GALVESTON PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
PRACTICE AREAS
A Galveston personal injury lawyer represents people harmed by someone else’s negligence on Galveston Island, on the water, and across Galveston County. Reich & Binstock brings decades of Gulf Coast trial experience to car accidents, maritime and Jones Act claims, cruise ship injuries, refinery accidents, and wrongful death. Our Galveston personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis; no fee unless we win.
Why Accident Victims Choose The Galveston Personal Injury Trial Attorneys At Reich & Binstock
Dennis Reich served as lead counsel & helped secure $20.8 billion in one of the most complex maritime & environmental accidents in U.S. history.
During high-stakes litigation such as the multi-million dollar Hurricane claims after Hurricane Ike, Robert Binstock personally directed the engineering & wind-expert teams that successfully dismantled the defense.
Our historical results include recoveries against major petrochemical companies & a toxic pesticide plant, along with a settlement role in the Texas Opioid litigation.
National Multi-District Litigation (MDL) Leadership: Appointed by federal courts to steer massive national litigation, giving our clients a direct seat at the table against global corporations. See our prior published case results.
Dennis C. Reich and Robert J. Binstock are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. We represent injured people in Galveston on a contingency basis: no fee unless we win. Read what our clients say.
Call 713-622-7271Personal Injury Law Firm Serving The Galveston Area
Galveston area residents live with risks most communities never face: refinery row in Texas City, tug and barge traffic, a port moving millions of passengers, and hurricane-related weather conditions on every road off the island.
It’s important for personal injury lawyers to have local court and regional familiarity.
Our office is located ~50 miles from the Galveston County Justice Center, close enough to start investigating the week you hire us, with the trial resources of a Houston litigation firm. Our local attorneys have intimate knowledge of insurance adjuster tactics, and we’re Board-Certified trial lawyers, which is essential for local representation. Additionally, our lawyers can help coordinate medical treatment if clients lack health insurance.
That combination makes all the difference when accidents involve vessel owners, plant operators, contractors, and several insurance companies. Our Houston personal injury lawyers also handle Harris County injury claims, injury cases arising in Pasadena, and accidents along the Ship Channel corridor.
Call 713-622-7271 for a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Galveston, TX.
Galveston Island Injury Lawyers
Island injuries cluster where visitors do. Seawall Boulevard produces pedestrian and vehicle collisions all summer. The Strand and Downtown Galveston generate slip-and-fall claims on uneven historic surfaces. Pleasure Pier and Stewart Beach draw ride and beach access incidents, and the Port of Galveston terminal district produces gangway and shuttle injuries. The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees documents a visitor population many times the island’s residents, which keeps premises exposure high.
Mainland Galveston County Personal Injury Attorney
Our Galveston personal injury attorney team serves League City, Texas City, Friendswood, Dickinson, La Marque, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, Kemah, Bacliff, San Leon, and the Bolivar Peninsula. The Galveston area mainland is industrial: refinery row concentrates fire and chemical risk, the I-45 Gulf Freeway and SH 146 carry heavy truck traffic to those plants, and bay marine traffic adds tug, barge, and terminal exposure on top of ordinary crash risk.
Where Personal Injury Cases Are Filed in Galveston, TX
The court sets your jury pool, docket speed, and often, the governing law. Contact a Galveston personal injury lawyer for any questions.
Court | Typical Civil Matters |
|---|---|
10th, 56th, 122nd, 212th, & 405th Judicial District Courts | Catastrophic injury, wrongful death, commercial vehicle, & industrial claims |
Galveston County Courts at Law Nos. 1 to 3 | Lower-value crash & premises claims |
U.S. District Court Galveston Division | Jones Act, maritime, Longshore third-party, DOHSA, & cruise passenger suits |
Common Causes of Accidents in Galveston, TX
Speeding, distracted driving on cruise embarkation days, and impaired driving after alcohol-heavy beach hours cause a large share of island collisions. Fog and standing water compound the risk. In plants and on the water, Galveston accidents often result from inadequate training, equipment issues, and vessel hazards. Our Galveston personal injury lawyers determine causation first because this carries personal injury claims through the legal system.
Galveston Island Injury Lawyers
Island injuries cluster where visitors do. Seawall Boulevard produces pedestrian and vehicle collisions all summer. The Strand and Downtown Galveston generate slip-and-fall claims on uneven historic surfaces. Pleasure Pier and Stewart Beach draw ride and beach access incidents, and the Port of Galveston terminal district produces gangway and shuttle injuries. The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees documents a visitor population many times the island’s residents, which keeps premises exposure high.
Mainland Galveston County Personal Injury Attorney
Our Galveston personal injury attorney team serves League City, Texas City, Friendswood, Dickinson, La Marque, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, Kemah, Bacliff, San Leon, and the Bolivar Peninsula. The Galveston area mainland is industrial: refinery row concentrates fire and chemical risk, the I-45 Gulf Freeway and SH 146 carry heavy truck traffic to those plants, and bay marine traffic adds tug, barge, and terminal exposure on top of ordinary crash risk.
Where Personal Injury Cases Are Filed in Galveston, TX
The court sets your jury pool, docket speed, and often, the governing law. Contact a Galveston personal injury lawyer for any questions.
Court | Typical Civil Matters |
|---|---|
10th, 56th, 122nd, 212th, & 405th Judicial District Courts | Catastrophic injury, wrongful death, commercial vehicle, & industrial claims |
Galveston County Courts at Law Nos. 1 to 3 | Lower-value crash & premises claims |
U.S. District Court Galveston Division | Jones Act, maritime, Longshore third-party, DOHSA, & cruise passenger suits |
Galveston Island Injury Lawyers
Island injuries cluster where visitors do. Seawall Boulevard produces pedestrian and vehicle collisions all summer. The Strand and Downtown Galveston generate slip-and-fall claims on uneven historic surfaces. Pleasure Pier and Stewart Beach draw ride and beach access incidents, and the Port of Galveston terminal district produces gangway and shuttle injuries. The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees documents a visitor population many times the island’s residents, which keeps premises exposure high.
Mainland Galveston County Personal Injury Attorney
Our Galveston personal injury attorney team serves League City, Texas City, Friendswood, Dickinson, La Marque, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, Kemah, Bacliff, San Leon, and the Bolivar Peninsula. The Galveston area mainland is industrial: refinery row concentrates fire and chemical risk, the I-45 Gulf Freeway and SH 146 carry heavy truck traffic to those plants, and bay marine traffic adds tug, barge, and terminal exposure on top of ordinary crash risk.
Where Personal Injury Cases Are Filed in Galveston, TX
The court sets your jury pool, docket speed, and often, the governing law. Contact a Galveston personal injury lawyer for any questions.
Court | Typical Civil Matters |
|---|---|
10th, 56th, 122nd, 212th, & 405th Judicial District Courts | Catastrophic injury, wrongful death, commercial vehicle, & industrial claims |
Galveston County Courts at Law Nos. 1 to 3 | Lower-value crash & premises claims |
U.S. District Court Galveston Division | Jones Act, maritime, Longshore third-party, DOHSA, & cruise passenger suits |
Galveston Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our law firm handles a broad range of personal injury cases in the Galveston area, and each type below turns on different defendants, different insurers, and often different laws.
Galveston Car Accidents & Truck Accidents
Cases involving crashes in Galveston, TX, concentrate on I-45 and the Causeway, Seawall Boulevard, Broadway, FM 1764, and SH 146. In 2024, Galveston County recorded 6,667 crashes, including 34 fatal crashes. Our Galveston personal injury attorneys handle car accident claims and 18-wheeler and truck accident cases against individual drivers and commercial businesses alike.
For more details, see: do I need to sue after a car accident?
Galveston Maritime & Offshore Injuries
Our Galveston injury attorneys have extensive experience with Texas maritime injury claims, offshore oil and gas accidents, and underwater welding accidents. Deckhands, tug and barge crews, dredge operators, and shipyard workers all get hurt in the Galveston area, but their personal injury claims don’t all fall under the same Texas law. Our Galveston personal injury lawyers understand how to fight back when employers and insurers contest vessel crew status.
Port of Galveston Cruise Ship Accidents
The Port of Galveston is the only cruise home port in Texas. Common cruise accident cases in the Galveston area include onboard falls, gangway injuries, shore excursion accidents, and negligent medical treatment on board. Your ticket imposes short-notice deadlines that courts enforce, so contact a personal injury lawyer in Galveston, TX, immediately.
Boat, Jet Ski, & Drowning Accidents in Galveston Bay
Vessel collisions, wake injuries, propeller strikes, rental jet ski accidents, charter fishing injuries, diving accidents, falls overboard, and drowning accidents occur across Galveston Bay, West Bay, Offats Bayou, Dickinson Bayou, and Clear Creek. In the aftermath of a watercraft or boating accident, our law firm files personal injury lawsuits against all responsible parties, including rental operators, charter companies, and more. In 2025, 5 boating accidents were reported in Galveston County, with 2 people injured, 4 fatalities, and $123,000 in property damage.
Refinery, Plant, & Industrial Accidents in Texas City and La Marque
Explosions, flash fires, chemical releases, and crane failures drive mainland injury numbers. Injured contract workers already receiving benefits may still have a right to file a third-party claim against outside defendants. If you need legal representation for plant explosion claims, refinery accident cases, machinery accidents, construction site accidents, or other type of related case our Galveston personal injury lawyers have extensive experience navigating these industrial accident cases.
Slip and Fall on Galveston Island & Other Premises Liability Cases
Hotels, short-term rentals, Seawall restaurants, Strand buildings, pools, and piers owe paying guests the highest duty of care. This matters when customers are hurt on someone else’s property in Galveston. Visitor volume raises the legal standard. Additionally, dog bite injuries are common in residential neighborhoods here. If you’ve been injured, you need an experienced attorney. Our law firm handles premises liability and slip and fall claims for locals and tourists alike.
Galveston Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Accidents
Seawall Boulevard is the through-line: pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders, and drivers share one corridor. For Galveston personal injury cases involving motorcycle, bike, or pedestrian accidents, victims often suffer significant injuries or fatalities. Families need strong legal representation to secure compensation for medical expenses and other damages. We help navigate the legal process of motorcycle accident claims, bicycle accident cases, and pedestrian accident claims.
Galveston County Catastrophic Injury Cases
Catastrophic injury claims generally include traumatic brain injury (TBI), severe burn injuries, back and spine injuries, and traumatic amputations. These personal injury lawsuits shift the value toward future medical expenses and lost earning capacity. Families need strong legal representation to secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. Our Galveston personal injury lawyer team hires experts to help calculate future costs and losses over decades, not just current medical bills.
Galveston Wrongful Death Claims
Wrongful death claims seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of support, and other important damages to provide financial stability for eligible family members. Survival actions are brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate. When a family member dies at sea, different processes apply. Our experienced Galveston accident lawyers help pursue both legal claims, working to maximize recoveries for grieving family members.
Which Law Governs Your Galveston Injury Claim
The legal process for personal injuries in Galveston, TX, follows different paths depending on where victims were standing, their employers, and other factors.
Law | Who It Covers | What You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
Texas personal injury law (negligence) | People injured on land | Duty, breach, causation, & damages, with your fault at 50% or less |
Jones Act | Seamen with a substantial connection to a vessel in navigation | Employer negligence under a relaxed causation standard |
LHWCA | Dockworkers, longshoremen, & shipyard workers (not crew) | Covered employment & a work injury, without proving fault |
General maritime law & unseaworthiness | Seamen injured by a defective vessel or appurtenance | Vessel/equipment wasn’t reasonably fit for its purpose |
DOSHA | Families of those killed beyond territorial waters | Wrongful death beyond the three-mile limit, pecuniary loss only |
Cruise passenger ticket contracts | Ticketed cruise passengers | Carrier negligence plus strict compliance with notice & forum terms |
Texas personal injury law bars recovery above 50% responsibility. Since Texas is an at-fault state, insurance companies fight hard over fault allocation.
On the water, seaman status unlocks maintenance and cure and unseaworthiness, a fight in common offshore rig injuries, while dock workers draw benefits through the Longshore program.
Injured at Work in Galveston When Your Employer Is a Non-Subscriber
Texas is the only state that lets private employers opt out of workers’ compensation. Around 22-30% of Texas employers are non-subscribers. Without this protection, victims can sue employers directly for full compensation that isn’t covered by workers’ comp, including all lost wages and non-economic damages, like pain and suffering.
Many non-subscribers bury arbitration clauses in hiring paperwork. If you’ve been hurt on the job in Texas or if a loved one died in a work-related accident, our work accident lawyers in Galveston, Texas, can help your family seek compensation for all losses, not just covered benefits.
Deadlines for Filing a Galveston Personal Injury Lawsuit
The general Texas personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury, but there are exceptions. Missing the right deadline ends the case regardless of how clear fault is.
Claim Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
General Texas personal injury | Two years from injury |
Wrongful death | Two years from death |
Medical malpractice | Two years; expert report requirements |
Claims against a government agency | Notice as early as 45-90 days |
Jones Act, General maritime, & DOSHA | Three years |
Cruise passenger contract | Commonly six months notice |
We don't collect any information from this form.
The date of the injury itself, not when it was diagnosed.
The age when the accident occurred.
Deadlines are strict and vary by claim type. Only an attorney review can confirm the date that applies to you.
For background, see the Texas personal injury statute of limitations, Texas wrongful death filing deadlines, and Texas medical malpractice deadlines.
Damages You Can Recover in a Galveston Injury Claim
Texas divides recovery into three categories. Economic and non-economic damages, which are compensatory, and punitive damages.
Economic or special damages in a personal injury claim cover medical bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, future earning capacity, home modifications, and property damage.
Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, impairment, loss of enjoyment, disfigurement, and loss of consortium.
Texas law allows punitive damages in rare cases of gross negligence.
While Galveston personal injury claims can result in millions in damages, proof and the Texas collateral source rule matter in serious accident cases.
Consistent treatment records, a life care plan, and proof of wages separate strong claims from discounted ones. Our Galveston personal injury attorneys work to restore financial stability, not settle quickly.
What to Do After an Accident in Galveston
Here are the immediate steps to take after an accident in Galveston, TX:
- Get medical treatment immediately, even if the injury seems minor. Insurers use gaps between accidents and medical treatment to dispute causation.
- Report the accident to the appropriate authority and request and obtain a copy of the accident report before you leave.
- Collect witness contact information
- Photograph the scene, vehicle or vessel, and visible injuries, capturing the beach or Seawall location
- Do not give recorded statements to insurance companies before speaking to a personal injury lawyer in Galveston, TX
How Our Galveston Personal Injury Lawyers Build Your Case
Hiring a Galveston personal injury lawyer starts a defined legal process:
- Free case evaluation to identify the correct law, defendants, and statute of limitations.
- Evidence preservation, including spoliation letters to potential defendants.
- Investigation and expert retention for future care projections and life-care planning.
- Demand and negotiation with insurers once damages are fully documented.
- If the insurance company refuses to offer full settlements, we file a lawsuit in state or federal court and move through discovery, including requests for production.
- Mediation, where most cases resolve.
- Trial, if the settlement offer doesn’t reflect the client’s losses.
A legal battle can feel overwhelming, so our law firm keeps you informed and acts in your best interests at every step. We don’t accept settlements without clients’ approval.
To learn more, review how a personal injury lawsuit works or contact a Galveston personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.
You don't pay unless you get paid.
Galveston Personal Injury FAQ
Our Galveston personal injury lawyers answer our most common questions below.
How much does a Galveston personal injury lawyer cost?
It doesn’t cost anything to hire a Galveston personal injury lawyer upfront. Our law firm works on contingency. We offer free consultations; legal fees are a percentage of the recovery, and we advance all case costs, so victims don’t pay anything out of pocket if we don’t win their case. The structure of legal fees is confirmed beforehand, so there are no hidden costs.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Galveston County?
You generally have two years to file an injury claim in Galveston County, but there are exceptions to the Texas Statute of Limitations:
- Jones Act and general maritime claims: three years
- Cruise accidents: 6-month notice requirement
- Claim against a Texas government agency: 6-month notice requirement
- Claim against the City of Galveston: 45-90 day notice requirement
- Children’s injury claim: The victim’s 20th birthday
Can I sue a cruise line for an injury that started at the Port of Galveston?
Yes, you can potentially sue a cruise line for an injury that started at the Port of Galveston. However, the ticket contract controls where you file and your deadlines. Get a report number from guest services before you leave and seek legal representation early.
What is the difference between a Jones Act claim and a Longshore Act claim?
The difference between a Jones Act and Longshore Act claim is that the Jones Act covers vessel crew and allows fault-based lawsuits against employers. The Longshore Act covers dock and yard workers who are not crew, paying federal benefits without proof of fault, with a possible lawsuit against a negligent vessel.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
If you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation if you were 50% or less responsible, with the award reduced by your share of fault. Insurers overstate victims’ fault early and often raise assumption of risk in Texas injury cases, so hiring experienced Galveston accident attorneys is crucial to maximize recovery.
Can I sue my employer if they do not carry workers' compensation?
Yes. A Texas non-subscriber can be sued directly for negligence and loses its strongest common-law defenses.
- Confirm coverage status first, since many Gulf Coast employers are non-subscribers
- Check hiring paperwork for arbitration or occupational benefit plan language
- Damages are not limited to a benefits schedule
Do I have to file my case in Galveston, or can I file it in Houston?
Whether you can file an injury case in Galveston or Houston depends on where the accident occurred and where the defendant resides or conducts business.
How long does a Galveston personal injury case take?
The time a Galveston personal injury case takes to resolve depends on the severity of injuries, number of insurers involved, and willingness of other parties to settle. Cases involving severe injuries shouldn’t settle before the victim’s medical picture is stable.
To learn more, see why Texas accident settlements take time.
Contact a Galveston Personal Injury Attorney For a Free Consultation
If you were hurt on Galveston Island, on the water, or anywhere from Texas City to League City, you likely have a limited time to file a personal injury claim. Speak with an experienced Galveston personal injury attorney before you give a recorded statement or sign anything. Call 713-622-7271 or schedule a free consultation to protect your legal rights and pursue the best possible outcome. No fee unless we win.There is a never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
