LEADERSHIP IN AMERICA’S MOST CONSEQUENTIAL MARITIME DISASTERS

New Orleans Maritime & Admiralty Lawyers

When the nation’s worst maritime disasters require legal leadership, federal courts appoint LKSA. Our attorneys have served in the most prominent roles in America’s largest maritime litigations, and we bring that same level of dedication to every client’s case.

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Navigating the Unique World of Maritime & Admiralty Law

Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, is a body of federal law governing injuries, accidents, and commerce on navigable waters, including the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike land-based personal injury cases, maritime incidents are often governed by complex federal statutes like the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (Jones Act), LHWCA, and others. For individuals working in and around the demanding environments of the Gulf Coast – from the bustling ports of New Orleans to the vast offshore oil fields of Louisiana – understanding these laws is crucial.

LKSA has represented maritime workers in federal courts from the Gulf Coast to the Eastern District of Louisiana for over 35 years. Our attorneys have shaped the law itself — authoring more than 100 published papers and arguing cases that defined Jones Act seaman status, damage recovery standards, and the availability of punitive damages for injured workers. When other attorneys face a maritime case beyond their reach, they refer it to us. When federal courts need leadership in a national disaster, they appoint us.

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Leaders in America’s Most Consequential Maritime Disasters

A true measure of a firm’s capability is the trust placed in it by the judiciary to lead in times of crisis. Federal courts have repeatedly appointed our attorneys to leadership roles in the nation’s most significant maritime disasters.

Jones Act lawyer new orleans
  • Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Managing Member Paul Sterbcow was selected by the federal court to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, acting as Co-Lead Trial Counsel for the pivotal liability trial against BP. Beth Abramson, Jessica Ibert and Ian Taylor also served on the Deepwater Horizon Litigation Trial Team, working to achieve a significant liability verdict against BP and the other defendants.
  • SEACOR Power Tragedy: In the litigation following this disaster, Paul Sterbcow was appointed Plaintiffs’ Co-Liaison Counsel, and Member Ian Taylor was appointed to the Executive Committee.

Our reputation is further built on elite credentials and a commitment to academic excellence. Our attorneys have authored over 100 papers and are recognized by the most prestigious, invitation-only trial lawyer organizations in the world, including the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL). This is why judges and attorneys throughout the United States refer their most complex maritime cases to us, recognizing our firm as “Lawyers’ Lawyers.”

At a glance:

  • Fellows, American College of Trial Lawyers — Paul Sterbcow, Harvey Lewis, Lawrence Kullman, David Abramson (fewer than 1% of U.S. attorneys qualify)
  • Fellows, International Academy of Trial Lawyers — Paul Sterbcow, Harvey Lewis, Conrad Williams
  • America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators — Paul Sterbcow
  • In excess of $20,000,000 recovered — offshore helicopter crash, traumatic brain injury
  • In excess of $14,421,477 recovered — Deepwater Horizon rig explosion, four injured workers
  • Representing maritime workers and their families from New Orleans since 1987

Meet our attorneys →    See case results →

Key Laws Protecting Maritime Workers

Our firm possesses in-depth knowledge of the specific statutes designed to protect maritime workers and those affected by incidents at sea. We are prepared to assist you with claims under:

  • The Jones Act – The Jones Act gives seamen the right to sue their employer directly for negligence if injured while working on a vessel — a protection that doesn’t exist under standard workers’ compensation.
    Jones Act Claims →
  • Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) – The LHWCA is a federal workers’ compensation system covering dock workers, longshoremen, shipbuilders, and harbor workers who are injured on or adjacent to navigable waters but don’t qualify as seamen.
    LHWCA Claims →
  • Offshore Accidents – Offshore injury cases often involve overlapping federal laws depending on where the accident occurred, what structure the worker was on, and their job classification — making proper law identification the critical first step in any offshore claim.
    Offshore Accidents →
  • Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) – OCSLA extends LHWCA benefits to workers injured on fixed platforms, drilling rigs, and other structures on the Outer Continental Shelf, covering the gap between Jones Act seaman status and standard land-based workers’ comp.
    OCSLA Claims →
  • Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) – DOHSA governs wrongful death claims when a fatality occurs more than three nautical miles from shore, setting specific rules for what families can recover that differ significantly from Jones Act and general maritime law.
    DOHSA Claims →

Understanding the legal process after an incident is just as important as knowing the law itself. Read our guide on what happens in the first 48 hours after a major offshore accident and what you need to do to protect your rights.

Which Maritime Law Applies to My Injury?

The law that governs your claim determines who you can sue, what compensation you can recover, and what deadlines apply. The answer depends on three things: where you were working, what structure you were on, and your job classification. Use this framework as a starting point — a maritime attorney should always confirm which law applies to your specific situation.

You were working on a vessel in navigable waters → Jones Act — if you qualify as a seaman (spending at least 30% of your work time on a vessel contributing to its mission, you can sue your employer directly for negligence. The 30% threshold comes from the U.S. Supreme Court’s standard established in Chandris, Inc. v. Latsis, 515 U.S. 347 (1995).

You were working on a dock, pier, terminal, or shipyard → LHWCA — longshoremen, harbor workers, shipbuilders, and ship repairers injured on or adjacent to navigable waters are covered under this federal workers’ compensation system.

You were working on a fixed platform or structure on the Outer Continental Shelf → OCSLA — workers on fixed offshore platforms, drilling structures, and production facilities on the OCS who don’t qualify as Jones Act seamen are typically covered under OCSLA, which extends LHWCA benefits offshore.

A family member was killed in an accident more than three nautical miles from shore → DOHSA — the Death on the High Seas Act governs wrongful death claims for fatalities occurring beyond three nautical miles, with specific rules on what damages families can recover.

You were injured on a vessel or platform but don’t fit neatly into one category → General Maritime Law — even when a specific statute doesn’t apply, general maritime law may provide a claim for unseaworthiness, negligence, or maintenance and cure. Many offshore cases involve claims under multiple laws simultaneously.

Many offshore workers have rights under more than one of these laws at the same time. A Jones Act seaman injured on a vessel may also have an unseaworthiness claim under general maritime law. A platform worker covered by OCSLA may also have a third-party negligence claim against a contractor. Identifying every applicable claim — not just the most obvious one — is one of the most important things a maritime attorney does in the early stages of a case.

Not sure which law covers your situation? Talk to an LKSA attorney — free, confidential case review.

Types of Accidents & Workers We Represent

Our legal team has successfully navigated the complexities of a wide array of maritime and admiralty law cases, providing dedicated representation for victims of incidents across the industry. Our experience covers, but is not limited to:

  • Vessel & Platform Collisions: Including ship-to-ship, vessel-to-bridge, and offshore oilfield vessel collisions with platforms or other structures.
  • Offshore Drilling & Production Incidents: Such as drill floor equipment malfunctions, well blowouts, fires, explosions on vessels, drilling rigs, and production platforms, and lift boat collapses.
  • Hazardous Vessel Conditions: Incidents caused by defective decks, unsafe equipment, or general unseaworthiness. Watch our video where Paul Sterbcow explains the doctrine of unseaworthiness.
  • Negligent Operations: Cases involving negligent vessel operation by captains and crew, or the failure to rescue a person overboard.
  • Cargo & Lifting Injuries: Accidents during offshore supply vessel loading and unloading, or lifting injuries aboard vessels.
  • Specialized Maritime Claims: Injuries and fatalities related to commercial diving, commercial fishing and shrimping vessel equipment defects, and incidents stemming from federal maritime regulation violations, gross negligence, or intentional misconduct.
  • Helicopter Accidents: An often overlooked area of maritime law involves incidents during transit, including catastrophic offshore helicopter accidents. To understand the complex laws that apply, read our legal guide to offshore helicopter accidents in the Gulf of Mexico.

We are proud to have represented a broad spectrum of maritime workers across all aspects of the marine industry, understanding the unique roles and risks involved. Our clients include individuals from:

  • Vessel & Tugboat Crews: Captains, deckhands, engineers, and other vessel personnel.
  • Offshore Drilling & Production Teams: Including Offshore Installation Managers, toolpushers, drill crew members (e.g., drillers, floorhands, derrickmen, roustabouts), mechanics, motormen, crane operators, and production platform workers.
  • Port & Dockside Operations: Longshoremen, dock workers, cargo inspectors, and marine surveyors.
  • Specialized Maritime Industries: Commercial oilfield divers, shipbuilders and repairmen, and commercial fishing/shrimping crew members.

Securing Full & Fair Compensation for Your Maritime Injuries

If you have been injured in a maritime accident, you may be entitled to recover various types of damages. Our role is to thoroughly assess your case and pursue all available compensation from all liable parties under maritime law. Depending on the specific circumstances and applicable statutes (such as the Jones Act or LHWCA), this may include:

  • Medical Expenses: Coverage for all past, present, and future medical treatment, rehabilitation, and necessary assistive devices related to your injury.
  • Lost Wages: Compensation for earnings you’ve lost due to your inability to work, encompassing both past income and projected future losses.
  • Pain and Suffering: Damages for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish resulting from your injuries and their impact on your life.
  • Maintenance and Cure: For seamen, these fundamental benefits cover daily living expenses and medical care until you reach maximum medical improvement, paid by the employer regardless of fault.
  • Loss of Earning Capacity: Compensation for a reduced ability to earn income in the future due to permanent injuries or disability, ensuring your long-term financial stability.
  • Disfigurement or Impairment: Damages for lasting physical changes or loss of bodily function that affect your quality of life.
  • Punitive Damages: In rare cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct, punitive damages may be pursued to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar harmful behavior.

Our goal is to ensure you receive the maximum possible compensation to cover your losses and support your recovery, allowing you to focus on healing.

Calculating the full value of a maritime claim is a complex process. Watch our video to understand the different types of damages you may be entitled to after an offshore injury.

Your Maritime Law Questions Answered

Understanding your rights after a maritime injury can be confusing. Here are answers to some common questions our attorneys, with extensive experience in New Orleans maritime law, receive:

Also often referred to as Admiralty law. This includes commerce, navigation, marine salvage, and transportation of passengers and goods. It’s a distinct legal system with its own rules, courts, and precedents that often differ from land-based laws.

Under the Jones Act, a “seaman” is generally defined as an individual who spends a significant portion of their work time (at least 30%) on a vessel or a fleet of vessels on navigable waters, and whose duties contribute to the vessel’s mission or operation. This definition is crucial because seamen have specific rights to sue their employers for negligence if injured on the job.

If you have been injured on the job, it is crucial to understand the unique protections maritime law provides. Watch our comprehensive video where attorney Ian Taylor explains the three fundamental rights of every injured seaman.

The LHWCA is a federal law providing workers’ compensation benefits to certain maritime workers who are not seamen but are injured on navigable waters or any adjoining areas (like piers, docks, or terminals) used for loading, unloading, or building vessels. This includes longshoremen, shipbuilders, ship repairers, and harbor construction workers.

Maintenance and cure are fundamental rights for injured seamen under general maritime law. “Maintenance” refers to the living expenses (such as rent, utilities, and food) an injured seaman would have incurred had they not been injured. “Cure” covers reasonable and necessary medical expenses until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement. These benefits are paid by the employer regardless of who was at fault for the injury.

The time limit for filing a maritime injury claim can vary depending on the specific law that applies (Jones Act, LHWCA, DOHSA, etc.). For many claims under the Jones Act, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury. However, deadlines can be much shorter for certain types of claims or against government entities. It’s critical to consult with a maritime attorney as soon as possible to understand the specific deadlines for your case.

Watch our video to understand why these deadlines are so critical and why you need an experienced maritime lawyer.

Have More Maritime Law Questions? Contact Us.

Maritime Justice Achieved: Stories of Our Impact

Our dedication to maritime clients has led to numerous successful outcomes. We are proud of the justice we’ve secured and the trust victims and their families place in our firm.

Offshore Oilfield Helicopter Crash

Offshore Oilfield Helicopter Crash – Resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

Result: In Excess of $20,000,000 (Settlement)

Deepwater Horizon Rig Explosion

Jones Act/General Maritime Law – Representing 4 rig workers injured in the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion.

Result: In Excess of $14,421,477 (Settlement)

View Our Maritime Case Results
Maritime Lawyer

Injured on the Water? Take the First Step Towards Justice.

The path to justice after a maritime accident is complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. If you or a loved one was injured while working on or near navigable water, contact us for a free, confidential consultation.

Our experienced New Orleans maritime lawyers are ready to provide the advocacy you need.

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