What is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
Maritime workers are at a heightened risk of injury at work. As they load cargo, repair ships, and maintain port facilities, they’re more likely to suffer from damages in their...
Oil and gas platforms are demanding workplaces with complex equipment, hazardous substances, and shifting crews from multiple contractors. When something goes wrong offshore, the facts rarely fit a simple template. An oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana with Morris Dewett Injury Lawyers will clearly explain your rights, the laws that apply, and how a claim will move from incident to resolution without unnecessary drama.
Our legal team handles offshore injury cases across the Gulf and understands how investigations unfold, which records matter most, and where disputes usually arise. If you need guidance from an offshore injury lawyer in Louisiana, we will help you evaluate options, protect eligibility for benefits, and plan meaningful next steps.
You can get in touch with us for a free case evaluation, and we will tell you how we can help.
Mechanical systems on a platform function like interlocking gears. When one-part falters, a chain reaction can follow. Investigations by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) consistently track offshore incidents, including fires, equipment failures, and dropped objects, to identify root causes and prevention strategies. BSEE’s incident statistics and safety alerts provide valuable insights into the recurring patterns on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Rig workers see a handful of risks and accidents repeatedly. These include the following:
If you decide to consult an oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana, they will likely discuss job assignment history, contractor relationships on the deck, and any BSEE or operator investigation updates already in motion. Government and company records will help build a fact-driven narrative.
Offshore platforms sit on federal waters governed by a framework that combines maritime law and specific federal statutes. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) places operations on the federal Shelf under federal jurisdiction and extends certain protections and obligations to offshore work. Understanding how OCSLA connects to maritime remedies is essential because coverage rules can shift based on where and how you were working.
OCSLA does more than set leasing and regulatory authority. It often determines which body of law applies to your injury claim, including whether Longshore benefits are available and which state law (if any) might supplement federal rules for specific issues. That choice of law will affect damages, defenses, and the forum. Getting that threshold question right avoids detours later in litigation.
When our Louisiana maritime law attorneys evaluate a case, we will map the incident location, your duties, the nature of the structure (vessel, floating production unit, fixed platform), and the web of contractors on the job. An offshore injury lawyer in Louisiana with Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers will then pair those facts with the correct statutes and regulations to anchor the claim from the start.
Two federal schemes dominate offshore worker claims: the Jones Act for “seamen,” and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) for many non-crew maritime employees. The line between them depends on job duties and connections to a vessel or fleet.
Seamen have the right to bring a civil action against their employer for negligence under the Jones Act and to request a jury trial. That statute imports standards from the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), and courts analyze whether employer fault contributed to the harm.
Workers who do not qualify as seamen may fall under the LHWCA, which provides a federal compensation system with medical care and wage replacement benefits for maritime employees injured on navigable waters or adjoining areas used in loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. The Department of Labor administers the program, and OCSLA extends LHWCA coverage to certain injuries occurring on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Our oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana will evaluate whether you meet “seaman” criteria, whether the platform qualifies as a vessel, and whether Longshore coverage through OCSLA fits your facts. That determination influences the damages available and the process for obtaining them.
Understanding the distinctions helps you set expectations and choose a path that matches your employment status. A skilled offshore injury lawyer in Louisiana will carefully analyze which path offers the best chance of obtaining fair compensation.
Under the Jones Act, a seaman may sue the employer in court and request a jury. The claim focuses on employer negligence and causation standards that differ from ordinary land-based workers’ compensation. In addition, maritime law remedies – such as maintenance and cure and unseaworthiness claims against the vessel owner – may accompany a Jones Act negligence claim when facts warrant. The statutory right “to bring a civil action at law, with the right of trial by jury” sits at the heart of the framework.
LHWCA claims follow an administrative process before the Department of Labor. Benefits include reasonable and necessary medical care and partial wage replacement. Disputes proceed through claims examiners and administrative law judges, with appeals to the Benefits Review Board and federal courts of appeals.
Evidence moves quickly offshore. Operators and contractors generate BSEE reportable incident filings, safety meeting minutes, job safety analyses, maintenance tickets, and permit-to-work documents that may clarify what happened. Our offshore injury attorneys in Louisiana will secure those records, identify which contractors exercised control, and consult industry standards and applicable regulations to ground the liability theory in facts rather than generalities. BSEE incident data and Safety Alerts often provide context on known hazards and industry responses that line up with your scenario.
Third-party liability frequently sits beside employer fault. A rig manufacturer, rope or sling supplier, or helicopter operator may hold part of the responsibility. We will trace equipment numbers, service histories, and prior corrective actions to identify all potentially responsible parties. An offshore injury lawyer in Louisiana will also coordinate with treating physicians and independent medical professionals to document functional losses, future medical needs, and restrictions supported by objective evidence.
You can rest assured you will receive steady communication throughout your case. Our team will outline options in plain terms, recommend a strategy that fits your status and goals, and prepare you for each procedural step. When settlement discussions begin, we will use a clear damages model supported by payroll data, tax returns, and vocational assessments.
Classification disputes often arise. Employers argue that a worker is not a seaman to avoid a jury trial, or that Longshore coverage is exclusive when both Jones Act and third-party maritime claims are in play. We will analyze your work history, hitch patterns, and vessel assignments to address those challenges with evidence rather than adjectives. Where OCSLA coverage is asserted, we will connect the activity to Shelf operations to keep benefits flowing under the correct program.
Defense teams often dispute causation as well. Opponents may attribute injuries to degenerative conditions or unrelated incidents. We will obtain prior records, secure clear medical opinions on aggravation and acceleration, and tie objective findings to the incident mechanisms you experienced.
Finally, record gaps can slow progress. We will move promptly to produce BSEE submissions, maintenance logs, and digital records, and utilize depositions to fill any existing gaps. An oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana will keep the case moving and address obstacles as they surface.
Jones Act claims generally follow a three-year limitations period from the date of injury. Evidence collection should start well before that mark, since obtaining offshore records can require repeated requests and a formal process. The text of the statute confirms the right to file a civil action at law and supports planning around that limitations window.
Longshore claims require prompt notice to the employer and filing within one year in most cases, subject to specific rules for occupational diseases and latent conditions. Your Morris & Dewett oil rig accident attorney in Louisiana will closely track all dates and file the necessary forms to protect benefits.
Use this short list to prepare for a consultation. Keep the focus on documents you already have rather than trying to gather items held exclusively by your employer.
An experienced offshore injury lawyer in Louisiana will use these materials to frame a targeted request list for additional records from the companies involved.
Offshore cases reward preparation, patience, and precision. The framework changes depending on status, structure, and location, and those variables can greatly impact the course of your case. When you hire our firm, you will work with an offshore injury attorney in Louisiana who will identify the correct legal path, assemble the right evidence, and pursue a result that reflects the real impact of the injury on your work and your life.
If you are ready to talk through your situation, the professionals with Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers are ready to listen, explain the options, and build a case that fits the facts. Let us start putting an action plan together for you by calling 318-221-1508 or using our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
Courts focus on whether you have a substantial connection to a vessel or fleet, in terms of both duration and the nature of your work. Crew members assigned to a vessel engaged in navigation typically qualify and may sue their employer for negligence under federal law. An oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana will analyze your assignment history and vessel ties.
Yes, many injuries on fixed platforms come under the LHWCA via OCSLA’s extension of Longshore coverage to the Outer Continental Shelf. A case analysis will evaluate whether your work and the incident location meet that framework. One of our Morris & Dewett offshore injury attorneys in Louisiana will align your claim with the correct program.
In many cases, yes. Workers covered by the LHWCA may still bring third-party suits against non-employer entities, such as equipment manufacturers or contractors. Seamen may bring Jones Act negligence claims and related maritime claims alongside maintenance and cure. Strategy will depend on your status and the parties involved. An oil rig accident lawyer in Louisiana will coordinate the parallel tracks.
We understand you have many questions after your accident. Here are answers to the concerns we hear most often from Louisiana families:
"I quickly, learned two rules in this business.
First, defendants in an injury suit put up obstacles and barriers. They want the case to take as long as possible, because it wears the plaintiff down. I have learned that if you run at those barriers hard enough, and fast enough, many of them will disappear.
Second, "The fastest way to settle a case is to prepare for trial. Insurance companies know which firms will go to court, which will not, and who can win. It is important to choose a firm that is committed to the results you want.”
Our team of intake specialists is ready to listen to you and gather all the information for a free, confidential case evaluation. We will hear you out, take what you say seriously, and then round up with our legal team.
Our lawyers will provide you with no-obligation feedback on your case, usually on the same day, but no later than 24 hours. We will give you the appropriate course of action for your situation.
If your case is a good fit for our firm and you graciously allow us to represent you, our team will begin working immediately. We will investigate, send the appropriate letters to stop insurance companies from harassing you, and start your medical recovery.
Our internal process is transparent with high levels of communication from the opening of your case to the final handshake. Our firm will promptly return your phone calls and keep you informed. You will know the exact status of your case. Our case managers and attorneys are committed to making a difficult situation as stress-free as possible.
