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Free Consultation for Offshore and Maritime Accident Cases Near Kenner
An offshore injury does not stay offshore. It follows you back to Metairie, to Kenner, to the house where your family is waiting and the bills keep stacking up. Rig work, deck work, and dock work carry risks that most jobs never come close to, and the recovery is rarely quick.
At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, our New Orleans offshore injury lawyers represent workers hurt on rigs, vessels, docks, and platforms across the Gulf. Your claim may fall under federal maritime law, federal workers’ compensation, Louisiana law, or more than one of them at the same time. Getting that question right early matters, because each path carries its own deadline and its own rules about proving fault.
We handle these claims statewide through our offshore and maritime injury practice. Our New Orleans office sits on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, a short drive from the ports and yards where many of our clients work. For injuries that fall outside maritime law, our New Orleans personal injury lawyers handle claims across the metro area.
Types of Injuries Our New Orleans Offshore and Maritime Injury Lawyers Handle
Our maritime accident lawyers in New Orleans represent injured offshore workers throughout the area, including Metairie and Kenner, in cases involving oil rigs, vessels, ports, and shipyards.
- Port Accident Lawyer
- Oil Rig Accident Injury
- Boating Accident
- And More ...
New Orleans Offshore Injury Accident Statistics
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement tracks reportable incidents on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, where most American offshore oil and gas work takes place. The figures below cover the calendar year 2025.
192
injuries reported on the Outer Continental Shelf
401
lifting incidents involving cranes and other lifting operations
182
fires reported offshore
Which Law Covers Your Offshore Injury?
This single question shapes almost everything else about your case. Offshore workers are not all covered by the same law. The answer depends on your job and on where you were hurt.
The Jones Act covers seamen. Under 46 U.S.C. section 30104, a seaman injured in the course of employment may bring a civil action against the employer, with the right to a jury trial. The statute applies the same body of law that protects injured railway workers.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, or LHWCA, covers longshore, harbor, shipyard, and dock workers. Benefits run through a claims process administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Under 33 U.S.C. section 905(a), that compensation takes the place of a negligence lawsuit against your employer. It does not necessarily end your right to sue anyone else.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, or OCSLA, reaches workers hurt during oil and gas operations on the shelf. Under 43 U.S.C. section 1333(b), compensation for those injuries is payable under the LHWCA. That same section excludes a master or member of a crew of any vessel, which is why crew members are usually pointed back toward the Jones Act.
The Death on the High Seas Act, or DOHSA, applies when a death occurs on the high seas beyond 3 nautical miles from the shore of the United States. Under 46 U.S.C. section 30302, the personal representative of the person who died brings the action for the exclusive benefit of a spouse, parent, child, or dependent relative.
Some workers qualify under more than one of these laws. Others get told they qualify under none, and that is not always correct. If your injury happened shoreside, our New Orleans workers’ compensation lawyers can walk that option through with you.
Deadlines That Can End Your Offshore Injury Claim
Offshore deadlines are not all the same, and missing one can close a claim that was otherwise strong.
- Maritime personal injury or death: 3 years from when the cause of action arose, under 46 U.S.C. section 30106
- LHWCA notice of injury: 30 days, under 33 U.S.C. section 912(a)
- LHWCA claim for compensation: 1 year after the injury under 33 U.S.C. section 913(a), and 2 years for an occupational disease that does not cause immediate disability
- Louisiana tort claims: 2 years from the day injury or damage is sustained, under Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1
The LHWCA notice window is the one that catches people off guard. Thirty days passes fast when you are in a hospital bed or waiting on a surgery date. Speak with an offshore injury attorney in New Orleans before the calendar makes the decision for you.
A Longshore Claim Does Not Always End With Your Employer
Many longshore and shipyard workers are told the Department of Labor claim is all they get. That is only half the picture.
Under 33 U.S.C. section 905(a), LHWCA benefits do replace a negligence lawsuit against your employer. But section 905(b) provides that when the negligence of a vessel causes injury to a covered worker, that worker may bring an action against the vessel as a third party under 33 U.S.C. section 933. Section 905(c) extends the same route to workers who are covered because of their work on the Outer Continental Shelf.
That second claim matters. A Department of Labor compensation award and a vessel negligence claim are not the same thing, and they are not valued the same way.
The statute does set limits. A claim against the vessel cannot rest on the warranty of seaworthiness. It is barred where the worker was employed by the vessel to provide stevedoring services and the injury came from the negligence of people providing those services. It is also barred against the worker’s own employer where the worker was hired for shipbuilding, repairing, or breaking work and that employer was the vessel’s owner, operator, or charterer.
Those exceptions turn on your exact job and on who owned the vessel. That is a question worth putting in front of a lawyer instead of guessing at.
How Louisiana’s New Fault Rule Affects Offshore Claims
Louisiana changed its comparative fault rule on January 1, 2026. Civil Code article 2323 was amended by House Bill 431 of the 2025 Regular Session. It now bars recovery when the injured person’s share of negligence is 51 percent or greater. Below that line, damages are reduced in proportion to fault.
Jones Act claims work differently. Because 46 U.S.C. section 30104 applies the railway worker statutes to seamen, 45 U.S.C. section 53 controls the fault question. That section states that an employee’s contributory negligence does not bar recovery, and that damages are reduced in proportion to that negligence instead.
For a seaman, that difference can decide whether a case is worth anything at all. It is one more reason to have a Jones Act lawyer in New Orleans review your case early.
Maintenance and Cure for Injured Seamen
Maintenance and cure is one of the oldest protections in maritime law. The U.S. Supreme Court has described it as the vessel owner’s obligation to provide food, lodging, and medical services to a seaman injured while serving the ship.
Employers do not always pay what they owe. In Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend, 557 U.S. 404 (2009), the Supreme Court held that an injured seaman may recover punitive damages when an employer willfully fails to pay maintenance and cure.
If your maintenance payments stopped, or never started at all, tell us. That refusal can become part of your claim instead of a loss you quietly absorb.
Contact a New Orleans Offshore Injury Lawyer Near Metairie Today
Injured in an Accident? Find Legal Help Near You
You should not have to sort out the Jones Act, the LHWCA, and OCSLA on your own while you are trying to recover from a serious injury.
At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, our New Orleans maritime injury attorneys serve offshore workers and their families across Orleans and Jefferson Parish, including Metairie and Kenner. You can find directions and office details on our New Orleans office page.
Call 888.501.7888 today for a free consultation.
With our No Fee Unless We Win promise, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. That is the G Guarantee.
When you need results, Get Gordon, Get It Done.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. Viewing this website or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Compensation Available After an Offshore Accident in New Orleans
Offshore injuries tend to be severe, and the losses stretch well past the first hospital bill. Families here often face months of lost income while the medical picture is still unclear.
Depending on which law covers your claim, we pursue compensation for:
- Emergency treatment, surgery, and hospitalization
- Ongoing medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and long-term care needs
- Losses suffered by families in fatal cases
Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys has recovered approximately $3 Billion for injury victims and their families, including 230+ Million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Offshore Injury
Offshore work often puts several companies on the same rig, vessel, or dock at once. Sorting out who is actually responsible takes investigation, not guesswork, and it is a large part of what an offshore accident lawyer in New Orleans does.
Responsibility may rest with:
- Vessel owners and operators
- Employers and staffing companies
- Platform operators and their contractors
- Equipment and component manufacturers
- Companies responsible for maintenance or inspection
Insurers move quickly after a serious offshore accident. Statements get taken, damaged equipment gets repaired or scrapped, and records start to go missing. We work to lock down that evidence while it still exists.
Mistakes to Avoid After an New Orleans Offshore Injury
Small decisions in the first days after an accident can shape the rest of your claim.
Try to avoid:
- Signing forms or releases from your employer before anyone reviews them
- Giving a recorded statement to an insurer without a lawyer present
- Delaying medical treatment or skipping follow-up appointments
- Downplaying your symptoms in the incident report
- Posting about the accident or your recovery on social media
If you have already done one of these, do not panic. Tell us what happened so we can work with the record as it actually stands.
How Our New Orleans Offshore Injury Lawyers Handle Your Case
We start with a free consultation and a plain conversation about what happened and which law most likely applies to you.
If you hire our firm, we may immediately begin:
- Investigating the incident and the conditions behind it
- Requesting vessel logs, maintenance records, and safety reports
- Gathering medical records and treatment documentation
- Interviewing crew members and other witnesses
- Consulting engineers, marine experts, and treating physicians
- Identifying every liable company and every applicable insurance policy
- Handling communications with employers, carriers, and adjusters
- Preparing your case for settlement or for trial
Our firm brings 679+ years of combined legal experience to that work, along with over 180 employees, including 130+ staff and 47 attorneys. While we build the claim, you focus on healing.
Don’t Wait — Talk to a New Orleans Maritime Injury 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.
How It Works
Filing a claim with Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys is easy!
Simply follow the steps below.
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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!
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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.
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Injured? Get a FREE Consult Now!
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If you or a loved one has been injured, don't wait— contact Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation. Our team is ready to fight for you and secure the compensation you deserve.
With over 30 years of experience, a proven track record of success, and a commitment to client care, we are the best personal injury attorneys in Louisiana to handle your case.
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Office Locations
Denham Springs Office
163 Del Orleans Ave., Denham Springs, LA 70726
Gonzales Office
220 S. Burnside Ave. Gonzales, LA 70737
New Orleans Office
3900 Veterans Memorial Blvd. STE 300 Metairie, LA 70002
Zachary Office
4361 Main St. Zachary, LA 70791
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