Louisiana
Jones Act Lawyer

Louisiana Jones Act Guide: Your Rights, Your Options, Your Next Steps

Working offshore in Louisiana offers steady work and good pay, but it also brings serious risk. The maritime industry keeps the local and national economy moving. Yet one careless act on an oil rig, fishing boat, or cargo vessel can change your life in a moment. You may suddenly face painful injuries, time away from work, and worry about how to support your family.

After an offshore accident, standard workers’ compensation is usually not your main protection. A powerful federal law, the Jones Act, gives injured maritime workers a path to meaningful financial recovery. The law is complex, and large companies and insurers know how to use those rules to limit what they pay. The Louisiana maritime injury attorneys at Loyd J Bourgeois Injury & Accident Lawyer help you understand your rights, protect you from unfair tactics, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.

The Stakes For Louisiana Offshore Workers

For many families in our state, offshore work is the primary source of income. When you get hurt offshore, it is not a small setback. It can threaten your stability and long-term earning ability. Even moderate injuries can make it difficult or impossible to return to physically demanding offshore work. You may face medical bills, lost wages, and the need for long-term treatment or retraining.

Claims involving offshore injuries often follow federal rules that differ from typical Louisiana personal injury cases. You should not have to handle these rules alone. The attorneys at LJBLegal guide you through each step and help you understand your options.

Why Maximizing Your Compensation Is Critical

Partial compensation does not help when your injuries affect your life for years to come. Early settlement offers often cover only a small part of your real losses. Offshore injuries can impact your health, income, and family long after the accident.

Maximizing your compensation means fighting for a recovery that covers medical care, lost income, future treatment, and reduced earning ability. It also includes the physical pain and emotional strain you carry. The attorneys at LJBLegal document every part of your loss and pursue the amount your situation calls for.

How Does The Jones Act Protect Injured Offshore Workers In Louisiana?

The Jones Act protects injured offshore workers in Louisiana by allowing them to sue their employer for negligence, claim compensation for medical costs and lost wages, and receive “maintenance and cure” during recovery. It also enables claims for vessel unseaworthiness and grants the right to a jury trial and wrongful death recovery.

What Is The Jones Act?

The Jones Act is a 1920 U.S. law that regulates maritime commerce and protects offshore workers. It allows injured seamen to sue employers when negligence plays a role in an injury and provides a route to recover money for medical care, lost wages, and other losses.

The law sets a three-year deadline to file most Jones Act claims. In other words, you generally have three years from the date of injury or death to bring a lawsuit. Waiting too long can make it harder to find witnesses and preserve evidence, which may weaken your case even if you are still within the time limit.

How Does The Jones Act Apply To Injured Workers?

The Jones Act allows injured maritime workers to sue their employer for negligence if it contributed to the injury. It applies to seamen working on vessels and covers claims for unsafe conditions, poor training, or faulty equipment. Workers may recover damages for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and receive maintenance and cure benefits.

You only need to show that employer negligence played even a small role in causing the injury. Courts sometimes describe this as a “featherweight” standard of proof. This means the burden to show fault is lighter than in most land-based injury cases.

The Jones Act can apply to injuries that happen while the vessel is at sea, tied up in port, or docked, as long as you are performing your job duties on a vessel in navigation.

This law helps crew members on offshore rigs, tugboats, supply vessels, barges, and other vessels that operate in the Gulf of Mexico and along Louisiana waterways. It also covers many workers on commercial ships, fishing vessels, and some casino and construction crews whose work supports the vessel’s mission.

Why Does The Jones Act Matter For Injured Crew Members?

The Jones Act matters because it lets injured crew members sue their employer for negligence and recover damages beyond standard workers’ compensation. This includes payment for pain and suffering, lost future wages, and mental anguish. It also ensures “maintenance and cure” benefits and requires employers to provide a safe, seaworthy vessel.

Employer negligence can include many types of failures, such as not providing safe equipment, not fixing hazards, hiring unqualified crew members, or not warning workers about dangerous conditions.

The attorneys at LJBLegal use this protection to pursue the resources you need to rebuild your life.

Who Qualifies As A Seaman Under The Jones Act?

Seaman status depends on your work duties and your connection to a vessel, not your job title. A seaman is someone who contributes to the mission of a vessel and has a substantial connection to that vessel or fleet.

A worker qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act if they spend at least 30 percent of their time on a vessel in navigation and their duties contribute to the vessel’s mission. This includes crew members like deckhands, engineers, drillers, cooks, captains, and many offshore oil and gas workers. It can also include some workers in construction or maintenance roles who spend most of their time aboard vessels.

Some workers are generally not considered seamen. Longshoremen and many harbor workers are usually covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act instead of the Jones Act. Shore-based clerical staff, even if they sometimes step aboard a vessel, usually do not qualify. Certain scientific workers, sailing school instructors, and students may also be excluded by law.

LJBLegal reviews your work history, time offshore, and job duties to help establish your eligibility under the Jones Act.

What Are the Key Legal Theories For Jones Act Claims?

The primary legal theory is negligence. Employers must provide a reasonably safe place to work. If they fail to do so and you get hurt, they can be held responsible. The standard for proving negligence is lower than in most personal injury cases and can include many types of unsafe conduct.

• Failing to provide a safe workplace or proper safety procedures.
• Not providing safe or well-maintained equipment and tools.
• Not giving proper training for the tasks you are asked to perform.
• Hiring or keeping unfit or careless crew members.
• Not warning about known hazards or dangerous conditions.

The second theory is unseaworthiness. Vessel owners must ensure the vessel, equipment, and crew are reasonably fit for their purpose. Unsafe conditions that lead to injury can make the vessel owner strictly liable for damages, even when the unsafe condition is not tied to a single careless act.

What Offshore Accidents And Injuries Are Most Common In Louisiana?

Work offshore or on vessels involves many hazards. Heavy machinery, flammable materials, busy waterways, shifting weather, and long shifts all increase risk. Common offshore accidents in Louisiana include slips, trips, and falls, fires and explosions, and heavy equipment incidents. Workers also face injuries from falling objects, toxic exposure, transportation collisions, and falls overboard. These hazards often lead to serious harm, such as fractures, burns, amputations, or even death.

High Risk Environments: Offshore Drilling, Navigation, And Cargo Operations

Offshore drilling sites can experience explosions, blowouts, chemical exposure, and dangerous pressure changes. Vessels such as tugboats, barges, and fishing boats present hazards from heavy lines, moving equipment, unstable cargo, and constant vessel motion. Crowded Louisiana waterways increase the risk of collisions between vessels and other marine traffic.

Types Of Accidents Leading To Injury

• Slips, Trips, And Falls: Wet or cluttered decks and poorly maintained stairs can cause serious falls from heights or on the same level.
• Equipment Failure: Faulty cranes, winches, cables, and other machinery can cause crush injuries or amputations.
• Fires And Explosions: Flammable materials, fuel leaks, and electrical problems on rigs and vessels create a high risk of burns and blast injuries.
• Falling Objects: Tools, pipes, or cargo can fall from elevated platforms or cranes and cause head, neck, or spinal injuries.
• Exposure To Hazardous Substances: Chemicals, toxic fumes, and low oxygen in confined spaces can lead to poisoning, chemical burns, or asphyxiation.
• Transportation Accidents: Collisions involving supply boats, barges, tugboats, or crew boats, as well as incidents with cranes, forklifts, and other transport equipment, can cause severe trauma.
• Falling Overboard: Workers can fall into the water from a deck or platform, leading to drowning, hypothermia, or propeller injuries.
• Repetitive Stress Injuries: Long hours of heavy labor can lead to chronic back, shoulder, and joint problems.

Common Injuries Sustained By Maritime Workers

Many offshore injuries are severe. These include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, burns, and amputations. Some workers develop breathing problems, chemical burns, or long-term nervous system issues because of toxic exposure. In some cases, families lose a loved one. LJBLegal understands the strain these injuries place on Louisiana families and supports you through the legal process.

The Importance Of Documenting Your Injury And Seeking Medical Care

Your health always comes first. Seek medical care right away. Follow all medical instructions and go to every appointment. This protects your well-being and creates records that support your claim.

Report the injury in writing, take photos if possible, gather witness information, and save all medical and wage paperwork. LJBLegal uses this information to show the full impact of your injury and your financial loss.

What Steps Help Maximize Jones Act Compensation After An Offshore Injury?

Your early decisions can significantly affect your claim. A careful approach helps protect your rights and strengthens your case.

To maximize compensation after an offshore injury, report the incident immediately, seek independent medical care, and document all details and expenses. Avoid giving recorded statements or posting online. Consult a maritime injury lawyer early, follow all medical advice, and avoid quick settlement offers that may undervalue long-term damages.

What Should You Do After An Offshore Accident?

1. Report The Injury: Notify your supervisor or captain and request a copy of the report.
2. See A Doctor You Trust: Ask for an independent medical evaluation.
3. Document Everything: Write down details of the accident and conditions.
4. Avoid Recorded Statements: Do not give statements to the company or insurer without guidance.
5. Contact LJBLegal: Early legal support helps prevent mistakes.

Understanding Your Rights To Maintenance And Cure

Injured seamen receive two basic benefits: maintenance and cure.

• Maintenance: Daily payments for basic living expenses while you recover.
• Cure: Reasonable medical expenses until you reach maximum medical improvement.

Some employers try to reduce these payments or stop them before you are healed. LJBLegal helps protect these rights and pursues your broader claim.

Navigating Insurance Tactics

Insurance companies often push for fast settlements that do not reflect your long-term needs. They may also try to shift blame or question your symptoms. LJBLegal handles communication to protect you and support your recovery.

Building A Strong Claim For Maximum Recovery

A powerful case depends on evidence. LJBLegal investigates the accident, reviews policies and logs, interviews witnesses, and works with experts. This helps support both economic and non economic damages and shows how the injury has changed your daily life and future.

What Compensation Can You Receive Under The Jones Act?

Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Additional damages may cover mental anguish, disfigurement, and loss of life enjoyment. “Maintenance and cure” benefits pay for daily living and medical costs, even without proof of employer negligence.

Economic Damages: Measuring Financial Losses

Economic damages reflect direct financial loss. These include money you have already lost and the income you are likely to lose in the future.

• Medical Expenses: Hospital care, surgery, therapy, medicine, equipment, and long-term or future treatment for lasting conditions.
• Lost Wages: Past income loss and future time away from work, including overtime and lost bonuses.
• Loss Of Earning Capacity: Reduced long-term earning ability if you can no longer perform the same type of work.
• Unearned Wages: Wages you would have earned from the time of the accident until the end of the voyage or work period.
• Household Services And Benefits: Loss of household help you used to provide, and loss of certain benefits such as pension or 401k contributions linked to your work.

Non Economic Damages: Personal And Emotional Losses

These damages reflect the personal impact of the injury.

• Pain And Suffering: Physical pain caused by the injury and treatment.
• Mental Anguish: Anxiety, depression, and trauma related to the accident and its aftermath.
• Loss Of Enjoyment Of Life: Loss of activities, hobbies, and routines that once brought you joy.
• Disfigurement And Scarring: Physical changes that affect daily life and self-confidence.
• Physical Impairment And Disability: Limits on movement, strength, or function that interfere with work and daily tasks.

Rehabilitation And Vocational Support

Some workers cannot return to the same offshore job because of their injuries. In those cases, compensation may include rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational training, and job placement help to prepare you for new work you can safely perform.

How Does Comparative Negligence Affect Your Case?

If you share some fault for the accident, your recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a court finds that you are 20 percent at fault and your employer is 80 percent at fault, your total award can be reduced by 20 percent. However, you can still recover money as long as your employer’s negligence contributed to the injury.

If the evidence shows that your employer was not negligent at all and that you were completely at fault, you may not recover under the Jones Act. LJBLegal builds evidence that helps reduce blame placed on you and highlights unsafe actions by the employer or crew.

What Happens In A Wrongful Death Claim?

Families may bring a claim when a seaman dies because of employer negligence or an unseaworthy vessel. Damages may cover lost financial support, household services, and funeral costs. Families may also recover for loss of companionship, care, and guidance, as well as the loss of the worker’s future earnings.

LJBLegal supports families during this difficult time and explains each available claim in clear terms.

Why Choose LJBLegal For Your Offshore Injury Claim?

Federal rules for offshore injuries are complex. Large companies and insurers protect their financial interests. LJBLegal focuses on protecting yours. Our team understands the rules that apply to offshore work and treats you with care and respect.

Why Experience With Offshore Claims Matters

Claims involving offshore injuries require knowledge of federal procedures, seaman status rules, and vessel operations. The attorneys at LJBLegal apply this experience to build clear, strong cases.

How LJBLegal Maximizes Your Recovery

Our team focuses on:

• Thorough Investigation: Reviewing logs, safety issues, training records, and witness accounts.
• Accurate Valuation: Working with medical and economic experts to measure both present and future losses.
• Firm Negotiation: Presenting strong evidence in settlement talks with employers and insurers.
• Trial Preparation: Preparing serious cases as if trial may be needed, so that you are ready if settlement talks fail.

Our Client Portal App: Twenty Four Seven Access To Your Case

Offshore injuries involve long recoveries. LJBLegal uses a secure client portal app that helps you stay involved in your case.

• Check case updates at any time.
• Upload documents and photos easily.
• Access answers to common questions.
• Message your attorney or case manager when you need support.

Understanding Legal Fees: Our Contingency Fee Structure

At LJBLegal, cost should never be the reason you hesitate to get help. We use a contingency fee structure:

• No upfront costs. You pay nothing to hire us.
• No fee unless we win. We get paid only if we recover compensation for you.
• No surprises. Our fee stays the same even if we need to file suit or proceed to trial.

How Can You Get Help With Your Offshore Injury Claim In Louisiana?

Offshore injury cases require the right team. You need a firm that combines compassion with strength, listens to your story, and has the resources to stand up to large companies. LJBLegal handles complex claims for Louisiana workers and their families. We keep you informed, explain your choices, and prepare your case with care.

If you were hurt while working offshore, reach out to LJBLegal at 985-240-9773 to discuss your options and take the next step toward recovery.