- 40+ Years of Experience
- $100,000,000+ Recovered
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- Verified Client Reviews
- 40+ Years of Experience
- $100,000,000+ Recovered
- Se Habla Espanol
- Verified Client Reviews
Accolades
The Gulf Coast provides employment to many people, who work on the docks or offshore. New Orleans is the sixth-largest cruise port in the United States, and there are, in general, roughly 70 to 100 active oil rigs in the waters off Louisiana’s coast.
Within this booming industry, Maritime accidents are common. The Jones Act is an important piece of legislation for maritime workers seeking justice in the face of negligent work conditions or other accidents.
The Jones Act (originally called the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 and sometimes referred to as the Death on the High Seas Act) is a federal law that defines maritime commerce legislation in the United States. If a maritime worker is injured or dead for the negligence of employers or other personnel, the worker can claim under the Jones Act, 46 U.S. Code § 30104.
For example, one of our clients at Breaux Law Firm was a longshoreman who was injured while working on a dock when an improperly welded metal plate struck him in the head, resulting in neck injuries that required surgery.
Our devoted admiralty lawyers were able to successfully recover both past and future lost wages for our client, at a total of $950,000.
It has been possible to get results because New Orleans Maritime Lawyer of Breaux Law Firm has 30 years of experience in helping seaman and maritime workers with success.
Maritime accidents are complex, but an established admiralty attorney can help you understand how your injury is classified and how best to proceed.
A longshoreman also called a stevedore or dock worker is a worker who loads and unloads freight from cargo ships to docks. While seamen are covered for workplace injuries under the Jones Act, longshoremen are generally covered by the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
According to the Jones Act, a “seaman” is anyone who spends a significant amount of on-the-clock working time aboard a seafaring vessel in navigation, and whose work contributes to the function of the vessel. The term encompasses many offshore roles. In Louisiana, the following are all considered seamen:
However, unlike most other jobs, injured seamen are not eligible to receive workers’ compensation. Fortunately, under the Jones Act, maritime employees have the right to take legal action and file lawsuits against ship owners who display negligence or unseaworthiness.
At Breaux Law Firm, our maritime lawyers work hard to stay up to date on maritime law and pay close attention to the ins and outs of Louisiana law when it comes to maritime accidents, work-related accidents, offshore accidents, and boating accidents.
If you’ve been injured while working offshore or on a dock, don’t wait! Call Breaux Law Firm for a free consultation; we’ll fight hard to get you the medical attention and the compensation that you deserve.
Hiring a New Orleans Maritime Lawyer
With over 35 years of experience, we at Breaux Law Firm understand how to navigate the world of claims in New Orleans and Louisiana. You can rest assured that your maritime injury case will be handled with the utmost respect and priority to ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to as quickly as possible. Our job is to get you the maximum payout you are due. We’re here to protect your rights.
By hiring a New Orleans maritime lawyer from a trusted law firm to represent you and your case, you can put your mind at ease; this will allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries. Let us do the paperwork, deal with the involved parties & insurance companies and get you the compensation you deserve.
A longshoreman was injured while working on the Mississippi River. The gentleman was struck in the head by an improperly welded metal plate resulting in neck injuries and requiring surgery. We were able to recover past and future lost wages for him.
A longshoreman was injured while working on the Mississippi River. The gentleman was struck in the head by an improperly welded metal plate resulting in neck injuries and requiring surgery. We were able to recover past and future lost wages for him.
A 35-year-old man was rear-ended while driving his vehicle on Interstate 10, suffering a severe lumbar spine injury that required surgery to repair. The injury and resulting disability prevented him from returning to his prior occupation.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a maritime accident, the admiralty attorneys at Breaux Law Firm are the best option for you, and here’s why:
Being in a maritime accident is scary enough, and dealing with the aftermath can be exhausting. Getting back on your feet should be hassle-free. If you call us and we determine, together, that you have a case, we’ll immediately begin fighting on your behalf to make the responsible parties do what is right. We do not stop fighting for you until you receive all you’re owed. By hiring Breaux Law Firm to represent you for your maritime accident, you can expect a clear legal explanation of your case and an honest assessment of the case’s merits. Our New Orleans maritime accident lawyer can help you get through this difficult time and ensure you’re taken care of emotionally, physically, and financially.
Attorney at Law
Darryl M. Breaux, the founder of the law office of Breaux Law Firm, is a proud lifelong New Orleanian. He has been married for over thirty-two years and has two children, one of whom is an attorney at Breaux Law Firm.
Attorney at Law
Evan Breaux joined Breaux Law Firm in 2017, thus establishing one of New Orleans’ only father-son personal injury law firms. Evan is a defender of justice, an advocate dedicated to helping people who are victims of unfair circumstances.
Attorney at Law
A lifelong New Orleanian, Scot Koloski brings over 25 years of legal experience to Breaux Law Firm. His career is built on a deep-rooted commitment to the people of this city and a relentless drive to be a steady voice for those navigating the aftermath of a life-altering accident.
According to Louisiana (La.) Civil Code 3492, the statute of limitations applicable to personal injury claims is one year from the date of the accident, so don’t wait! If the suit is filed after the deadline, it can be dismissed.
However, it’s always a good idea to seek legal advice, as there are exceptions in which the statute of limitations may be halted and the deadline for filing a claim extended.
Although filing claims or reliving traumatic experiences can be overwhelming, moving towards the compensation you are due is the right thing for you and your family. You’re not alone in this fight. The qualified New Orleans Maritime Lawyers of Breaux Law Firm are just a phone call away. Let us handle your case and get you what you deserve.
REQUEST A FREE CASE EVALUATION
We don’t get paid until you do. The attorneys of Breaux Law Firm have what is called a “contingency fee arrangement” with each and every one of our clients. A contingency fee arrangement means that the attorney’s fee is taken out of the total amount of money recovered for the client, once the client’s case is settled. The attorneys at Breaux Law Firm are happy to meet with you FOR FREE to discuss your case, to answer any questions you may have, and to let you know if we think you have a good case.
The short answer is YES. If you’re the owner or the driver of the motor vehicle you were in at the time of the accident and neither you nor the vehicle you were driving has automobile insurance, then the adverse insurance company will get a credit for the first $15,000 in damages that they would have otherwise owed you, as described below. If you were a passenger in a vehicle where neither it nor its driver has insurance, you will still be able to recover, because you’re not the owner nor the operator of the uninsured vehicle. The attorneys at Breaux Law Firm stay informed on all laws involving insurance and the other legal areas we practice. We take the guesswork out of Louisiana state laws, and guide you through the process of recovering the compensation you deserve.
“There shall be no recovery for the first fifteen thousand dollars of bodily injury and no recovery for the first twenty-five thousand dollars of property damage based on any cause or right of action arising out of a motor vehicle accident, for such injury or damages occasioned by an owner or operator of a motor vehicle involved in such accident who fails to own or maintain compulsory motor vehicle liability security.
La. Stat. Ann. § 32:866
Breaux Law Firm is licensed to practice law throughout the state of Louisiana. However, Breaux Law Firm, in conjunction with other respected attorneys, has also represented clients from many other states, including Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, California, and more.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Our office is located at 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 1820, Metairie, LA 70005. You’ll find plenty of parking available in our visitor parking lot, along with a wheelchair-accessible ramp. Of course, you can always reach us through our 24-hour phone line at (504) 914-7779.
NO, YOU DO NOT. We don’t get paid until you do. The vast majority of the time, the conscientious attorneys at Breaux Law Firm will be able to let you know if your case is likely to succeed at the FREE initial consultation. If the case doesn’t work out, you owe us nothing and we will bear our own costs.
In Louisiana, you have ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT to file a lawsuit to recover damages due to an accident; this concept is known as the statute of limitations or prescriptive period. Once your accident occurs, the clock starts ticking. The attorneys at Breaux Law Firm stay informed on all laws involving injury law, as well as the other legal areas we practice. We know that legal language can be confusing and hard to understand, as you can see below, so we work hard to make the process of filing a claim as easy and positive as possible.
“Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of one year. This prescription commences to run from the day injury or damage is sustained.”
La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3492
YES, the law office of Breaux Law Firm works with all types of medical providers and will assist you in obtaining the medical care that you need for your injuries.
There are several ways to take care of your property damage after an accident. The most common way is to make a claim against the liable insurance company which covered the at-fault party at the time of the accident. After making a claim against the liable insurance company, the liable insurance company is supposed to appraise the damage to your vehicle by sending an appraiser to inspect the vehicle wherever it’s located. Within a reasonable time, the liable insurance company is supposed to make a liability determination. If the insurance company accepts liability, they will put you in a rental car and arrange for your vehicle to be repaired. You’re entitled to a rental car, paid for by the liable insurance company, until your car is fixed and ready for you to pick up. The liability insurance company must adjust the property damage within thirty (30) days of their receiving a satisfactory proof of loss. The attorneys at Breaux Law Firm stay informed on all laws involving insurance and the other legal areas we practice, translating confusing legal jargon, as you see below, into clear guidance for our clients.
“All insurers shall make a written offer to settle any property damage claim, including a third-party claim, within thirty days after receipt of satisfactory proofs of loss of that claim.”
La. Stat. Ann. § 22:1892
