Lafourche Parish Maritime Lawyer

Your Trusted Maritime Law Firm

Working on or traveling across the water comes with inevitable risks. Although vessel operators, cruise lines, and shipping companies follow strict maritime laws, offshore drilling accidents, rig explosions, and vessel accidents sometimes occur. If you or a loved one has been injured while working or near the water, it’s important to get help from a maritime attorney in Lafourche Parish.

The maritime lawyers at Cardone Law Firm understand how complex maritime laws can be. We have decades of experience handling maritime claims under admiralty law and maritime statutes. No matter what type of maritime injury you have suffered, our team will work hard to make sure you are treated fairly and have a chance to recover whatever compensation you may deserve. From marine accidents to harborworker injuries, we have the skill and knowledge to guide you through your maritime case.

WERE YOU INJURED WHILE AT THE SEA?
GET HELP FROM A LAFOURCHE PARISH MARITIME LAWYER TODAY

Maritime Injury

Claim Process

Report the Incident

As soon as you get hurt, the first thing you should do is tell your employer or the boat company. Reporting early is important because it shows the exact time and place the injury happened. When you speak up right away, it becomes harder for the at-fault party to disprove your story or claim the accident happened somewhere else. Making a clear report also gives your lawyer a strong starting point if you need to take legal steps later.

01

STEP

Get Medical Help

Even if you think the injury is small, it is still important to see a doctor. A medical visit proves that the injury came from the specific accident in your case. Doctors can explain what happened to your body, how serious it is, and what kind of care you will need going forward. Getting checked early protects both your health and your claim. Waiting too long can leave you open to arguments that the injury is unrelated or less serious.

02

STEP

Contact a Louisiana Maritime Law Firm

Maritime cases have their own rules, and they are often not the same as regular injury cases. It helps to talk to a maritime lawyer in Lafourche Parish who understands how cruise travel, offshore jobs, dock work, and seaman duties are protected under the law. A lawyer knows the steps you’ll need to follow, the papers you need to file, and the deadlines that can’t be missed. Your attorney can help you fight for full compensation for your losses.

03

STEP

File Your Claim

With a lawyer’s help, you can file your claim in the correct place and at the right time. Some cases need to go to state court, some go to federal court, and others may be handled by admiralty courts. Your attorney will know which rules apply to you and can help ensure you provide sufficient evidence to support your claim. Filing properly makes sure your case stays on track and gives you a better chance at receiving whatever compensation you may deserve for your injuries and losses.

04

STEP

04

STEP
FREE Consultation

Maritime Law

basics

Laws

Compensation

Timeline

General maritime law protects workers in the maritime industry and those who travel in commercial vessels. Each law has its special requirements and deadlines, and a maritime lawyer can help you follow all the stipulations.

  • The Jones Act – This law lets injured cruise passengers and seamen sue maritime companies for unsafe conditions or negligence. It’s an important protection for maritime workers and passengers.
  • Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) – This law helps dock workers and harbor workers who aren't covered by the Jones Act.
  • Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) – This law helps families who have lost someone in a fatal accident more than 3 miles from shore.
  • Maintenance and Cure – This law requires employers to pay for the daily living expenses and medical care of injured seamen until they recover.

Injured maritime workers and passengers can get paid back for many losses through injury claims. Here's what you might recover:

  • Medical bills and treatment costs
  • Lost wages and income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Disability payments
  • Punitive damages

These payments often help maritime workers and their families get back on their feet. A skilled maritime injury lawyer will fight to get you a fair settlement under maritime law.

Filing your case on time is very important. Missing the deadline might result in losing your right to get the compensation you deserve. Here are the time limits for different maritime and admiralty law cases:

  • Jones Act – 3 years from the date you got hurt
  • LHWCA – 1 year from the date of injury or illness
  • DOHSA – 3 years from the date of the fatal accident
  • Cruise Ships and Ferries – Often 1 year from the date of injury (check your ticket for the exact deadline)

In addition to timelines, you’ll also need to consider which United States Court will handle your case. A maritime lawyer can help you determine the right venue.

$5.7 MILLION
Truck Accident
$3.6 MILLION
Car Accident
$2.5 MILLION
Elevator Crash
$2.1 MILLION
BP Claim
$1.9 MILLION
Cruise Ship Injury
$1.5 MILLION
Car Accident

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

At Cardone Law Firm, we handle a wide range of personal injury cases beyond maritime litigation. Our experienced attorneys represent clients in car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall cases, medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, and other injury matters. Our team focuses on helping victims seek justice after a wrongful injury.

We are proud to offer free consultations for maritime injury cases. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay any attorney fees unless we win your case. If we recover compensation for you, our fee comes from that settlement or verdict.

The Jones Act and the LHWCA cover different types of maritime workers. The Jones Act protects seamen who spend a significant amount of their work time on vessels in navigable waters. These workers can sue their employers for negligence and seek damages for pain and suffering. The LHWCA, on the other hand, covers harbor workers, longshoremen, and other maritime workers who work on or near navigable waters but don't qualify as seamen. LHWCA provides benefits similar to workers' compensation without requiring proof of employer negligence.

Being partly at fault doesn’t stop you from recovering some damages. Although the amount may be less, the law still allows you to recover. Your maritime injury lawyer will guide you through the entire process. In Lafourche Parish, LA, maritime law attorneys like Cliff Cardone are familiar with maritime law and know what’s needed to handle your case.

The commission is in charge of certain shipping claims and regulatory matters. Although it mostly deals with commercial maritime law, it can still affect injury claims in rare cases.

We’re proud to help seamen, rig workers, and harbor workers file workers' compensation claims after maritime accidents. In addition, we are also happy to help passengers injured on commercial sea vessels seek justice and compensation.

Maritime Injury

 Guides

Coming Soon

We will update this section with more helpful information for you.

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OUR TEAM

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OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

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829 Baronne St
New Orleans, LA 70113
Fax: 504-581-7651
Toll Free: 504-522-3333
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