Lift Boat Accidents

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New Orleans Lift Boat Accident Lawyers – Lambert Zainey

Lift boats (sometimes called jack-up boats) are special kinds of vessels you see all over the Gulf, used for offshore construction, well work, dive support, and more. They can move like a boat, then plant legs on the seabed and jack themselves up out of the water to make a stable platform. But this unique design – jacking up and down – brings special risks. If the legs aren’t stable, the jacking system fails, bad weather hits, or someone is careless, terrible accidents can happen.

We all remember the tragic Seacor Power lift boat capsizing – it showed just how dangerous things can get. At Lambert Zainey, our New Orleans maritime lawyers know lift boat accidents. We understand these unique vessels, the main law that usually covers their crews (the Jones Act), and how to fight for workers hurt because of carelessness or unsafe conditions on a lift boat.

Hurt in a Lift Boat Accident? We Handle These Specific Cases.

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What Are Lift Boats & What Makes Them Risky?

Lift boats drive like regular boats, but they have legs they can lower to the ocean floor. Then they jack the main deck (hull) up above the water to create a steady place to work. They’re used a lot for:

Building and fixing things offshore
Working on oil/gas wells (plugging them, etc.)
Supporting divers
Putting up wind turbines
Taking down old platforms

Being able to move and then stand up makes them useful, but also brings risks with the jacking system, making sure the legs are solid on the bottom, and being vulnerable to bad weather when jacked up.

Lift Boats are Vessels: Your Rights Under the Jones Act

This is really important: Under maritime law, lift boats are usually considered “vessels.” This means crew members working on them who qualify as “seamen” are typically protected by strong maritime laws:

The Jones Act: Lets injured seamen sue their employer if carelessness (negligence) by the company or a coworker caused the injury. Learn About the Jones Act.
Unseaworthiness: Means the vessel owner must provide a reasonably safe boat and equipment. If an unsafe condition (like bad equipment or not enough trained crew) hurts you, the owner is responsible, even if they didn’t know about the problem. Understand Unseaworthiness.
Maintenance and Cure (M&C): Gives injured seamen basic living expenses (Maintenance) and medical bills paid (Cure) until they reach maximum recovery, no matter who was at fault. Get Details on M&C.

This is different from fixed platforms (where OCSLA usually applies). If you’re crew on a lift boat, you generally have these powerful seaman protections. Contrast with OCSLA.

Common Ways Accidents Happen on Lift Boats

Lift boats have unique dangers:

Tipping Over (Instability): Problems with Seabed, Weather, Loading

Bad Seabed: One leg hits a soft spot (“punch-through”), a slope, or underwater junk, making the boat uneven.
Bad Weather: High winds or big waves hit the boat while it’s jacked up, pushing it past its limits (like what happened with the Seacor Power).
Loaded Wrong: Putting too much weight on one side makes it unstable.
Leg Breaks: A jacking leg fails mechanically.

This is a huge risk. Lift boats can become unstable and tip or capsize because:

Jacking System Failures (Leg Problems)

The system that raises and lowers the legs can break down (hydraulics, gears), causing the boat to drop suddenly, move unexpectedly, or get stuck. Often happens if maintenance isn’t done right.

Crane Accidents & Deck Injuries

Lift boats usually have cranes. Accidents happen when cranes collapse, drop loads, hit workers, or when workers slip/trip on deck from spills, gear, or weather.

Collisions

While moving, lift boats can hit other boats, platforms, or underwater objects if the captain makes a mistake, can’t see well, or equipment fails.

Accidents Moving People On/Off (Personnel Transfers)

Getting hurt while being moved to or from the lift boat using baskets (Billy Pugh), swing ropes, or gangways is always a risk.

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.

Serious Injuries from Lift Boat Accidents

Because things like capsizing can happen, lift boat accidents often cause terrible injuries or death:

Drowning
Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Spinal Cord Injuries / Paralysis
Crush Injuries
Lost Limbs (Amputations)
Multiple Broken Bones
Hypothermia (from being in the water)
Death (Wrongful Death Claims)

Who Can Be Blamed (Held Liable)?

Finding out who was responsible takes a careful look:

Your Employer: Responsible under the Jones Act if their carelessness hurt you (if you’re a seaman crew member).
The Vessel Owner (Often your Employer): Responsible under Unseaworthiness if an unsafe condition on the lift boat caused the injury.
The Vessel Owner (Often your Employer): Responsible under Unseaworthiness if an unsafe condition on the lift boat caused the injury.
Makers of bad equipment (jacking system, crane).
Companies that did faulty seabed surveys.
Operators of other boats involved in a crash.
Other contractors whose carelessness caused problems.

Lambert Zainey looks at everyone involved to get you the most compensation possible.

Why Choose Lambert Zainey for Your Lift Boat Accident Case?

Handling lift boat cases right takes special maritime knowledge:

We Know Lift Boats: We understand how these unique boats work, the risks involved, and we’ve handled major cases involving them.
Masters of Jones Act & Maritime Law: We know the laws that protect seamen working on lift boats inside and out.
We Investigate Deeply: We work with boat experts, engineers, weather experts, and stability pros to figure out exactly why an accident happened.
Proven Winners: We have a strong history of getting big results for workers hurt in complex offshore accidents. See our Maritime Case Results.
Your Case is Personal to Us: We understand that an injury affects your life, your family, and your future. That’s why we provide compassionate guidance, keep you updated with clear communication, and treat your case with the personal attention it deserves. Read 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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Common Questions About Lift Boat Injuries

Knowing your rights is the first step toward securing fair compensation after a maritime injury. This section answers key questions to empower you with the information you need to protect your claim.

Usually, yes. Lift boats are generally considered vessels, so crew members working on them typically qualify as seamen protected by the Jones Act.

Weather is a factor, but the company might still be responsible if they were careless. Did they operate in weather that was too rough? Did they ignore forecasts? Did they have bad procedures? Was the boat itself unsafe (unseaworthy) for the expected weather?

Yes. This could be an Unseaworthiness claim (unsafe equipment) against the owner, and maybe a Jones Act claim (careless maintenance) against your employer. You might even have a claim against the company that made the system if it was defective.

Generally no, if they are seamen under the Jones Act. LHWCA/OCSLA usually cover platform workers or dock workers. Because lift boats are vessels, Jones Act usually applies to the crew.

Get medical help immediately. Report the injury to your boss ASAP. Try to remember details (witnesses, conditions, take pictures if safe). Talk to an experienced maritime lawyer before giving recorded statements or signing anything.

Talk to Our Experienced New Orleans Maritime Lawyers Today

Lift boat accidents are serious and complex. If you got hurt working on a lift boat in the Gulf or Louisiana waters, protect your rights. The maritime lawyers at Lambert Zainey have the specific experience needed to handle these unique cases.

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