Have you been injured while working aboard a vessel or offshore facility near New Orleans, LA?

At Kiefer & Kiefer, we handle Jones Act cases arising from maritime work along the Mississippi River, at the Port of New Orleans, and in the Gulf of Mexico.

If you have been injured working aboard a vessel or at an offshore facility, an attorney can help you pursue a Jones Act claim against the employer responsible for the injury. The Jones Act and general maritime law give injured seamen the right to seek recovery for negligence and vessel unseaworthiness. Federal filing deadlines apply, and preservation of the medical and vessel-side record from the first days after the injury is essential.

Our New Orleans, LA Jones Act lawyer has represented injured people throughout Louisiana for more than four decades. Contact our office to arrange a free consultation.

Jones Act Lawyer New Orleans, LA

A Jones Act lawyer represents seamen and other maritime workers injured in the course of their employment. New Orleans is a major maritime hub, with commercial vessels moving through the Port of New Orleans, along the Mississippi River, and out to the Gulf of Mexico. Workers on tugs, barges, drilling rigs, tankers, and other vessels operating in navigable waters may qualify as seamen for purposes of the Jones Act.

Injured seamen can seek recovery under the Jones Act for the employer’s negligence, under general maritime law for vessel unseaworthiness, and for maintenance and cure benefits during recovery. Damages may include past and future medical care, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and physical impairment.

Types of Jones Act Cases We Handle in New Orleans

Maritime injuries in New Orleans arise from work on the Mississippi River, at the Port of New Orleans, on Lake Pontchartrain, in the Industrial Canal, and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The setting, vessel type, and employer relationship affect which body of law applies and who may be liable. Our firm handles Jones Act and maritime injury claims arising from the incidents below.

• Unseaworthy vessels. A vessel owner’s duty to provide a ship reasonably fit for its intended use is separate from the negligence framework. Defective equipment, understaffed crews, or unsafe conditions can support an unseaworthiness claim alongside the Jones Act negligence claim.
• Slip and falls. Oil, grease, and wet non-skid coatings on deck are common causes of falls at sea. We look at the vessel’s cleaning and inspection records to identify the specific failure involved.
• Deck equipment and line handling injuries. Winches, cranes, mooring lines, and heavy gear can cause severe crush and traumatic injuries when they fail or are improperly used. We work with marine engineers to determine the source of the failure.
• Tugboat, towboat, and barge injuries. Workers on tugs, towboats, and barges face specific hazards from tow gear, deck operations, and vessel movement. These claims often involve investigation of company practices and third-party liability.
• Offshore drilling rig injuries. Injuries on drilling rigs, service vessels, and lift boats may involve overlapping federal frameworks, and the applicable law depends on the worker’s role and location.
• Burn injuries. Engine room fires, fuel line failures, and cargo explosions aboard vessels can cause severe burn injuries. These claims often involve multiple defendants and specialist causation testimony.
• Spinal cord injuries. Falls from height, being struck by heavy gear, or vessel movement can cause spinal cord damage aboard vessels. These injuries frequently result in permanent disability and require lifetime care planning.
• Paralysis. Some maritime injuries result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. Valuing these claims requires life-care planners and forensic economists to project the lifetime cost of care and lost earning capacity.
• Serious injuries. Amputations, severe burns, and multiple trauma injuries at sea often require lifelong care planning. We coordinate the medical and financial professionals needed to value the full scope of the loss.
• Wrongful death. When a maritime worker dies from an on-the-job injury, the surviving family may bring a wrongful death action under the Jones Act and general maritime law.

Why Choose Kiefer & Kiefer as My Jones Act Lawyer in New Orleans, LA?

Kiefer & Kiefer was founded in New Orleans and has represented injured people throughout Louisiana for over four decades. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars for clients across the state. Jones Act cases can proceed in state or federal court, and we prepare each matter for the possibility of a jury trial from the start. Several of our attorneys previously represented insurance companies, and that background continues to inform how we anticipate the defense’s approach to seaman status, causation, and valuation.

Judicial Background and Bar Leadership

Chris Bruno spent decades on the bench as a judge before returning to plaintiff-side practice. He is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and carries the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating for legal ability and ethics. Chris chaired the Domestic Law Section of the New Orleans Bar Association and is a member of the Louisiana District Judges Association, the Louisiana Bar Foundation Education Committee, and the Supreme Court of Louisiana Pro Se Litigation Task Force. He earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School. Our work as a personal injury lawyer in New Orleans, LA includes representing seamen and other maritime workers in Jones Act cases arising from the Mississippi River, the Port of New Orleans, and Gulf of Mexico operations.

New Orleans Jones Act Infographic

What Is Important to Understand About a Jones Act Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Jones Act Cases

Federal maritime law allows an injured seaman to recover from multiple sources. The employer is liable under the Jones Act for negligence that contributes to the injury. The vessel owner is liable under general maritime law when the vessel is unseaworthy. Third parties whose conduct plays a role in the injury may also be liable. Recovery under the Jones Act generally includes:

• Past and future medical care, including maintenance and cure while the seaman recovers.
• Lost wages during recovery and diminished earning capacity when the injury limits the ability to return to maritime work.
• Pain, suffering, disfigurement, and physical impairment.
• Loss of the ability to perform the physical demands of maritime employment.

The Jones Act’s causation standard is lower than in a standard workplace injury case. If the employer’s negligence contributed in any part to the injury, the seaman may recover. Even so, suing your employer requires organized proof of seaman status, employer fault, and the connection between the fault and the injury.

What Are Important Aspects of a Jones Act Case?

Jones Act cases involve documentation and legal issues that do not appear in most workplace injury matters. The protections available to seamen under federal law reflect Congress’s recognition of the demands and dangers of maritime work. Several features distinguish these cases:

• Seaman status is a threshold question and often contested by the employer or its insurer.
• Vessel condition, maintenance records, and inspection logs are central to both negligence and unseaworthiness claims.
• Injured seamen have the right to a jury trial under the Jones Act, which is unusual among maritime claims.
• Maintenance and cure benefits are payable regardless of fault during the seaman’s recovery.
• What you post on social media can be used to challenge the extent of the injury, so caution matters from the beginning.

According to NIOSH maritime safety data, U.S. maritime workers face fatality and injury rates well above the national average. In Jones Act cases, medical proof and vessel-side records need to hold up under defense scrutiny, so we work with treating physicians and specialists in maritime operations, marine engineering, and vocational analysis.

What Is the Jones Act Case Timeline?

Jones Act case timelines depend on the injury’s severity, whether seaman status is disputed, the vessel operation involved, and the defense’s willingness to negotiate. Most matters move through these phases:

• Medical treatment and the maintenance and cure period.
• Investigation of the vessel, crew, equipment, and any government or company reports.
• Establishing seaman status and identifying every responsible party.
• Filing suit within the federal three-year deadline in state or federal court.
• Discovery, depositions, and analysis of vessel conditions and injury causation.
• Settlement negotiations, mediation, or trial before a jury.

Resolving a case before the medical picture is fully known can significantly reduce recovery, particularly when the injury requires long-term care.

What Should You Bring to Your Jones Act Consultation?

A first consultation is more useful with certain documents available, though nothing is required to schedule the meeting. Where possible, gather:

• Any incident, injury, or accident report you completed at the time of the injury.
• Medical records, imaging studies, and discharge notes related to the injury.
• Employment records, pay stubs, W-2s, and vessel assignment history.
• Insurance information and correspondence with the employer or its insurer.
• Photographs and video showing the scene, the vessel, and the equipment involved.
• Names and contact information for coworkers or witnesses to the incident.

The consultation is free, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you.

What Are Important Federal Legal Resources for Jones Act Cases?

Federal law provides the framework for Jones Act claims. The materials below are the authoritative starting points for anyone reviewing the statutes directly.

• The right of an injured seaman to sue the employer for negligence appears at 46 U.S.C. § 30104.
• The three-year filing deadline for maritime personal injury claims is set out at 46 U.S.C. § 30106.
• The Jones Act adopts the causation and liability rules of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, which sets a lower burden of proof for negligence.
• Different deadlines can apply to claims against government-owned vessels or to admiralty actions filed in federal court, so confirming the correct deadline early protects the claim.

Reach Out to Kiefer & Kiefer to Schedule a Consultation

If a maritime injury has affected your health, income, or family, we can help you understand your legal options under the Jones Act. Our firm accepts Jones Act cases on a contingency fee, meaning no attorney fees are owed unless we obtain a recovery. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our New Orleans Jones Act attorney.