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A serious tugboat or towboat injury can harm your health, interrupt your work, and threaten your livelihood. From our New Orleans office, we reconstruct the deck operations, identify the proper maritime claims, and pursue available sources of recovery, supported by the facts, for injured crews across the Gulf Coast.
Attorney Tom Shlosman oversees case evaluation and preparation for potential trial. We understand the hazards of the Lower Mississippi River, local terminals, and inland waterways. We handle the legal work so you can focus on your physical recovery.
How We Investigate Louisiana Tugboat and Towing Accidents
We investigate the vessel operation, working conditions, equipment, and decisions that contributed to your injury. We do not rely solely on the account prepared by your employer or its insurer.
How we address deck hazards and falls overboard
We examine line handling, barge access, winches, lighting, personal protective equipment, and nighttime watches. These details can reveal whether unsafe procedures, inadequate staffing, or poorly maintained equipment contributed to the accident.
Industry data shows that 68 percent of falls overboard occurred on barges, while 66 percent occurred at night. We use the operational facts to challenge attempts to blame an injured deckhand before the full incident has been investigated.
How we secure vessel evidence
We act promptly to preserve deck logs, voyage records, maintenance reports, safety procedures, electronic records, photographs, and crew statements. We also examine Coast Guard documentation and records connected to Lower Mississippi River towing operations.
Early preservation helps keep relevant records from being overwritten or deleted in the ordinary course. Once we represent you, we handle communications with company investigators and insurance representatives.
How We Identify Your Maritime Claims and Benefits
We determine which body of maritime law applies to your actual work. Your rights may depend on your vessel connection, daily duties, location, and the circumstances surrounding the accident.
How we establish seaman status under the Jones Act
We examine your work history and connection to a vessel or identifiable fleet. A qualifying seaman may bring an employer negligence claim under 46 U.S.C. Section 30104.
Your job title does not settle the issue. Under Sanchez v. Smart Fabricators, courts consider the nature of your assignment and vessel connection. Moving among tugboats and barges does not automatically disqualify you; we document your time aboard, responsibilities, reporting structure, and role in the vessel’s operations.
How we protect your right to maintenance and cure
We pursue maintenance and cure when the facts support it. This no-fault maritime protection can provide medical treatment and basic living support while a seaman recovers, separate from a Jones Act negligence claim.
Partial responsibility for an accident does not automatically remove this protection. If an employer denies treatment, delays authorization, or claims you reached maximum medical improvement too soon, we collect the medical records and respond under Fifth Circuit law.
Why Gulf Coast Maritime Workers Choose Shlosman Law Firm
We prepare every accepted case as though it may go to trial. That means we organize the evidence, identify disputed legal issues, and build the damages record from the beginning rather than waiting for negotiations to fail.
We are selective because serious maritime cases require sustained attention. The cases we accept receive direct attorney involvement, disciplined preparation, and communication grounded in how tugboats, barges, terminals, and crews actually operate.
What Happens After You Contact Our Firm
We give you a clear assessment of the likely legal path and the work required to develop the claim. Our process begins with your assignment and medical needs, then moves quickly to evidence preservation.
What happens during your initial case evaluation
We review how the accident happened, what work you were performing, which vessels you served, and what treatment you need. We also identify current wage losses and medical issues that may affect your future ability to work.
We explain the available legal options without unnecessary pressure. We evaluate serious maritime injuries across the Gulf South and nationwide.
How we build the case and preserve evidence
We send preservation letters for vessel logs, Coast Guard records, electronic data, maintenance files, and photographs. We investigate the equipment and safety procedures involved while gathering accounts from crew members who witnessed the operation.
We coordinate the medical documentation and take over contact with insurers and company representatives. This helps reduce the risk that casual or recorded statements will be presented without proper context.
How we prepare your case for trial
We file supported claims in the proper venue and use discovery to obtain company records, testimony, and vessel evidence. When the facts support unseaworthiness or employer negligence, we present those claims through organized documents, witness testimony, and operational evidence.
Trial readiness gives the defense a clear view of the case we are prepared to prove. We guide you through each stage without promising a particular result or timeline.
Deadlines That Affect Your Maritime Injury Claim
We assess deadlines immediately because maritime classification can change the filing period. A maritime personal injury action generally must be brought within three years under 46 U.S.C. Section 30106.
Shore-based maritime workers may face different rules. Under 33 U.S.C. Section 913, many traumatic injury claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act have a one-year filing period, while specified occupational disease claims may have a two-year period.
Waiting also allows logs to be overwritten and memories to fade. We advise injured workers to seek legal guidance before signing unfamiliar statements, so we can preserve evidence and accurately reconstruct the deck operation.
Contact Shlosman Law Firm to Discuss Your Case
We provide disciplined, trial-ready representation for workers and families dealing with serious maritime injuries.
Speak with an attorney who handles tugboat, offshore, and Jones Act cases. Call Shlosman Law Firm at (504) 826-9427 or use our Contact Us page to discuss your situation. We evaluate serious injury cases in New Orleans, across the Gulf South, and nationwide.
Common Questions About Louisiana Tugboat Accidents
We answer the questions that often determine whether an injured worker takes the next step. The correct answer depends on your duties, the vessel connection, and the facts of the accident.
Do I qualify as a seaman if I move between tugboats and barges?
You may qualify. Moving between vessels does not automatically remove Jones Act protection. We examine whether you had a substantial connection to a vessel or identifiable fleet, along with the nature of your work. We use schedules, payroll records, vessel assignments, and witness accounts to address classification disputes.
What should I do first after being injured on a Louisiana tugboat?
Seek medical attention and report the accident accurately to the captain or supervisor. Preserve photographs, video, witness names, and any messages about the operation. Before giving a recorded statement, contact us. We can take over the company’s communications and begin preserving evidence from the vessel while you receive treatment.
Can I bring a claim if my employer says the accident was my fault?
Yes, an employer’s accusation does not end your claim. Maritime comparative fault rules may permit recovery even when a worker shares responsibility. We investigate training, equipment, staffing, orders, and vessel conditions to identify negligence or unseaworthiness. Maintenance and cure may also apply without proof of fault.
What is the difference between a Jones Act claim and an LHWCA claim?
The Jones Act applies to qualifying seamen and permits claims for employer negligence. The LHWCA generally covers eligible shore-based maritime workers through a different benefit system. We examine your daily duties and vessel connection rather than relying on your title, then pursue the legal avenue supported by those facts.