Port of New Orleans Accident Attorneys

Helping Injured Maritime Workers Rebuild & Recover

Southeastern Louisiana is home to one of the largest and perhaps most recognizable ports in the United States. The Port of New Orleans sits on the end of the Mississippi just 100 miles from where the river meets the Gulf of Mexico, making it a massively valuable and high-volume port. There is a vast inland waterway system, six Class One railroads, and the interstate highway system available for the movement of cargo. But even as early as the 1790s, the port has been a key player in America’s maritime commerce and continues to see exponential growth and expansion centuries later.

The Port of New Orleans especially can be a hazardous environment for workers and travelers due to the high volume location and heavy machinery that is interacted with on a daily basis. If you’ve been hurt while at the Port of New Orleans, don’t hesitate to talk to our Jones Act attorneys, who can take you through your options in dealing with the aftermath of an accident. We have won over $20 billion for our clients, negotiating settlements and fighting for life-changing verdicts in state and federal courts across the nation.

Call (888) 346-5024 today for a free consultation. Our Louisiana maritime injury lawyers are standing by to see how we can best assist you.

Port of New Orleans History

The New Orleans territory was passed between nations in the early 1700s due to the competing interests of France and Spain. Jean Baptist Le Moyne founded the city of New Orleans along the Mississippi in 1718, and it eventually became the capital of the French colony of Louisiana. Since then, it has been a center for international trade. In 1762, France gave Louisiana to Spain, and within a few years Spain refused any American vessels passage into the New Orleans port.

Americans reacted adversely to Spain’s closure of the port and claimed that they desperately required the use of the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans specifically. In response, President Thomas Jefferson approved the purchase of the colony of Louisiana from France (who had secretly been given the land back from Spain) for $15 million. By the 20th century, industrialization had modernized the area and set the framework for the port today. 18 new wharves were built, gantry cranes were eventually added, and major terminals were completed.

The Port of New Orleans Today

The Port of New Orleans handled about 239 million tons of cargo in 2022. This port has seen a significant rise in the amount of traffic, especially due to the passenger cruise industry. It is on track to beat its pre-pandemic numbers of more than 150,000 passengers a month.

The cargo coming through the Port of New Orleans is diverse, including items such as apparel, food products, and consumer merchandise. Other top commodities include steel, rubber, chemicals, wood, and coffee. Big cruise companies like Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines all pass through the port regularly. Many shipbuilding, shipping, logistics, and other related maritime firms are located in New Orleans as well.

Major firms at the Port of New Orleans include:

• Intermarine
• Bisso Towboat
• Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
• Trinity Yachts
• Expeditors International

Injured While Working at the Port of New Orleans?

Burns, amputations, and spine injuries are just a few of the injuries that may be experienced by longshoremen, seamen, and maritime workers at the Port of New Orleans. These injuries may not only require extensive medical care and lead to considerable medical bills, but they can also impact a worker’s lifelong earning capacity, costing families their long-term provision and support. Whether you were in an accident aboard a vessel traveling to or from this port of call or you were injured in the harbor or nearby, you might be entitled to financial compensation. 

Without experienced help, however, your ability to recover a fair settlement is limited. Now is the time to schedule a free consultation with an offshore injury lawyer at Arnold & Itkin. We can provide you with the information you need to make the right choices about filing a claim under the Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act, or other maritime laws. Our Port of New Orleans maritime attorneys fight for maximum compensation in every case we handle, and we charge nothing upfront. There’s no fee unless and until we win the case.

Reach out to Arnold & Itkin at (888) 346-5024 for a free consultation.