Kraemer sits at the end of the road, where Bayou Boeuf runs down into Lac des Allemands and the marsh takes over. For generations, families here have made their living on the water — shrimping, crabbing, running trawls and crab traps, guiding in the Des Allemands swamp, and working the inshore fleet that ties up along Company Canal and the bayou. It is honest, physical work, and it is dangerous. When a deckhand is hurt on a shrimp boat or a crew member is injured on a commercial vessel out of Kraemer, the law that applies is not ordinary workers’ compensation. It is maritime law, and it can mean far more for an injured worker and his family. Kopfler & Hermann has represented South Louisiana’s working people since 1977, and we help injured fishermen and vessel crew from Kraemer and the surrounding Lafourche and St. James communities.
Most jobs on land are covered by state workers’ compensation, which pays limited benefits and does not depend on anyone being at fault. Work on a vessel is different. A crew member who spends a substantial part of his time working aboard a boat — generally understood to mean around thirty percent or more — is usually considered a seaman under a federal law called the Jones Act. That status matters, because a seaman injured because of the negligence of the vessel owner, the captain, or a fellow crew member can bring a claim for full damages, not just the capped benefits state comp allows.
On the water around Kraemer, injuries happen in ways specific to the work: a winch or trawl door that fails, a slick or unguarded deck in rough conditions on Lac des Allemands, overloaded catch, faulty rigging, being caught in lines, or a vessel that was not kept in a safe, seaworthy condition. Under maritime law a vessel owner has a duty to provide a seaworthy boat and reasonably safe equipment. When that duty is broken and a worker is hurt, the owner can be held responsible.
Depending on the facts, an injured seaman may be entitled to recover for:
Time limits in maritime cases are strict. A Jones Act claim generally must be filed within three years of the injury under federal law (46 U.S.C. § 30106). Claims that fall under Louisiana law rather than maritime law can have a much shorter window — for many non-maritime injuries in Louisiana the prescriptive period is two years for incidents on or after July 1, 2024. Because it is not always obvious which law governs a given accident, the safest course is to talk to an attorney quickly, before evidence disappears and deadlines pass.
Report the injury to the captain or vessel owner and make sure it is written down. Get medical attention and be honest and complete with your providers. Take photographs of the equipment, deck, or condition involved if you safely can, and write down the names of everyone aboard. Keep copies of any accident report. Be careful about signing anything or giving a recorded statement to a company representative or insurer before you understand your rights — what you say early can be used to reduce or deny your claim.
We help commercial fishermen, deckhands, and vessel crew from the Kraemer and Bayou Boeuf area with shrimp boat and trawler injuries, crab boat and oyster boat injuries, crew boat and utility vessel injuries, winch and rigging accidents, slip and fall injuries aboard vessels, back and spine injuries, crush and amputation injuries, and wrongful death claims when a family loses a loved one on the water. We also handle claims for workers whose injuries fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act rather than the Jones Act, where the deadlines and rules are different again.
Kraemer, Choctaw, Bayou Boeuf, and the Des Allemands communities are part of the working coast we have served for decades. From our office in Houma we represent injured workers and their families throughout Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. James, St. John, and the surrounding parishes. We come to you when travel is difficult after an injury, and we handle these cases on a contingency basis.
Am I a “seaman” if I only work part of the year on a shrimp boat?
Possibly. Seaman status depends on the nature and amount of your connection to a vessel or fleet, not on whether the work is year-round. A worker who spends a substantial portion of his working time aboard a vessel in navigation may qualify. It is a fact-specific question worth reviewing with an attorney.
My boss said I have to use his doctor. Is that true?
Under the right to cure, an injured seaman is generally entitled to reasonable medical treatment. You should not assume you are limited to whatever the company arranges. Talk to a lawyer before agreeing to restrictions on your care.
What does it cost to hire Kopfler & Hermann?
Nothing up front. We handle injured-worker cases on a contingency fee, which means there is no fee unless we recover for you.
If you or someone in your family was hurt working on the water around Kraemer, call Kopfler & Hermann at (985) 851-3311 for a free, confidential consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case. Our office is at 306 Grinage Street, Houma, LA 70360 — helping Houma since 1977.
We also help injured workers and their families in nearby communities across the working coast, including Raceland, Lockport, Larose, Chackbay, Mathews, and Gibson. Kraemer maritime cases connect to our main Houma maritime injury practice.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading this page or contacting Kopfler & Hermann does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. For advice about your specific situation, please speak with a licensed Louisiana attorney.
