Offshore Accident Lawyer

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims. We are proud to have a reputation for aggressively fighting for the rights of injured workers.

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Premier New Orleans Offshore Injury Lawyers – Lambert Zainey

Working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico – on platforms, rigs, boats, or helicopters – is tough and dangerous work. You’re often far from shore, dealing with heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and unpredictable weather. Serious accidents can happen fast. When you get hurt offshore, you face not only physical pain and money worries but also a really confusing mix of special federal and state laws.

Lambert Zainey is a top maritime law firm right here in New Orleans. For decades, we’ve focused on helping workers injured offshore. We understand the Jones Act for boat crews, the rules for platform workers under OCSLA and other maritime laws. This page is your starting point to understand offshore injuries and how our dedicated lawyers fight for workers hurt in the Gulf.

Hurt Working Offshore? Know Your Rights. Get Expert Legal Help.

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Why Choose Lambert Zainey for Your Offshore Injury Case?

Choosing the right lawyer after getting hurt offshore is a big deal. Here’s why workers trust Lambert Zainey:

We Know Offshore Injuries: We’ve spent decades winning cases for workers hurt in all kinds of accidents in the Gulf of Mexico.
We Understand the Complex Laws: We know how the Jones Act, LHWCA, OCSLA, Louisiana law, and maritime rules all fit together (or don’t!).
We Know Offshore Work: We understand the equipment, the jobs, the safety rules, and the common dangers on platforms, rigs, boats, and helicopters.
We Beat Big Companies: We have a history of making large oil companies, drilling contractors, boat companies, and service providers pay fair compensation.
We Investigate Fully: We use top experts (engineers, safety pros, doctors) to build strong cases and prove what happened.
We Focus on You: We give you personal attention, explain things clearly, and fight hard to get you the most money possible. Learn more about our Maritime attorneys.

We have represented injured maritime workers for over 40 years. We understand the laws that govern maritime employers and employees.

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Companies We’ve Fought Against

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What Counts as an “Offshore Injury”? (Where It Happens)

Usually, “offshore injuries” are accidents that happen out in the Gulf of Mexico (or other open water) past state waters (generally beyond 3 miles from shore). The work usually involves finding, drilling for, or producing oil and gas or other resources. This includes getting hurt on:

Fixed Production Platforms (stuck to the seabed)
Supply Boats (OSVs), Crew Boats, Anchor Handling Boats
Lift Boats / Jack-Up Boats
Offshore Construction Boats or Barges
Helicopters flying workers to/from offshore sites
Sometimes, injuries at docks or terminals that directly support offshore work.
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) like Jack-Up Rigs, Semi-Submersibles, Drillships

Making Sense of Offshore Accident Laws (It’s Complicated!)

Getting hurt offshore isn’t like getting hurt on land. Special federal maritime laws and sometimes state laws apply:

The Jones Act

This protects “seamen” – crew members who work on vessels (boats, movable rigs, lift boats, etc.). It lets injured seamen sue their employer if carelessness (negligence) caused the injury.

>> Learn About Jones Act Claims.

LHWCA & OCSLA

If you get hurt on a fixed platform stuck to the seabed way offshore (on the OCS), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) usually applies. OCSLA does two main things:

It gives you LHWCA benefits (like workers’ comp – medical bills & lost pay) from your employer, usually without needing to prove fault.
It says that if you need to sue another careless company (not your boss), you usually use the laws of the nearest state (like Louisiana).

>> Learn About OCSLA.

>> Learn About LHWCA.

General Maritime Law

These are basic safety rules from long-standing sea law. They cover things like the duty of boat operators to be careful and can apply in situations not covered by the other laws (like crashes involving other companies’ boats). It also includes the Unseaworthiness rule (owners must provide a safe vessel).

>> Learn About Unseaworthiness.

Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)

If someone dies in an accident far offshore (usually beyond 3 miles, or 12 miles for planes), DOHSA sets rules for the family’s claim, mostly covering lost financial support.

>> Learn About DOHSA.

Figuring out which law applies to your injury takes an experienced offshore lawyer.

Common Ways Accidents Happen Offshore

The offshore environment is dangerous. Serious accidents often happen because of:

Falls: Slipping on wet decks, tripping over gear, falling from heights (derricks, stairs).
Fires & Explosions: From blowouts, gas leaks, electrical problems, unsafe welding.
Bad Weather: Being forced to work in unsafe conditions, boat instability, storm damage.
Transfer Accidents: Getting hurt using personnel baskets, swing ropes, or gangways.
Boat Crashes: Collisions between vessels or hitting platforms.
Breathing Bad Stuff: Exposure to chemicals, drilling muds, H2S gas.
Diving Accidents: Problems with pressure, equipment, or procedures.
Helicopter Crashes: Due to bad maintenance, pilot error, or weather.
Equipment Failure: Cranes, winches, drilling gear, safety equipment (like BOPs), or engines breaking down.
Getting Hit or Caught: By falling tools/pipes, swinging crane loads, moving machines, or high-pressure lines snapping.

These accidents often cause terrible injuries like brain damage, spinal injuries, bad burns, lost limbs, broken bones, or even death.

Types of Offshore Rigs, Platforms & Boats Involved

Our firm handles injury cases involving all kinds of offshore equipment used in the Gulf:

Fixed Production Platforms
Jack-Up Rigs
Semi-Submersible Rigs
Drillships
Supply Boats (OSVs)
Crew Boats
Lift Boats / Jack-Up Boats
Anchor Handling Boats (AHTS)
Dive Support Boats (DSVs)
Pipe-Laying Barges
FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading units)
Offshore Helicopters

What You Should Do Right After an Offshore Injury

If you get hurt offshore, these first steps are critical:

Get Medical Help ASAP: Your health comes first. Tell the medics exactly how you got hurt.
Report the Injury: Tell your supervisor or company rep right away. Make sure they fill out an accident report.
Watch What You Say & Sign: Do NOT give recorded statements or sign papers from the company or insurance adjusters without talking to a lawyer first. They can use what you say against you.
Call an Experienced Offshore Lawyer: Maritime law is complicated, and there are strict deadlines to file claims. Talking to a lawyer early protects your rights.
Write Down Details (If Safe): Note who saw it happen, what caused it, what equipment was involved. Take pictures if you can safely do so.

Money You Can Get for Offshore Injuries (Compensation)

Depending on the law that applies (Jones Act, OCSLA/State Law, Maritime Law) and how bad your injuries are, you could get money for:

Medical Bills (Past and Future)
Lost Pay (Past wages and future earning ability)
Disability / Physical Limitations
Scars (Disfigurement)
Job Retraining Costs
Maintenance and Cure (if you’re a seaman)
LHWCA Benefits (Medical and lost pay if covered)
Pain and Suffering / Mental Stress (Usually available if you can sue for negligence; not typically just from LHWCA benefits)

Specific Offshore Accidents We Handle

We have deep experience with all kinds of offshore accidents. Click below to learn more about specific types:

Oil Rig Accidents: Injuries on drilling rigs.
Platform Accidents: Incidents on fixed production platforms.
Lift Boat Accidents: Cases involving jack-up boats.
Vessel Transfer Accidents: Injuries moving between boats/platforms.
Helicopter Accidents: Crashes during offshore flights.

case results

Over $1 Billion Recovered for Maritime Accident Victims

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$330 MILLION SETTLEMENT

Oil storage tank rupture at the Murphy Oil USA refinery in Chalmette, LA. The fastest class certification and resolution of a case of its type and magnitude to date.

SETTLED IN ONLY 12 MONTHS

Arco cryogenic platform explosion caused by improper cold cut of Southern Natural Gas pipeline. Settlement for the injured and deceased in approximately twelve months.

Common Questions About Offshore Injury Claims

Working offshore near New Orleans comes with risks, and accidents can happen. This section answers common questions to help you understand your rights and what to do after an injury.

Probably not. The Jones Act is for seamen on vessels. Fixed platforms usually mean your case involves OCSLA (using state law for lawsuits against others) and LHWCA benefits from your boss.

It depends on where you got hurt (boat vs. fixed platform), your job (are you crew?), and sometimes how you got hurt. An experienced offshore lawyer needs to look at the facts.

The deadlines are different! Jones Act/Maritime Law is usually 3 years. LHWCA claims have shorter deadlines (like 1 year to file, only 30 days to report!). State law claims (under OCSLA) often have only 1 year (like in Louisiana). Act fast!

If you’re a Jones Act seaman (on a vessel), yes, you can sue your employer if they were careless. If you’re covered by LHWCA/OCSLA (like on a fixed platform), usually no – LHWCA benefits are your main option against your employer. But you can often sue other careless companies working out there.

Best to talk to a lawyer first. The adjuster works for the company, not you. They want to pay as little as possible. Don’t give recorded statements or sign anything without getting legal advice.

Call Our Experienced New Orleans Offshore Injury Team

Working offshore has risks, but you have rights if someone’s carelessness gets you hurt. If you were injured working in the Gulf of Mexico, trust the experienced New Orleans offshore injury lawyers at Lambert Zainey. We know how to handle these complex cases and fight for the money you deserve.

Your consultation with us is free, private, and there’s no obligation.

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