Personal Injury

Maritime Injury Lawyers in New Orleans

Working on the water is more than just a job in South Louisiana. It is the backbone of our economy. But between heavy river traffic, massive vessels, and hazardous cargo, it is also an incredibly dangerous way to make a living.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a maritime accident, you face a unique set of federal laws designed specifically to protect you. Navigating these claims requires a legal team that understands the inner workings of the maritime industry and has the resources to stand up to major shipping and oil companies. The maritime injury attorneys at Stag Liuzza are here to help you protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve.

The Maritime Sectors We Represent

Louisiana’s waterways are constantly moving. We represent maritime workers across a wide range of industries and vessels, including:

Tugboats, towboats, and push boats handling heavy traffic on the Mississippi River.
Inland cargo barges and fleeting operations.
Offshore supply vessels (OSVs) and crewboats operating out of regional hubs like Port Fourchon, Venice, and Grand Isle.
Drillships, jack-up rigs, and semi-submersibles in the Gulf of Mexico.
Dockside operations, shipyards, and marine terminals.

Whether you are a deckhand, an engineer in the engine room, or a galley cook, you are entitled to protection under the law if you meet the requirements of a maritime worker.

The Legal Pathways for Injured Maritime Workers

Unlike land-based employees who rely on standard state workers’ compensation, maritime workers are covered by a distinct network of federal laws. The specific law that applies to your case depends entirely on the nature of your job and where your injury occurred.

The Jones Act

If you qualify legally as a seaman, this federal law gives you the right to sue your employer if their negligence played even a small role in your injury. This allows you to recover full personal injury damages for your physical pain, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity. A New Orleans Jones Act Lawyer can help you navigate your options.

General Maritime Law

This framework provides an absolute, no-fault right to maintenance and cure benefits. Your employer must pay your reasonable daily living expenses (maintenance) and all necessary medical care (cure) until you have reached maximum medical recovery. General maritime law also protects you if the vessel itself was unseaworthy due to defective equipment, lack of training, or unsafe crew numbers.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)

If your work keeps you on the docks, in a shipyard, or at a marine terminal rather than out on the open water, the LHWCA provides specialized benefits to cover your medical care and a portion of your lost weekly wages.

The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

In the tragic event of a fatal accident occurring more than three nautical miles from the coast, DOHSA allows surviving family members to pursue financial support for the loss of their loved one.

Sea Life is Dangerous

Severe Maritime Injuries

The physical demands of working on a vessel mean that accidents are rarely minor. We handle cases involving severe, life-altering trauma, including:

Crush injuries from mooring lines, winches, and shifting cargo.

Traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage caused by slips and falls on slick decks or vertical ladders.

Severe burns and blast trauma from engine room fires or rig explosions, which often require the dedicated support of an experienced oil rig injury lawyer.

Toxic Exposure

Our firm also brings specialized experience to maritime cases involving toxic chemical exposures. If you work on oil tankers or cargo vessels, you may be regularly exposed to hidden hazards like benzene. Over time, inhaling or absorbing these toxic substances can lead to severe blood disorders, like multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia. We know how to trace these illnesses back to unsafe working conditions on the vessel.

Important Timelines for Your Case

Maritime law operates on strict, unforgiving deadlines. If you miss the window to file your claim, you lose your right to seek compensation.

Jones Act and General Maritime Claims: You typically have three years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit against your employer or the vessel owner.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Claims: You must formally report your injury to your employer within 30 days, and you generally have one year to file an official claim for benefits.
Claims Against Government Vessels: If your injury involved a vessel operated by the federal government, the Suits in Admiralty Act cuts your filing timeline down to two years.

Evidence disappears quickly on the water. Ships get repaired, logbooks are updated, and crew members scatter to different assignments. Contacting a lawyer early ensures that critical evidence is preserved before it disappears forever.

READY TO TALK?

If you or a loved one were injured while working at sea, we’re here to help. Let’s discuss your case.

Local Medical and Investigative Resources

Following a serious maritime accident, immediate medical attention and official documentation are essential. New Orleans has specific local infrastructure built to handle these crises:

Medical Care

For severe, life-threatening trauma and burns, the Norman E. McSwain, Jr. MD, Spirit of Charity Trauma Center at University Medical Center New Orleans provides the region’s only Level I Trauma Center and Verified Burn Center.

Incident Investigations

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans handles emergency maritime responses and conducts formal safety investigations for serious incidents occurring on local waterways. The reports they generate often serve as foundational evidence for your legal claim.

Why Choose Stag Liuzza?

When you are recovering from a severe offshore injury, you are not just dealing with your employer. You are up against massive maritime insurance conglomerates known as P&I clubs. These organizations employ specialized defense teams whose sole objective is to minimize your payout or deny your claim entirely.

To beat them, you need a law firm with equal firepower. Stag Liuzza is a nationally recognized trial firm. Our attorneys have recovered over $16 billion in settlements and verdicts for our clients. We do not just look for quick, lowball settlements. We prepare every single case as if it is heading straight to a jury trial. Our deep background in handling massive, technically complex environmental and toxic tort cases means we possess the financial resources and the scientific networks required to prove how your injury happened and demand the full compensation you deserve.

Ready to Discuss Your Case?

If you have been hurt while working on or near the water in South Louisiana, your future should not be left to chance. The maritime injury attorneys at Stag Liuzza are here to help you review your legal options, secure your maintenance and cure benefits, and fight for the justice you deserve.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing upfront and we only receive a fee if we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential consultation.

Reviews

Read Our Latest Google Reviews

Stag Liuzza

4.8

Based on 22 reviews

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Jeffery Harris

4 months ago

I don’t know about the managing partners themselves but the people they have working for them managing case files and gathering information are some of the most clueless, inexperienced, and unprofessional individuals I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. If they litigate anything like they deal with clientele, I have zero hopes that anything is going to be done with my case.

kaitlyn barrett

2 years ago

Nicole and Ashley have solved all my issues with my contaminated property. Highly recommend!!!

King Law

2 years ago

Mike Stag from Stag Liuzza is one of the best environmental lawyers in the entire country. I have worked with Mike and his team on a regular basis and could not be more impressed.

Erica Plaisance Desmortreux

2 years ago

I highly recommend the Stag Liuzza firm to guide you through the legal and technical decision-making during your time of need. The attorneys are responsive, gifted litigators, assisted by courteous and helpful staff, who will work enthusiastically to resolve your environmental legal and technical issues.

kerry roby

2 years ago

Personally speaking, Mr Jamison walked hand in hand with me in a long process of my BP claim It was a a comfort to have his expertise to my advantage. The Stag and Liuzza Law firm came through for me.

Kerry T. Roby Sr.

Bailee

3 years ago

Stagg Liuzza is a great law firm. I am thankful that they were handling this case. They have kind, knowledgeable people achieving great results. Thank you for everything Ashley Liuzza. I can’t forget Julie who always had quick replies to any questions or concerns my family had. Jessica Battiste

Sally Fleming

3 years ago

Mike Stag, Ashley Liuzza and the other lawyers at their firm are brilliant litigators whether trying a jury trial or engaging in motion practice. They represent the best that lawyers have to offer.

Narinder Gupta

3 years ago

I have had a wonderful experience dealing with the Stagg Liuzza firm My experience was with settlement of the BP Claim. they were very professional and kept me informed to the progress and the recovery was much greater than expected

I recommend them highly without reservation

NGuptaMD

TRIAL VICTORY

Results That Speak

$12.5 Billion

3M settlement for public drinking water systems

In March 2024, 3M finalized a settlement of up to $12.5 billion for U.S. public water suppliers to address PFAS contamination. The agreement covers water systems with current or future detections of "forever chemicals," with funds supporting testing, filtration, and infrastructure improvements.

$1.056 Billion

Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Grefer

Jury verdict for property owners whose land was contaminated with radioactive materials from oil and gas operations.

$15 Million

Verdict for Injured Pipeyard Worker

Verdict for pipeyard worker who contracted lung cancer from exposure to Radium-226 and other radioactive materials.

$11.25 Million

Settlement for Commercial Auto Injury

Policy Limits settlement for driver who crashed into parked commercial vehicle.

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No fee unless we win. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.