Working offshore, at the Port of Houma or on any maritime vessel, may present various dangers to a worker. Serious burn injuries, amputation or spinal cord injuries may occur in a fire or explosion, in an accident on the deck of the vessel or as the result of equipment failure. A worker may be left with injuries that will forever limit his or her abilities. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we are committed to helping injured longshoremen, harbor workers and seamen. We help maritime workers and their families seek financial relief after serious offshore accidents.
An attorney at our law office can provide knowledgeable legal counsel pertaining to virtually any type of maritime accident, whether it stemmed from negligence, a defective piece of machinery, or an unseaworthy vessel. We understand the Jones Act and general maritime law as it pertains to any type of worker's right to compensation.
In our experience representing injured seamen and the families of maritime workers who have lost their lives in fatal offshore accidents, we have recovered billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. We have repeatedly proven our total commitment to our clients by never settling for less than the best possible outcome. Our attorneys represent clients at and near the Port of Houma, throughout Louisiana and nationwide.
If you'd like to learn more about the services we can provide to you and your family in your time of need, feel free to call (888) 346-5024 for a free, confidential consultation.
Houma, Louisiana, a thriving port city, is in the Terrebonne Parish approximately halfway between New Orleans and Lafayette, near the Gulf of Mexico. Houma and the surrounding communities, including Bayou Cane, are steeped in Cajun culture and traditions. The area is famous for its Cajun food, fishing, swamps, music, festivals, and hospitality—especially during Mardi Gras season, when the region's roots are on full-display.
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Houma is surrounded by sea, swamps, and marshes. Numerous companies feature swamp tours in Houma, LA. The Mandalay Wildlife Refuge, the marsh, swamps, bayous, canals and wildlife are featured attractions, as well as watching oyster, shrimp, and crab boats at work. Houma, Louisiana is a fisherman's paradise with a unique combination of deep sea, coastal, brackish, and freshwater fishing available. Commercial fishing activity helps to produce some of the famous local cuisine such as gourmet gumbo or boiled shrimp.
Since Louisiana's fisheries were devastated by four major hurricanes in just three years' time, a $22.7 million program launched by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Recovery Authority will be in effect in 2010. Low interest loans and grants are available to commercial fisherman, crabbers, oystermen, and crawfishermen to upgrade or modernize equipment and gear for their vessels.
The Terrebonne Port is located in Houma, conveniently just one mile west of LA Highway 57 and the Houma-Terrebonne Airport. The Port is located on the Houma Navigation Canal within one-half mile of its intersection with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, with the ability to take marine traffic on both waterways. Houma's canal, which is a straight 26-mile voyage to the Gulf of Mexico, ties the Port of Terrebonne with Port Fourchon.
Major tenants at the Terrebonne Port include:
North American Fabricators is a shipbuilding facility that builds highly specialized offshore supply vessels for deep water oil and gas production. The Terrebonne Parish Economic Development Authority announced that Gulf Island Fabrication, in a $29 million expansion into the marine sector, will build a dry dock at the Port of Terrebonne, a multimillion dollar project that would bring up to a thousand new jobs to the area.
Houma, LA also features a Downtown Marina at the junction of Historic Bayou Terrebonne and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for recreational boaters. Services at the Downtown Marina include: fresh water and pump-out/dump-out stations with a Marina Master to facilitate mooring and access to utilities.
In Houma, LA, the overall economic well-being, lifestyle, and environment are based on Houma's strategic location and maritime interests. The Houma Navigation Canal, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico all contribute to the excellent quality of life in Houma. These bodies of water also provide a wide variety of both economic opportunities and recreational activities. Maritime-related businesses, such as fishing and boat-building, economically stimulate Houma by providing high-paying, quality jobs, increasing the tax base, and spinning off the creation of ancillary maritime businesses that build up the prosperity and region.
As a worker on a jack-up rig, offshore oil platform, commercial fishing vessel, barge or any type of maritime vessel, you may have the right to maintenance and cure benefits if you are injured or fall ill while on the job. Your employer may also be held accountable if you suffered injury due to negligence on the part of another crew member, the captain, or the owner of the ship. It is important to review your legal options with an offshore injury lawyer who understands the ins and outs of maritime law as it pertains to your case.
In the event of a wrongful injury, contact Arnold & Itkin to let us help you determine your options.
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
