Experienced Lawyers In Louisiana

Jones Act Attorneys in Louisiana

Home » Jones Act Attorneys in Louisiana

Injured While at Sea? Get Gordon!

No Fee Unless We Win

I’ll win your case, or you don’t owe me a dime. No costs, no expenses, no fee. Nothing.

Get A Free Consult

Injured? Get a FREE Consult Now!

K+

Clients Helped

Local Attorneys

Years In Business

$1M Settlements & Verdicts

A rope and metal mooring guide with a shipyard across the water in the background

Maritime occupations—including work on oil platforms, in shipping lanes and receiving docks, on fishing boats and barges, and more—are some of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Every year, thousands of able-bodied seamen are severely injured in accidents at sea. When that happens, they can apply for Jones Act protections to hold their employers or other negligent actors accountable.

Before the Jones Act became a law in 1920, seamen and other maritime workers largely had no recourse to recover damages after they were injured on the job. Because they had relatively little risk, shipping companies and ship owners would take liberties and cut corners regarding safety, leading to even more injuries, broken workers, and deaths.

Now, however, seamen enjoy proper protections from their employers under federal law. Maritime jobs are dangerous enough, and employers have a duty of care to keep their workers safe. If you’ve been injured while on the job at sea, you could be eligible for financial compensation. Contact the experienced injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan today for a free consultation.

Click to contact our Jones Act Lawyers Today

A Seaman’s Rights Under the Jones Act

Because seamen are not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in the same way that their land-based counterparts are, the Jones Act, also called the Merchant Marines Act, was passed to make sure they can seek compensation if they were injured due to their employer’s negligence. This law allows seamen injured on the job to sue their employers and recover compensation for their damages.

Some of the more common types of damages recovered in a Jones Act claim include the following:

Medical expenses from the initial injury, ongoing therapy, or required medical assistive devices
Lost income stemming from the victim’s inability to work, both during their initial convalescence and if they’re left disabled
Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, resulting from their injuries

What Is A Seaman?

In order to qualify for Jones Act protections, a worker must qualify as a seaman under the law. In order to qualify for protections, a worker must meet these three requirements:

They must contribute to the work of the vessel
They must have a substantial connection to the vessel—this generally means they must spend at least 30% of their working time aboard the vessel
The vessel they’re injured on must be in navigation

Workers who don’t qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act might still be eligible for renumeration under another maritime personal injury law.

Common Injuries Suffered at Sea

Due to the nature of many sea-faring jobs, many of the injuries suffered by maritime workers are severe. That’s why it’s imperative that the owners and operators of vessels take great care to keep their staff safe. When they neglect to do so, they can be held liable for the injuries of their employees.

Just a few examples of accidents that can result in a Jones Act claim include the following:

Slips and falls off platforms, ladders, or even on the deck
Oil platform explosions and fires
Shifting and falling cargo
Equipment that isn’t properly secured
Inadequate training
Acts of piracy

Any of these can lead to a potentially catastrophic injury aboard ship. Common injuries following incidents at sea can run the gamut from minor bruises and scrapes to the following:

Injuries caused by overexertion, such as pulled muscles, strains, or sprains
Loss of limb
Electrical shocks
Burns
Toxic chemical exposure
Neck and back injuries
Paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or other head injuries

What Should I Do If I’m Hurt at Work While at Sea?

If you’re hurt while working as a seaman, there are a number of steps you should take as soon as possible to maximize your chances of recovering compensation:

Report the accident to management. While this isn’t legally required, it can help your case by generating an incident report, and failing to report can be used as evidence against your claim.
Be careful about discussing your accident with anyone except your attorney. Idle talk can be held against you in court, and decrease your chances of recovering compensation.
Seek medical treatment as soon as you can after your injury. Not only can a doctor treat your wounds, their report of your injuries can serve as evidence in your claim. Even if you think you’re not hurt, some injuries take hours, days, or even weeks to present symptoms.
Call an experienced Jones Act claim lawyer as soon as you can so we can get started on your case.

If you or a loved one has been hurt at sea, the Louisiana Jones Act lawyers with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are here to help. We have 30 years of experience helping injured seamen recover the compensation they need to heal from their injuries and move on with their lives.

Give us a call at 888.501.7888 for a free consultation about your injuries. A dedicated lawyer will listen to your claim and start collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing your case.

Louisiana Jones Act Lawyer Near Me

888.501.7888

Don’t Wait — Talk to a Louisiana Jones Act Lawyer Today

At Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys, we understand that emotional and physical recovery come hand and hand after an injury or accident. We also know that you may not have the energy or time to fight with an insurance company and the complexities of your personal injury claim.

Call a Louisiana Jones Act Laywer Near Me

How It Works

Filing a claim with Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys is easy!
Simply follow the steps below.

Step One

Step 2

Step 3

Get Your Free Consultation

Fill out our quick and easy form to find out if your case qualifies. Our consultations are free and confidential, and we are here to help whether you hire us or not!

Hear From An Attorney

Our team will evaluate your case and decide on the best course of action. One of our lawyers will get back to you promptly and begin the process of winning your case!

Get Gordon!
Get It Done!

Once your case has been evaluated and deemed a good fit for our firm, our team will go to work immediately on gathering evidence, building your case, and getting you the compensation that you deserve.

Excellent

         Posted on Google  
   
   God First 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. "I can't say enough good things about Annabelle at Gordon McKernan. She took on my workers' comp case and fought for me every step of the way. She kept me updated, answered my questions, and made a stressful situation a lot easier to handle. Thanks to her hard work, we won my case. If you've been hurt on the job, I highly recommend her. Thank you, Annabelle!"
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   sibell diaz 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had am awesome experience.  Mrs.Claire Callier always kept me inform and fought for what I deserved . Thank you again
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Matt H 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very  professional and friendly service!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   sandy chen 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent service. Don’t need to do anything, they take care everything.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   James Manuel 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ms Claire was excellent! She kept me in touch with everything that was going on at all times. If anything would happen in the future I would definitely want her as my lawyer.
Thank you for everything.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Nicole P. Engel 
 9 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a very decent experience with Davis our attorney at the Baton Rouge office. He and his paralegal Ana did well with moving our case along. I even received a little more compensation than expected. Thanks Davis!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tanner Atchison 
 8 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 10/10 Experience. Very professional and well managed. Mr Thomas took care of all my needs as his client and treated me as more than just a client. He welcomed me to the Gordon family. Thank you so much for everything and always checking in on me and letting me know as the process was going.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jada Shepard 
 7 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Antonio Finley was wonderful
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Shaquill Mack 
 7 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My attorney was Jeff Watson I highly recommend him for all your vehicle wreck needs he made sure we was taken care of …always answer the phone and any questions we had …very helpful and professional! He went over and beyond to help us as much as he could !
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tamie Harden 
 6 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ivy Perkins is amazing. She makes you feel like you’re her only client. After every appointment she’d always call to make sure I was ok.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ron Mills 
 6 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My attorney was Antonio Finley out of the baton Rouge office he was handling a work comp case for me. He is a very knowledgeable and considerate person. he always had my best interest as his top of his priority from beginning till the end he would be my go to person if I ever needed someone with his skills. I recommend him to anyone
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Teylor Feliz 
 6 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 100% recomiendo a Holly Lamarche para casos de inmigracion y accidentes de vehiculos.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cheryl Picou 
 6 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Gordon got it done!!! The service was exceptional. They kept me informed throughout the entire process and took care of everything. They were great.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ruben Turner 
 5 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Jeff Watts is the fastest and most effective lawyer I have ever met. Plus his has the best attitude. He is sooo cool and laid back. I love Mr. Jeff, man, he is my dude. If I cut my finger I'm calling him. On this thing I can only give 5 stars but I really give him 30 Stars. Here are your other 25🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. Thank you so much again
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jessica Wesley 
 5 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely WONDERFUL! The peace of mind that I got knowing I wasnt having to deal with everything alone was amazing, the communication from the firm and my attorney Tim was TOP FREAKIN TIER!!!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Laura Betancourt 
 3 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very grateful to Claire Caillier for all of the assistance and guidance she gave our family.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   LaQuida Livingston 
 2 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ryan Thibodeaux is the man. Definitely recommend. Very professional and consistent. He is very knowledgeable. He gets the job done.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tiffany Smith 
 2 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend this law office to anyone who has been involved in a car accident. From the very beginning, they were there for me every step of the way and made a stressful situation so much easier to deal with.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Julie Davis 
 2 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The team at Gordon McKernan was great.  Always quick to respond and willing to answer any question I might have.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ward Barr 
 2 October 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Coburn and Brie were friendly, hard working people! I believed the claim was in good hands 😁
  
 
 
  Load more
 
 
   Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 6447 reviews 
 
   Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

Settlements & Verdicts

Frequent Answered
Questions