New Orleans

Offshore Accident Lawyers

Offshore work can involve heavy equipment, moving vessels, drilling operations, elevated work areas, and other hazards that can cause serious injuries when something goes wrong.

The Voorhies Law Firm, our New Orleans offshore accident lawyers represent workers injured on vessels, oil rigs, platforms, barges, tugboats, and other offshore worksites. We focus on determining which law applies, identifying the parties responsible, preserving important evidence, and pursuing the compensation or benefits available for the full impact of the injury.

What Is an Offshore Accident Claim?

An offshore accident claim arises when a worker is injured while performing work connected to vessels, drilling rigs, offshore platforms, oil and gas operations, barges, tugboats, or other offshore facilities.

These cases fall within the broader area of maritime injury law, but the specific protections available depend on the worker’s job, connection to a vessel, location of the accident, and circumstances surrounding the injury.

A worker with a substantial connection to a vessel may qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act. Other offshore workers may have rights under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Depending on the accident, there may also be claims against vessel owners, contractors, equipment manufacturers, or other companies whose negligence contributed to the injury.

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How Maritime and Louisiana Law Apply to Offshore Accidents

Offshore injury cases can involve several federal maritime laws, along with Louisiana law in some circumstances. The correct law depends on the worker’s duties, connection to a vessel, accident location, and parties involved.

The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104

The Jones Act gives qualifying seamen a negligence claim against their employer for injuries suffered in the course of employment. A seaman may also have rights under general maritime law, including claims for unseaworthiness and maintenance and cure.

Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. § 1333 and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 901 et seq

OCSLA may extend LHWCA benefits to workers who do not qualify as members of a vessel’s crew. The LHWCA can provide medical care and disability benefits to qualifying workers, including some employees covered through OCSLA.

General maritime tort law, 46 U.S.C. § 30106

A civil action for personal injury or death arising from a maritime tort generally must be filed within three years after the cause of action arose. Another statute or legal rule may impose a different deadline.

Louisiana Civil Code art. 3493.1

When Louisiana negligence law applies to a claim arising on or after July 1, 2024, delictual actions are generally subject to a two-year prescriptive period from the date the injury or damage is sustained. Federal maritime law may provide a different deadline. Offshore claims can involve different notice and filing requirements, so the applicable deadline should be determined from the facts rather than assumed.

The Legal Process, Step by Step

STEP 1

Determine which law applies:

We review your job duties, vessel connection, accident location, employer, and other companies involved to determine whether the Jones Act, OCSLA, the LHWCA, general maritime law, Louisiana law, or more than one source of law may apply.

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STEP 2

Protect your medical and reporting record:

Getting appropriate medical care is important for your health and your claim. We also review how the injury was reported, whether an incident report exists, what notice requirements apply, and whether an employer or insurer is requesting a statement or authorization.

STEP 3

Investigate the offshore accident:

Evidence can change quickly after an offshore incident. Depending on the case, we may review vessel logs, safety procedures, maintenance records, job safety analyses, equipment records, photographs, video, training materials, weather or sea conditions, and witness accounts.

STEP 4

Identify every responsible party and every available claim and source of recovery:

Offshore projects often involve several companies and may involve Jones Act negligence, unseaworthiness, maintenance and cure, federal compensation benefits, or a third-party claim.

STEP 5

Pursue the appropriate claim and work toward resolution:

We document your medical losses, wage losses, future limitations, and other damages when negotiating a settlement. If the case cannot be resolved fairly, we prepare it for the appropriate court or proceeding.

Types of Cases We Handle

The Voorhies Law Firm handles offshore injury claims involving vessels, oil and gas operations, drilling equipment, platforms, and other dangerous offshore worksites. Depending on the circumstances, our representation may include:

  • Fires and Explosions
  • Oil Rig Accidents
  • Equipment Failures
  • Falls
  • Offshore Platform Injuries

When an offshore accident results in a worker’s death, surviving family members may also have claims under maritime or federal law. Our attorneys can evaluate those rights along with the firm’s wrongful death practice.

Results

Behind every offshore accident case is a worker who showed up to do a dangerous job and was let down by the people responsible for making it safe. We build the case around what went wrong and who is responsible for it.

The Voorhies Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients, including a $5.5 million settlement involving an offshore injury, a $4 million settlement involving a maritime accident that caused traumatic brain and serious spinal injuries, and a $1.65 million settlement for a maritime worker injured because of unsafe conditions and employer negligence.

Results may vary.

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What Our Clients Say

“It was an amazing experience from start to finish. Very professional, honest and knowledgeable regarding our case. They kept us informed every step of the way. We would highly recommend the Voorhies Law Firm for any and all legal matters.”Author

“The Voorhies Law Firm was timely, sincere and always professional walking us through the process. We appreciated them being straightforward and honest with us.”Author

“Everyone at this law firm from office workers, assistants, paralegals, associates and William himself treated me with concern and was very attentive to all my questions. They truly care about the person they represent and are willing to go the extra mile.”Author

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Why Choose The Voorhies Law Firm?

At The Voorhies Law Firm, our offshore accident lawyers focus on understanding how the injury occurred, determining which claims apply, and building the case around the full impact on our client’s health and livelihood.

If you were injured offshore and are facing medical treatment, time away from work, or uncertainty about your employer’s responsibilities, The Voorhies Law Firm can help you understand the laws that may apply and the options available for pursuing a claim. Acting early can also help protect important evidence and avoid missed filing or notice deadlines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Jones Act status depends on your duties and your connection to a vessel or identifiable fleet of vessels, not simply your job title or the fact that you work offshore. Some crew members and offshore workers may qualify, while workers assigned primarily to fixed platforms may fall under another federal law. We review the nature and duration of your vessel connection before determining which protections may apply.

Your claim may fall under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act rather than the Jones Act. The applicable law depends on the location and nature of the work, the type of structure involved, and your employment duties. A separate negligence claim against another company may also be available depending on what caused the accident.

It depends on the claim. Federal offshore and maritime cases may proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans. Depending on the claim and the parties involved, a case may also proceed in Louisiana state court, including the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Venue and jurisdiction must be evaluated based on the specific facts of your case.

Maintenance and cure is a general maritime law protection for qualifying seamen who become ill or injured while in the service of a vessel. “Maintenance” generally refers to basic food and lodging support, while “cure” covers necessary medical treatment until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement. These rights are separate from a Jones Act negligence claim.

There is no single deadline for every offshore accident. Many Jones Act and maritime tort claims are subject to a three-year filing period, while LHWCA and OCSLA claims have separate notice and filing requirements. Louisiana-law claims may follow a different prescriptive period. The applicable deadline should be confirmed early based on the worker, accident location, and type of claim.

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    1100 Poydras Street, Suite 2810, New Orleans, LA 70163
    504-875-2223

    The results obtained in any particular case depend upon the specific facts and circumstances of that case. Past verdicts and settlements do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in future cases.