones Act cases in the 32nd Judicial District Court for Terrebonne Parish for over four decades. When most of the firms on billboards today were still in law school, Joe was already in that courthouse — trying cases, learning the judges, and building relationships with the local legal community that only come from showing up every single day for 45 years.
This is not a satellite office. There is no managing partner in New Orleans deciding which cases get attention and which ones get returned calls. Joe Kopfler and the team at Kopfler & Hermann work out of Houma because this is where they live and where they belong.
You know this place. Terrebonne General Medical Center, where injured workers are brought in from helicopter landings. Port Fourchon, the busiest oil support port in the country. USCG Sector New Orleans, which processes incident reports for every offshore mishap in this region. Bayou Black, Cocodrie, the back roads that lead to the docks — these are not names we put on a webpage to rank in Google. They are the geography of our clients’ lives.
If you were hurt offshore, on a vessel, on a dock, or on a fixed platform in the Gulf, you have specific legal rights that are very different from what ordinary workers’ comp covers. The laws that apply to you — the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, general maritime law — were written to protect you. But the companies and their insurance carriers know those laws just as well, and they start working against you the moment you get hurt.
You need a lawyer who has been here longer than any of them.
Call us today: (985) 851-3311
Maritime law is not one law. It is a web of federal statutes and centuries of admiralty doctrine that together determine what you are owed when you are hurt on or near the water. Which law applies to you depends on where you were working, what kind of vessel or structure you were on, and what your job function was. Here is how each category works in plain language.
The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) protects crew members who work aboard a vessel in navigation. If you are a deckhand, engineer, cook, or any other crew member who spends a significant portion of your working time on a vessel — a crew boat, a supply vessel, a tugboat, a liftboat, a dredge — you likely qualify as a “seaman” under the Jones Act.
What the Jones Act gives you that ordinary workers’ comp does not: the right to sue your employer for negligence. You do not have to prove the company was grossly reckless — you only have to show that their negligence played any part, even a small part, in causing your injury. The standard is extremely favorable to injured workers.
A Jones Act seaman can also recover for unseaworthiness — meaning the vessel itself was not reasonably fit for its intended purpose, whether because of faulty equipment, inadequate crew, or unsafe conditions. And regardless of fault, your employer owes you maintenance and cure: daily living expenses and all necessary medical care until you reach maximum medical improvement.
Example: A deckhand on a crew boat running supplies between Port Fourchon and an offshore platform slips on an oil-slicked deck and breaks his back. He has a Jones Act claim.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. § 901 et seq.) covers workers who are not seamen but who work on, over, or adjacent to navigable waters — dock workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders, harbor workers, and certain other maritime employees. The LHWCA provides federal workers’ compensation benefits, including medical treatment and disability payments.
Unlike Jones Act claims, LHWCA claims are generally administrative (handled through the U.S. Department of Labor), but injured workers can also pursue third-party tort claims against vessel owners, equipment manufacturers, or other parties responsible for the accident.
Example: A shipyard welder at a Houma boat repair facility is injured when a crane drops a load. He cannot sue his employer under the LHWCA, but he can pursue a third-party negligence claim against the crane operator’s company.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. § 1331 et seq.) applies to workers on fixed platforms, jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, and other structures permanently or semi-permanently attached to the seabed in federal offshore waters. These workers are not classified as seamen and do not have Jones Act rights, but OCSLA incorporates the adjacent state’s workers’ compensation law — meaning Louisiana law — into federal maritime jurisdiction.
OCSLA workers can also bring personal injury claims in federal court under the general maritime law if a vessel was involved in the accident, or against third parties whose negligence contributed to the injury.
Example: A welder on a fixed production platform 50 miles offshore in federal waters is injured by defective welding equipment. His claim proceeds under OCSLA, likely through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The Death on the High Seas Act (46 U.S.C. § 30301 et seq.) applies when a maritime worker is killed more than three nautical miles from shore. DOHSA allows the worker’s family to recover pecuniary damages — lost financial support, loss of services, and funeral expenses. The law was enacted to ensure that maritime workers’ families are not left without recourse simply because the fatal accident happened far from shore.
Example: A roustabout is killed in a blowout on a deepwater drilling rig in the Gulf. His spouse and children bring a DOHSA wrongful death action.
Separate from the federal statutes above, the general maritime law — centuries of admiralty tradition incorporated into American law — provides additional remedies. Unseaworthiness claims against the vessel owner, third-party negligence claims, and maintenance and cure disputes all fall under general maritime law. Many maritime injury cases involve more than one of these legal theories, and selecting the right combination is a significant part of what an experienced maritime attorney does. Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315, negligence principles also apply in state court proceedings that touch maritime matters within state jurisdiction.
Here is a simple fact that no out-of-town firm can honestly put on their website: we are four minutes from the Terrebonne Parish courthouse.
That matters in concrete ways that directly affect your case.
We know the 32nd JDC. Joe Kopfler has practiced in the 32nd Judicial District Court for over four decades. He knows how cases are assigned, how discovery runs, and what juries in Terrebonne Parish care about. That institutional knowledge does not come from a location page — it comes from years of showing up.
We know the 17th JDC and federal court. Kopfler & Hermann also practices in the 17th Judicial District Court in Thibodaux (Lafourche Parish) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans. Maritime cases often implicate federal jurisdiction, and we handle both state and federal maritime claims without referring you out.
We know the local medical community. When you are hurt offshore, medical documentation is the spine of your case. We know which orthopedic surgeons and specialists in the Houma area are thorough in their documentation of offshore and industrial injuries. Getting you to the right doctor — and making sure that doctor understands the legal standards that govern maritime injury — is something that requires local knowledge you cannot download from a database.
We know the USCG process. Every serious offshore incident generates a U.S. Coast Guard report. USCG Sector New Orleans handles incident investigations and safety violation records for this region. We know how to obtain those records, what they mean, and how to use them in litigation and settlement negotiations.
We know the insurance carriers. The major P&I (Protection and Indemnity) clubs handle maritime liability insurance for vessel owners worldwide. Their adjusters know Louisiana claims. We know their adjusters. That experience at the negotiating table is worth something when a settlement is being discussed.
Out-of-town firms drive in for depositions and fly home. They hand your file off to junior associates. They settle cases fast because their overhead requires volume. When you call Kopfler & Hermann, you talk to Joe.
We do not guarantee outcomes. Every case is different. But here is a record of what happens when you combine 45 years of experience with the will to go all the way to trial.
A family lost a loved one in circumstances that crossed state lines and implicated dram shop liability under Alabama law. We co-counseled this case alongside Beasley Allen — one of the most respected plaintiff’s firms in the country — and recovered $2 million for the family. This is the kind of complex, multi-state catastrophic case that smaller or less experienced firms refer out or decline. We took it.
A client suffered severe spinal cord injuries in a commercial vehicle sideswipe collision. This case was tried in the 32nd Judicial District Court in Terrebonne Parish — the same courthouse where your maritime case may be heard. Result: $1.5 million recovery.
We have resolved multiple maritime and industrial injury cases for amounts we cannot publicly disclose due to confidentiality terms. In at least one case, the recovery exceeded seven figures. The work done to get there — expert witnesses, vessel inspections, USCG record requests, and courtroom pressure — is the same work we do for every maritime client.
A worker injured during Hurricane Ida recovery operations brought a claim that required navigating federal contracting law and FEMA subcontractor liability in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Recovery: $835,000. Federal courts are not an obstacle — they are part of our regular practice.
For our complete record, visit our case results page.
The first three days after a maritime injury are the most critical — and the most dangerous. The company and its insurance carrier begin building their defense the moment you report the injury. Here is exactly what you need to do.
Tell your captain, supervisor, or platform foreman about the injury right away — and put it in writing. “I slipped on a wet deck near the engine room at approximately 0900 and injured my lower back” — document the time, location, and nature of the injury in a written incident report. Keep a copy. If you do not report the injury in writing, the company’s lawyers will argue it never happened or happened differently than you say.
Your employer owes you maintenance and cure under general maritime law from the moment you are injured, regardless of fault. Get evaluated. But be very careful: company doctors work for the company. Their reports can understate the severity of your injuries, clear you to return to work before you are ready, or document the injury in ways that limit your recovery.
Under maritime law, you have the right to choose your own treating physician. Exercise that right. Get an independent evaluation from a doctor of your choice as soon as possible.
Do not sign any medical release or authorization that gives the company access to your complete prior medical history. A targeted release for records related to this injury is appropriate. A blanket release is not.
The adjuster will call quickly. They will be polite. They may tell you they just need to “get your side of the story” to process your claim. Do not give that statement. Anything you say will be used to minimize or deny your claim. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to elicit answers that limit your recovery. You are not required to give a recorded statement. Politely decline and call a maritime lawyer immediately.
Take photographs — of the hazard that caused your injury, of the equipment involved, of your injuries themselves. Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Write down the exact name of the vessel, the platform, or the facility where you were working. Note weather conditions, lighting, shift times, who else was present, and anything else you remember. Memory fades. Write it down within 24 hours.
If your clothing was torn or blood-stained in the incident, keep it. If you were using defective equipment, note the equipment ID number and manufacturer. If the injury involved a specific piece of gear — a harness, a winch, a valve — alert your lawyer so they can request preservation of that evidence before it is repaired, discarded, or taken out of service.
The single most important thing you can do: do not sign anything the company puts in front of you before speaking with a maritime attorney. This includes medical authorizations, incident report statements, settlement offers, return-to-work agreements, and any “release of all claims” forms. A settlement offered in the first 72 hours is almost always for far less than what your case is worth. The company knows what your rights are. They are counting on the fact that you do not.
Call Kopfler & Hermann before you sign anything: (985) 851-3311
Free case evaluation. No fee unless we recover for you.
Kopfler & Hermann represents maritime workers throughout South Louisiana’s offshore corridor — the communities where crew boats launch, where supply yards run 24 hours, and where families wait for workers to come home.
Port Fourchon — The largest oil service port in the United States, handling a significant share of the Gulf of Mexico’s deepwater production support. If you work in Port Fourchon or travel through it to an offshore job, your maritime rights are specific and powerful. Learn more about Port Fourchon maritime claims.
Golden Meadow — Heart of the crew boat and support vessel industry in Lafourche Parish. Golden Meadow workers have specific Jones Act rights that differ from Louisiana workers’ comp. Golden Meadow maritime injury lawyer.
Grand Isle — Louisiana’s southernmost community, a staging point for offshore drilling operations and the recreational marine industry. Workers injured in Grand Isle and in the federal waters beyond have strong maritime remedies. Grand Isle maritime injury lawyer.
Thibodaux — The Lafourche Parish seat and home to a large offshore workforce that commutes to Port Fourchon and beyond. Thibodaux Jones Act lawyer. We also handle all Lafourche Parish personal injury cases — see our Lafourche Parish personal injury page.
Galliano, Cut Off, and Larose — The bayou communities of lower Lafourche Parish, where oilfield service companies line Highway 308 and generations of families have worked the offshore industry. We know these towns and we know these workers.
Cocodrie and Dulac — Southern Terrebonne communities where commercial fishing and offshore support intersect. Maritime injuries in these communities often involve complex questions of vessel status and worker classification that require an experienced maritime attorney.
Houma — Our home. 306 Grinage Street. If you or a family member was hurt in a maritime or offshore incident and you need to talk to someone today, walk in. We are here.
Three years from the date of your injury. This is the general maritime statute of limitations for Jones Act negligence claims. For unseaworthiness claims, the same three-year period typically applies. For maintenance and cure disputes, there may be different timelines depending on when the employer’s obligation was refused. Do not wait — evidence disappears, witnesses move on, and companies destroy records over time. The earlier you call, the stronger your case.
Louisiana workers’ comp covers most onshore employees injured on the job. It provides medical benefits and limited wage replacement, and it does not allow you to sue your employer for negligence. The Jones Act is completely different: it allows maritime workers who qualify as seamen to sue their employer directly for negligence. Jones Act recoveries can include past and future medical expenses, full lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life — categories that workers’ comp does not cover at all. Jones Act recoveries routinely exceed workers’ comp settlements by hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.
To qualify as a seaman, you must (1) work on or contribute to the mission of a vessel in navigation, and (2) spend a significant portion of your work time — generally at least 30% — actually aboard a vessel. There is no bright-line rule; courts look at the totality of your work assignment. Crew boat workers, vessel engineers, deckhands, vessel cooks, and similar workers typically qualify. Platform workers who are regularly transported by vessel sometimes have vessel-based claims as well. We can evaluate your specific situation in a free consultation.
Almost certainly not — at least not without consulting a lawyer first. Early settlement offers are typically made before the full extent of your injuries is known. Once you sign a release, that is it — you cannot reopen the claim if your condition worsens, requires surgery, or keeps you from working for months or years. A settlement that seems fair on day three may look very different after six months of surgery, rehabilitation, and lost wages. Let us review any offer before you decide. The review is free and there is no obligation.
Nothing upfront. Kopfler & Hermann handles maritime injury cases on a contingency fee basis: you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover money for you. Case costs — filing fees, expert witness fees, deposition costs — are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the recovery. If we do not win, you owe us nothing. You have nothing to lose by calling.
Most cases settle before trial. But you should work with a lawyer who is prepared to go all the way if the company does not offer fair compensation. Joe Kopfler has tried cases to verdict in the 32nd JDC, the 17th JDC, and federal court. Insurance carriers know which lawyers settle everything at any price and which lawyers try cases. That reputation directly affects how they negotiate with us. We try cases.
Under maritime comparative fault principles, your own partial fault does not bar your recovery — it reduces it proportionally. If you were 20% at fault and your damages are $1 million, you recover $800,000. Do not assume that because you made a mistake you have no claim. That assumption is exactly what the insurance adjuster wants you to make, and it is often wrong.
Yes. In many maritime injury cases, multiple parties are liable: your employer, the vessel owner (if different), equipment manufacturers, a third-party contractor, or others whose negligence contributed to the accident. Identifying and pursuing all responsible parties is a critical part of maximizing your recovery. This is one reason why hiring a maritime lawyer early — before evidence disappears — makes a material difference in the outcome of your case.
Don’t talk to the company adjuster first. Talk to us.
The adjuster’s job is to close your claim for as little as possible. Our job is the opposite.
Joe Kopfler has been fighting for Houma and South Louisiana workers since 1981. He has handled Jones Act cases, LHWCA claims, OCSLA disputes, and wrongful death cases in this exact legal community for 45 years. He knows the courts. He knows the insurance carriers. He knows how these cases are won.
If you or a family member was hurt offshore, on a vessel, at a dock, or on any maritime job site, call us before you do anything else. The consultation is free. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
If you’ve been affected by the recent LOOP oil spill — including shrimpers, oystermen, and coastal businesses out of Dulac, Cocodrie, and Chauvin — see our dedicated Houma LOOP oil spill lawyer page covering the Trahan v. LOOP class action.
