New Orleans LHWCA Lawyer

Seasoned LHWCA Attorney in New Orleans, LA

Maritime work is one of the more dangerous forms of employment in New Orleans. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) exists to help specific maritime employees recover financially after a workplace injury. Unfortunately, this process can be complex and more difficult than it should be. A New Orleans LHWCA lawyer can help maritime employees protect their rights and get the financial recovery they deserve.

• AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® (2026)
• Over 40 Years of Combined Legal Experience
• $10 Million+ Recovered for Our Clients Since 2008
• After-Hours Availability – for Urgent Legal Matters

LHWCA Attorneys at Hammond Law Firm, LLC

At Hammond Law Firm, we know how severely a workplace injury in the maritime industry can impact your life and your ability to support yourself and your loved ones. Our New Orleans personal injury attorneys work to help you get the benefits you have a right to under federal law. You don’t have to navigate this case alone, and you can rely on our attorneys to advocate for you and work for the medical costs, lost income, and disability benefits you need to move forward.

Our firm has served Louisiana for 18 years, and our legal team has more than 40 years of combined experience. We have experience in maritime cases, including those involving negligent employers and third parties. Our firm has had past successful results, including a $250,000 maritime injury case and an $80,000 maritime injury case. These don’t guarantee a future result in a case but show how we work to support employee rights in the maritime industry.

New Orleans and the Maritime Industry

The maritime industry is crucial to employment in New Orleans and the rest of the economy. In 2025, there was a 60.7% labor force participation rate in the New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan statistical area, higher than the state’s rate. One in five jobs in Louisiana was maritime-related, and the greater New Orleans area had one of the highest concentrations of maritime employment in the state.

Maritime, longshore, and harbor jobs also aid in fishing, transportation, oil, and other industries. In the greater New Orleans area in 2025, there were 29,008 jobs in transportation and warehousing; 2,751 jobs in gas extraction, mining, quarrying, and mineral extraction; and 1,893 jobs in fishing, forestry, agriculture, and hunting.

The employees in the maritime industry are generally not covered by the same workers’ compensation laws as other employees. Instead, they have to recover compensation through other methods, including the LHWCA.

Who Is Covered Under the LHWCA in New Orleans?

You have to meet two basic requirements to be covered by the LHWCA in New Orleans:

1. Your injury must have occurred on or near navigable waters.
2. You must be employed in maritime-related work.

The LHWCA states that an employee’s disability or death must have occurred on navigable waters, which includes:

• Piers
• Docks and dry docks
• Terminals
• Wharfs
• Shipyards
• Building way
• Marine railway
• Other locations used by an employer for repairing, loading, unloading, taking apart, or building a vessel

An employee in maritime work includes:

• Longshoremen
• Others in longshore operations
• Harbor construction workers
• Ship repairmen
• Shipbuilders
• Ship breakers

It does not include aquaculture workers, those whose work is secretarial or in security, individual employees by suppliers or vendors, the crew of a vessel, those employed to work on recreational vessels, or those employed by a marina except for those employed for the purpose of construction in the marina. When you work with a New Orleans LHWCA attorney, they can help you understand these and other limitations to determine whether you can file a claim.

Benefits Through the LHWCA

In a successful claim, you could secure several benefits to recover your losses from the injury. This may include:

• The cost of medical services and supplies
• A portion of the average weekly wages while you were unable to work
• Compensation for disability, including temporary or permanent, total or partial disability
• Maintenance during your vocational rehabilitation
• Death benefits, including funeral costs and a portion of the individual’s average weekly wages paid to certain surviving family members

The support of an attorney makes it easier to properly calculate what you are owed.

FAQs

What Are the Two Main Requirements to Obtain Workers’ Compensation From the LHWCA?

The two main requirements to obtain workers’ compensation from the LHWCA are that you 1) were injured and suffered disability on or near navigable waters, and 2) were employed to perform maritime-related job duties. When this is the case, you can recover damages through the LHWCA to cover the cost of your losses.

Benefits under the LHWCA do not apply to government employees, injuries caused by the intoxication of the employee, or injuries on certain small vessel facilities.

What Is the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act in Louisiana?

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act in Louisiana is a federal law that offers benefits to certain maritime employees who are injured on the job but are not covered under the Jones Act. It offers medical bill coverage, lost wage payments, disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and more. The hazards in maritime and offshore work are significant, and the act exists to provide the financial support these employees need if they are injured.

What Is a Lump Sum Settlement for Workers’ Comp in Louisiana Through the Longshore an3d Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act?

A lump sum settlement is not generally how workers’ comp is paid in Louisiana through the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Compensation is generally paid in installments, and the amount depends on the severity of your injury and why your injury happened, among other factors. More severe injuries tend to have higher benefits, and working with an attorney can also improve the compensation you recover. Attorney’s fees, if they are part of compensation, are paid in a lump sum.

Why Do I Need to Hire an LHWCA Lawyer in Louisiana?

You need to hire an LHWCA lawyer in Louisiana to improve your chances of securing full and fair compensation for your injuries. These attorneys understand the requirements of these claims and can manage the claim as you recover from your injuries. They help you calculate the damages you’ve suffered because of the injury, and work to secure fair financial compensation that helps you physically and financially recover.

Navigating New Orleans, Louisiana LHWCA Laws

If you were injured during your work as a longshoreman, harbor worker, or other maritime employee, reach out to Hammond Law Firm, LLC. We can help you assess how you can recover compensation, calculate what benefits you deserve, and advocate for your rights.

New Orleans LHWCA Lawyer Reviews

Al B. 
“Exceptional service from start to finish. The attorneys were knowledgeable, responsive, and fought hard on my behalf. Their efforts led to positive outcome. Highly recommended!”

Denny Henderson
“I would like to thank Mr. Hammond and his team. When I would have a question or a concern they would be prompt with a response. They did everything to make sure that I received the best outcome possible, and I highly recommend them.”

Read more of our Google reviews.

Hammond Law Firm, LLC – New Orleans Office

650 Poydras St., Ste. 2617
New Orleans, LA 70130