The Young Firm

Helping injured maritime and offshore workers navigate maritime injury claims across Louisiana and the Gulf South. Decades of experience. Proven results.

Call (504) 608-4667 or visit jonesactlaw.com for a free consultation. We are 100% focused on fighting for injured maritime and offshore workers’ rights. At The Young Firm, our maritime and admiralty attorneys are dedicated to providing superior legal counsel to clients injured as a result of another party’s reckless, careless, or negligent conduct. We meticulously prepare each case and are committ

ed to protecting the rights of the catastrophically injured and their families. For 50+ years, our attorneys have been immersed in maritime and Jones Act Law. It's what we know best, it's all we do. SPECIALIZATION IS EVERYTHING:
If you needed heart surgery, would you choose an experienced heart surgeon or a general family physician? I think we all know the answer to that question. In the same light, your maritime injury case is very specialized with unique laws to protect your rights. You wouldn't want a general personal injury lawyer, you'd want (and need) attorneys with experience practicing maritime and Jones Act law every day. The Young Firm has helped thousands of maritime workers put their lives back together after suffering an injury at work. Our extensive knowledge and network will help you:

 Get proper, unbiased, specialized medical treatment.
 Obtain enough money to live on while you recover.
 Determine if and when it’s safe to go back to work.
 Secure the best future for you and your family. Don’t wait to reach out and get answers. Contact us today to see if you have a case, we are here when you need us.

09/02/2026

A vessel can look seaworthy from the dock and still have problems that are not immediately visible.

That is where marine surveyors come in.

Marine surveyors inspect commercial vessels and evaluate areas such as hull condition, machinery, equipment, structural integrity, and safety systems.

Depending on the type of survey, their findings may be used during vessel purchases, insurance evaluations, damage investigations, repairs, or assessments of a vessel’s overall condition.

Their work can also become important after a maritime accident. When an injury involves failed equipment, unsafe vessel conditions, or questions about maintenance, attorneys may review inspection reports, repair records, previous survey findings, and whether identified problems were actually corrected.

A survey does more than document the condition of a vessel on a particular day. The records surrounding that inspection can help establish what was known about a problem, when it was discovered, and what happened afterward.

In maritime cases, those details can matter.

08/29/2026

Twenty-one years ago, Hurricane Katrina changed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in ways that can still be felt today.

For those who lived through it, the memories are not just of the storm itself. They are of flooded neighborhoods, families separated, businesses lost, and a city forced to rebuild piece by piece.

But they are also memories of people showing up for one another. Neighbors opened their doors. Communities shared what they had. Families came back. Businesses reopened. New Orleans rebuilt because the people who call this place home refused to give up on it.

Today, we remember those who were lost, those whose lives were changed forever, and the strength of a community that kept moving forward.

New Orleans is a city shaped by resilience, and that resilience is worth honoring.

08/26/2026

Women have long been part of the maritime industry, working on vessels, docks, ports, offshore facilities, and throughout the businesses that keep maritime operations moving.

On Women’s Equality Day, we recognize the women who have built careers in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated and who continue to contribute across every part of the maritime workforce.

From deck crews and vessel operations to engineering, logistics, safety, and leadership, women continue to play an important role in the future of maritime work. Today is a chance to recognize that work, the progress that has been made, and the opportunities that still lie ahead.

08/21/2026

When equipment fails offshore and a worker is injured, the legal question is not just what broke. It is also who was responsible for keeping that equipment safe.

For seamen, the Jones Act may allow a negligence claim when an employer’s failure to inspect, maintain, repair, or remove unsafe equipment contributes to an injury. Vessel owners may also face claims when equipment aboard the vessel is not reasonably fit for its intended use.

Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may involve an employer, vessel owner, contractor, equipment owner, or manufacturer.

That is why maritime attorneys often look closely at maintenance records, prior complaints, inspections, and who had control over the equipment before the accident.

08/18/2026

A towboat pushing barges toward a bridge leaves little room for guesswork.

The crew has to account for the height of the tow, the bridge clearance, river levels, current, vessel movement, and the space available to safely pass through. When several barges are connected, even a small change in position can matter.

Bridge transits are a routine part of work on rivers and waterways, but routine does not mean simple.

Clear communication between crew members, accurate information, proper planning, and awareness of changing conditions all play a part in getting a tow safely through a bridge opening.

Louisiana’s waterways are filled with bridges, commercial traffic, and working vessels. Every successful transit depends on people paying attention to the details long before the tow reaches the structure.

08/13/2026

A towline can be under an enormous amount of tension. When that line parts, the danger is immediate.

A snapped line can recoil across a deck with tremendous force, putting anyone in its path at risk. At the same time, a barge or vessel may begin moving unexpectedly, creating another set of hazards for the crew.

That is why line handling requires more than strength and experience. Crews need to understand where the line is under tension, where snap-back zones may exist, and where it is safe to stand while a tow is being made up, adjusted, or moved.

For deckhands and other maritime workers, line handling is part of the job. But when equipment is worn, communication breaks down, or someone is placed in the wrong position, a routine task can become life-threatening very quickly.

07/29/2026

Maritime work injuries can be confusing, especially for workers and families who have never dealt with one before.

A lot of people assume these claims work the same way as regular workers’ compensation claims, but maritime work can involve different rules depending on the job, the vessel, and the type of work being performed.

Here are a few common misunderstandings:

✔ “All work injury claims are the same.”
Maritime workers may fall under different laws than land-based workers. For example, a vessel crew member may have rights under the Jones Act, while some dock, terminal, or shipyard workers may fall under the Longshore Act.

✔ “Your job title tells the whole story.”
A title like deckhand, offshore worker, or laborer does not always answer every question. What the worker was actually doing, how their work connected to a vessel, and the details of the job can all matter.

✔ “If the company is paying for medical care, everything is being handled.”
Medical treatment is important, but it does not always mean every part of a claim is protected. Injured workers should still pay attention to paperwork, statements, benefits, and any decisions they are being asked to make.

✔ “It is safe to sign whatever paperwork is given to you.”
After an injury, workers may be handed forms, statements, or releases. It is important to understand what those documents say before signing anything that could affect a claim.

For maritime workers and their families, knowing these differences can help them ask better questions and make more informed decisions after a serious injury.

07/24/2026

If you have spent time near the Mississippi River, you have probably seen tugboats hard at work.

Tugboats may be small compared to the barges and ships around them, but they play a major role in keeping traffic moving on the water. They help move barges, assist larger vessels, guide traffic through tight areas, and support work along rivers, ports, canals, and offshore jobs.

Here in Louisiana, tugboats help support some of the industries that shape our state. They play a role in moving fuel, oil and gas equipment, agricultural products, construction materials, chemicals, and cargo through our rivers, ports, and coastal waterways.

It is one of those jobs many people see from a distance, but may not fully understand. This is just a glimpse into the important role tugboats and their crews play across Louisiana’s waterways.

07/21/2026

Offshore work is not a regular 9-to-5 job.

Many offshore workers spend long days away from home, working difficult shifts in demanding conditions. On oil rigs, offshore vessels, platforms, and other worksites, fatigue can build slowly over the course of a hitch.

When workers are tired, everything gets harder. Climbing stairs, handling equipment, staying focused, communicating clearly, and reacting quickly can all become more difficult. In an offshore environment, even a small mistake can lead to a serious injury.

Fatigue is not just about being sleepy. It is a real safety issue, especially when workers are doing physical labor. Offshore workers do important, difficult work. Their safety should be taken seriously from the beginning of the shift to the end of the hitch.

07/16/2026

Barge work can look routine from the outside, but the details matter.

A worker may be handling a line, stepping across a wet deck, moving around equipment, or working in summer heat while the vessel shifts beneath them. These are normal parts of the job, but they require focus, communication, and safe conditions.

For barge workers and deckhands, small things can make a big difference: clear instructions, stable footing, working equipment, proper training, and enough time to do the job safely.

Barges help move the materials and goods Louisiana depends on every day. The workers who do that job deserve worksites where safety is treated as part of the work, not an afterthought.

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400 Poydras Street Ste 2090
New Orleans, LA
70130

Website

http://www.jonesactlaw.com/contact-us/

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