Houma wrecks happen on US-90, where oilfield service vehicles and supply trucks bound for Port Fourchon share the road with commuters, and on LA-24 where it runs through the center of town as Main Street and Prospect Boulevard. Injuries also come off the water and out of the offshore energy work that keeps Houma running, on supply vessels, on platforms, and in the yards that serve them. The people hurt are taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center on Main Street. The Houma Police Department on Honduras Street writes the report for a crash inside the city, and Terrebonne Parish suits are filed in the 32nd Judicial District Court at the parish courthouse, also on Main Street. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers orders the report, requests the Terrebonne General records, and sends every insurer and employer involved written notice to preserve the dispatch records, vessel logs, and video.
The law that governs the claim is Louisiana law and it is the same in every parish, with one exception that matters in Houma: maritime law can change which rules apply to yours. If you were hurt in Houma, your case is filed in the 32nd Judicial District Court in Terrebonne Parish, and for injuries after July 1, 2024 you have two years to file under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. Before we value an offshore or vessel injury, we sort out whether maritime law governs it, because that answer changes the rules the claim runs under.
Results for Louisiana Clients
- $409 MillionWrongful Death
A tragic case where an impaired driver of a commercial vehicle ran a red light, then collided with our client, causing serious bodily injury to the mother and the loss of life of her daughter.
- $49 MillionMotor Vehicle Accident
An impaired driver of a stolen vehicle driving the wrong way collided with our client head-on, resulting in brain injury and multiple broken bones.
- $32,195,000Industrial / Workplace
Failure to maintain proper safety protocols led to an explosion at an industrial plant causing a series of catastrophic injuries from broken bones, burns, spinal injury, and mental anguish.
- $31.5 MillionIndustrial / Workplace
Brain and spinal injuries followed an oil-field company failing to maintain equipment and provide a safe work site.
- $17.25 MillionCommercial Vehicle Accident
Client was struck head-on by a disconnected load of an 18-wheeler that crossed the median causing broken bones and amputation.
- $13 MillionCommercial Vehicle Accident
On the interstate, an 18-wheeler failed to yield right of way then made an unsafe lane change causing the accident which resulted in major bone breaks, damaged organs, and ultimately a leg amputation.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes; each case is decided on its own facts.
Houma is an offshore energy town. The workers here build platforms, crew supply vessels, and maintain the infrastructure that keeps Gulf of Mexico operations running. When those workers get hurt, the legal questions are different from a standard car accident case. Maritime law, federal jurisdiction, and overlapping compensation systems create layers that most personal injury attorneys never encounter.
No one reads lawyer websites until they need one. This page explains how injury claims work in Houma and Terrebonne Parish. It covers the 2024 and 2025 Louisiana law changes and how maritime and offshore cases differ from everything else. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled personal injury and maritime injury cases across Louisiana for over 20 years. Read this page. Compare us to other firms. Make the decision that is right for your situation.
US-90 and LA-24 Corridor Crash Patterns in Terrebonne Parish
US-90 is the primary east-west highway through Houma. It connects Morgan City to the west with the New Orleans metro area to the east. LA-24, known locally as Main Street and Prospect Boulevard, runs north-south through central Houma. These two corridors handle the bulk of Terrebonne Parish’s daily traffic volume.
The commercial traffic on US-90 is heavier than most Louisiana highways outside the interstates. Oilfield service vehicles, equipment haulers, and supply trucks heading to Port Fourchon use US-90 as their main route. LA-315 through Bayou Blue and LA-182 carry additional industrial and residential traffic. The mix of commercial rigs and passenger vehicles on two-lane sections creates collision patterns that are specific to energy corridor communities.
Terrebonne Parish recorded 776 injury-causing motor vehicle crashes in 2023. Those crashes injured 1,210 people. Twelve fatal collisions killed 15 people. Alcohol-related crashes caused 44 injuries and 5 deaths that same year. The leading causes were inattentive driving with 277 crashes, failure to yield with 130, and following too closely with 75.
Truck accidents are a particular concern on US-90. Terrebonne Parish had 33 serious large truck crashes in 2023. Six percent of those serious large truck crashes were fatal, compared to 1.5% across all vehicle types. The size and weight difference between an oilfield service truck and a passenger vehicle makes every car accident involving commercial equipment more severe. Ask any attorney you are considering whether they have handled truck accident cases involving oilfield service vehicles. The evidence requirements and liable parties differ from standard vehicle collisions.
Local Coverage. Statewide Record.
- $1 Billion+
Outcomes for Louisiana clients
Verdicts and settlements won across the state by the same trial team that handles Houma cases.
- 11
Trial attorneys, one team
Your case is handled by the firm's own trial attorneys, and we respond in minutes, 24/7.
- 24/7
We come to you
An attorney travels to you in Houma, at home or at the hospital, or meets by video the same day. Free case review, and no fee unless we win.
- 127
Cases resolved over $1 million
Verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more, won by the same trial team that handles Houma cases.
Offshore and Maritime Injury Claims in the Houma Area
Houma is one of Louisiana’s primary hubs for offshore oil and gas operations. Edison Chouest Offshore, Bollinger Shipyards, and Danos are among the major employers in the area. Thousands of workers commute from Houma to Gulf of Mexico platforms, supply vessels, and drilling rigs. When these workers are injured offshore, the legal framework is fundamentally different from a land-based injury claim.
Jones Act Claims
Jones Act
A federal statute (46 U.S.C. 30104) that gives seamen the right to sue their employers for negligence. It applies to workers who spend a significant portion of their work time on vessels in navigation. Jones Act claims allow recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future earning capacity.
maintenance and cure
A maritime remedy requiring the vessel owner to pay an injured seaman’s daily living expenses (maintenance) and medical treatment costs (cure) until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement. This obligation exists regardless of fault.
The Jones Act covers injured seamen. If you qualify as a seaman under federal law, you can bring a negligence claim against your employer. You can also claim maintenance and cure. This remedy requires the vessel owner to pay your living expenses and medical costs until you reach maximum medical improvement. A separate unseaworthiness claim holds the vessel owner responsible if the vessel or its equipment was not reasonably fit for its intended purpose.
These are three distinct legal theories. A competent maritime injury attorney will evaluate which ones apply to your situation. Ask any attorney you are considering to explain the difference between a Jones Act negligence claim and an unseaworthiness claim. If they cannot distinguish these theories clearly, they do not handle maritime cases regularly.
LHWCA and OCSLA Coverage
LHWCA
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. A federal workers’ compensation program covering dock workers, ship repairers, and maritime construction workers who are not seamen. It provides medical benefits and disability compensation but limits the right to sue the employer directly.
The LHWCA covers dock workers, ship repairers, and maritime construction workers who do not qualify as seamen. It provides medical benefits and disability compensation without requiring proof of employer negligence. However, it limits your right to sue your employer directly. Third-party claims against equipment manufacturers or other contractors remain available.
OCSLA
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. A federal law that extends the jurisdiction of adjacent state law to workers on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. It determines which state’s workers’ compensation and tort law applies to injuries on offshore platforms.
The OCSLA extends legal coverage to workers on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. This law determines which state’s workers’ compensation and tort rules apply to your injury. For workers leaving from Houma, Louisiana law typically applies, but the analysis depends on the platform’s location and the worker’s employment relationship.
Port Fourchon is the primary service port for deepwater Gulf operations. Houma-based workers supply this corridor daily. The commute from Houma to Port Fourchon and then offshore creates multiple points where injuries can occur, each potentially governed by a different legal framework. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled offshore injury claims involving platform injuries, vessel accidents, and dock-side incidents throughout the Gulf region.
Evidence Preservation in Maritime Cases
Maritime employers and vessel operators have legal obligations to maintain safety records, vessel logs, and crew manifests. After an injury, this evidence can disappear. Vessel logs get overwritten. Safety inspection records get archived on schedules that favor the company. Crew manifests and work schedules document conditions at the time of your injury.
Your attorney sends written preservation demands to every responsible party. We aim to send them once the facts give us a sound basis to ask, and moving as promptly as the law permits matters because that is how the records behind a maritime claim stay intact. These demands cover vessel logs, black box data, safety records, and crew documentation so no one can alter or destroy them. Those records show where the vessel was and how it was operating, what hazards the company knew about, and who was on duty when you were hurt.
Houma Practice Areas
Car AccidentsRear-end, intersection, and highway collisions across Louisiana.
Truck Accidents18-wheeler and commercial-vehicle wrecks governed by federal trucking rules.
Catastrophic InjuryBrain, spinal-cord, amputation, and severe-burn injuries that change a life.
Wrongful DeathClaims brought by families after a fatal accident or act of negligence.
Premises LiabilitySlip-and-fall and unsafe-property injuries on someone else's premises.
Product LiabilityInjuries caused by defective or unreasonably dangerous products.
Oilfield AccidentsDrilling, pipeline, and refinery injuries across the energy sector.
Industrial AccidentsPlant, warehouse, and heavy-equipment injuries in industrial settings.
Offshore AccidentsRig, platform, and vessel injuries beyond the shoreline.
Industrial and Oilfield Accidents in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish has one of the highest concentrations of shipyards, fabrication yards, and marine service facilities in Louisiana. About one-fifth of Louisiana’s workforce is employed in occupations that carry high risks of workplace fatalities. In Terrebonne Parish, that proportion is higher because of the offshore energy sector’s dominance.
Bollinger Shipyards operates major facilities in the Houma area. Oilfield service companies maintain staging yards and equipment depots throughout the parish. The work performed at these facilities involves heavy lifting, welding, chemical handling, and equipment operation in conditions that create serious injury risks.
Common industrial injuries in Terrebonne Parish include falls from scaffolding and elevated platforms, crush injuries from heavy equipment, chemical burns and toxic exposure, equipment malfunctions, and electrocutions. Each of these injury types creates a distinct legal case with specific evidence requirements and potentially different liable parties.
Workers’ Compensation Versus Third-Party Claims
Louisiana workers’ compensation covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages when you are injured on the job. It does not require you to prove your employer was negligent. But it also limits your recovery. You cannot sue your employer directly for a workplace injury in most situations.
Third-party liability claims are different. If someone other than your employer caused your injury, you can file a negligence claim against that third party. In Terrebonne Parish industrial settings, third parties often include equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, property owners, and companies that provided defective materials or tools. These claims are separate from workers’ compensation and can recover damages that comp does not cover, including pain and suffering.
Ask any attorney you are considering whether they pursue third-party claims alongside workers’ compensation. Many workers’ compensation attorneys do not litigate negligence claims. Many personal injury attorneys do not understand the interaction between comp benefits and tort damages. You need someone who handles both. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers evaluates every industrial injury case for both workers’ compensation benefits and third-party liability.
OSHA Standards and Employer Obligations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets workplace safety standards that apply to Terrebonne Parish industrial facilities. Employers must provide safety training, maintain equipment, and follow industry-specific regulations for hazards like confined spaces, fall protection, and chemical handling. When an employer violates OSHA standards and a worker is injured, that violation is evidence of negligence.
OSHA inspection records and citation history are public information. Your attorney can obtain the safety record of any oilfield or industrial facility in Terrebonne Parish. A history of violations for the same hazard that caused your injury strengthens your case. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers reviews OSHA records as part of the case investigation for every industrial injury claim.
Types of Injury Cases in Houma and Terrebonne Parish
Beyond maritime, offshore, and industrial claims, Terrebonne Parish generates the full range of personal injury cases. The types of claims that arise here reflect the area’s geography, infrastructure, and daily traffic patterns.
Motorcycle crashes are a recurring problem. Terrebonne Parish recorded 23 serious motorcycle crashes in 2023 with one fatality. The parish’s warm climate means motorcycles share the road year-round. Helmet use is a factor in every motorcycle case because Louisiana law requires helmets and defense attorneys use helmet compliance to argue comparative fault.
Pedestrian accidents account for a disproportionate share of fatalities. Five of 15 traffic deaths in Terrebonne Parish involved pedestrians. A 2019 report identified the Houma-Thibodaux metro area as the second most dangerous in Louisiana for walkers. The lack of sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure on major corridors contributes to this problem.
Bicycle crashes numbered 20 in Terrebonne Parish in 2023. Boat accidents occur on Bayou Petit Caillou, Lake Gero, Lake Quitman, and Gulf waters. Premises liability claims arise from slip-and-fall injuries, inadequate security, and dog bites at commercial and residential properties. Product liability cases involve defective vehicles, equipment, and consumer goods with design defects, manufacturing defects, or inadequate warnings.
Survival Action
When an injury results in death, Louisiana allows surviving family members to bring a claim under La. C.C. Art. 2315.2. A separate survival action under La. C.C. Art. 2315.1 recovers damages for the victim’s own suffering before death. These are two distinct claims with different beneficiary rules.
How Louisiana Tort Reform Changes Affect Terrebonne Parish Injury Cases
Louisiana passed significant tort reform legislation in 2024 and 2025. These changes directly affect how personal injury cases are valued, filed, and argued in the 32nd Judicial District Court. If you were injured in Houma or anywhere in Terrebonne Parish, you need to understand what changed.
The Two-Year Filing Deadline
The Prescriptive Period for personal injury claims increased from one year to two years. This change took effect on July 1, 2024, under La. C.C. Art. 3493.1. If you were injured after that date, you have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit; earlier injuries fell under the old one-year period. Miss that deadline and your claim is extinguished. The exceptions are narrow. Being a minor does not pause the deadline for most claims, and the clock is suspended only if you did not know, and had no reasonable way to know, that you were hurt or what caused it.
The 51% Comparative Fault Bar
Louisiana’s comparative fault rules changed for causes of action arising on or after January 1, 2026, under La. C.C. Art. 2323 as amended by Act 15 of the 2025 Regular Session (HB 431). If you are found 51% or more at fault for your accident, you recover nothing. This is a hard cutoff. At 50% or less, your damages are reduced by your share of fault. Accidents before January 1, 2026 are governed by the prior fault rules, which reduced recovery by your share but did not cut it off at any percentage.
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers works with accident reconstructionists to establish fault percentages.
Collateral Source Rule Changes
The collateral source rule determines whether the jury hears about insurance payments or other benefits you received. Louisiana’s tort reform modified this rule to allow evidence of collateral source payments in certain circumstances. This can reduce the damages a jury awards. Your attorney needs a strategy for addressing collateral source arguments at trial.
Direct Action Statute
Louisiana’s direct action statute, La. R.S. 22:1269, now allows a lawsuit directly against the at-fault party’s insurance company only in limited situations, such as when the insured is bankrupt, insolvent, or deceased, cannot be served, or when the claim is against your own uninsured motorist carrier. In most cases the suit names the at-fault party, the insurer stays out of the caption, and the jury is not told about the insurance. Which situation applies shapes how an injury claim in Louisiana is filed.
Note that maritime claims filed in federal court operate under different procedural rules. The direct action statute applies to state law claims, but admiralty cases have their own jurisdictional framework. Your attorney should be able to explain which rules govern your specific claim.
Where Do You File a Houma Injury Claim?
The 32nd Judicial District Court serves Terrebonne Parish exclusively. The courthouse is located at 7856 Main Street in Houma. If you were injured in Terrebonne Parish, this is where your state court case will be filed.
Venue rules in Louisiana generally require filing where the accident occurred or where the defendant is domiciled. For motor vehicle accidents and premises liability cases in Houma, the 32nd JDC is the appropriate venue. If the defendant is an out-of-state corporation, federal court may have jurisdiction under diversity rules when the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
Maritime injury claims create a different jurisdictional question. Jones Act cases can be filed in state or federal court. LHWCA claims go through the Department of Labor. Unseaworthiness claims are admiralty matters that typically proceed in federal court. The choice of forum affects which procedural rules apply and can influence the outcome. Ask your attorney which court is best for your specific claim and why.
The litigation process in the 32nd JDC follows a standard timeline. After filing a petition, the discovery phase allows both sides to gather evidence through depositions, interrogatories, and document requests. Discovery typically takes 6 to 12 months depending on case complexity. Mediation is often required before trial. If mediation does not produce a settlement, the case proceeds to a jury trial. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled cases in the 32nd JDC and understands the local scheduling preferences and procedural expectations of this court.
What Compensation Does Louisiana Law Allow After a Houma Injury?
Louisiana divides personal injury damages into categories. Understanding these categories helps you evaluate whether a settlement offer is fair or whether it undervalues your claim.
Economic Damages
Loss of Earning Capacity
The difference between what you could have earned over your working lifetime and what you can earn now after the injury. Calculated by a vocational expert and converted to present value by an economist.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses. Medical expenses include emergency room treatment, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical care. Lost wages cover income you missed while recovering.
Non-Economic Damages
Loss of Consortium
A claim by the injured person’s close family for the loss of companionship, affection, and support caused by the injured person’s condition. Louisiana gives it to the same relatives who could bring a wrongful death claim, starting with the spouse and children. It is a separate damage category from the injured person’s own claims.
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that do not have a receipt. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and Loss of Consortium are the primary categories. Loss of enjoyment of life covers activities you can no longer do because of your injuries.
Maritime-Specific Damages
MMI
Maximum Medical Improvement. The point at which your treating physician determines your condition has stabilized and further treatment will not significantly change the outcome.
Maritime cases have additional damage categories. Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can recover maintenance and cure regardless of who caused the injury. Maintenance covers daily living expenses while you are unable to work. Cure covers all medical expenses until you reach MMI. If the vessel owner unreasonably denies or delays maintenance and cure, courts can award punitive damages for that denial.
Unseaworthiness claims allow recovery for the full range of compensatory damages. The standard is lower than negligence. You do not need to prove the vessel owner knew about the unsafe condition. You only need to prove the vessel or its equipment was not reasonably fit for its intended purpose.
Future Damages and Life Care Plans
Serious injuries require long-term medical care. A life care plan, prepared by a medical professional, outlines all future treatment you will need and its cost. An economist converts those future costs to present value. Ask any attorney you are considering whether they work with life care planners and economists. If they do not, they may leave significant value on the table.
What Our Clients Say
- Victoria M.
Very professional and very easy to work with throughout the whole case!Lane and Men helped make the whole process go smonthly with no stress
- Sarah S.
First time being injured and needing a lawyer they where very helpful.They answered my questions Id have very well. Highly recommend them.
- Dawn H.
Very professional, informed me of every step that was taken with the case and was always letting me know the status.Very nice people and was very respectful. Thanks a whole lot for the service Erin, Chelsea, and Morgan!!!
- Yamileth L.
Jessica has been great helping throughout our whole process at [Trey Morris Injury Lawyers]!She has been great with communication and making everything so easy!
- Sarah S.
Awesome people, they truly care about their clients.Give them a call today if you want to be taken care of the way you deserve to be.
- Kim K.
I have nothing but positive things to say about [Trey Morris Injury Lawyers].This firm went above and beyond to help me and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome!!!
- Debra L.
They were extremely courteous, helpful and informative all along the process of our wrongful death suit.I recommend you talk to them if you need lawyer
- Nathan Y.
[Trey Morris Injury Lawyers] helped my wife receive compensation after an auto accident.They got the auto insurance companies to fully compensate for all her expenses. Things couldn’t have been easier and their rates were reasonable. Would recommend!
- Phat T.
I’m very happy with [Trey Morris Injury Lawyers].Thank you for taking care of me like we’re family. I will recommend anybody if you had an accident you need to call [Trey Morris Injury Lawyers]. They’re very Professional and they’ll take good care you like you’re their family. Thank again [Trey Morris Injury Lawyers].
- Jordyn L.
Hired them for an automobile accident and absolutely loved them.Very professional and reliable. Highly recommend!
- Jillian E.
[Trey Morris Injury Lawyers] are the best personal injury lawyers!They helped me with my car accident and were professional from beginning to end.
- Connie B.
Great lawyers when you need someone you can count on!!They always make you feel like you're their TOP priority, they listen to every details and explain what's next to do. Thanks for your help.
Testimonials do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Your Houma Trial Team
The lawyers who work your file. Every Houma case is handled by the firm's own trial attorneys.
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers in the Houma and Terrebonne Parish Community
Trey Morris Injury Lawyers has handled personal injury cases across Louisiana for over 20 years, with more than 5,000 cases completed. The firm holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer review rating available. Multiple attorneys at the firm have been recognized by Super Lawyers. The firm has accumulated more than 2,815 five-star Google reviews from clients across Louisiana.
Maritime, offshore, and industrial injury cases require specific experience. The legal theories, federal statutes, and procedural frameworks are different from standard personal injury litigation. Trey Morris Injury Lawyers handles Jones Act claims, LHWCA cases, and state-law industrial injury claims for workers throughout the Gulf Coast region, including Terrebonne Parish.
Local knowledge matters. Understanding Houma’s road network, knowing which corridors generate the most serious truck and vehicle crashes, and having experience in the 32nd Judicial District Court all affect case outcomes. The firm has handled cases involving US-90 truck collisions, Terrebonne Parish industrial facility injuries, and offshore worker claims originating from Houma.
Contingency Fee
A fee arrangement where the attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery and only if there is a recovery. The client pays nothing upfront and owes no attorney fees if the case is unsuccessful.
The firm operates on a Contingency Fee basis. You pay nothing unless the firm recovers compensation for you. There is no upfront cost and no hourly billing. View our case results and client reviews to evaluate our track record. Reach out when you are ready.