Houston Maritime Attorney Handling Claims Across Texas
PRACTICE AREAS
Houston Offshore Injury Attorneys Fighting For Injured Maritime Workers Across Texas
Texas has one of the most active maritime corridors in the world. Workers on offshore platforms, cargo vessels, tugboats, barges, and along the Gulf Coast face life-threatening hazards daily. According to U.S. Coast Guard data, commercial maritime workers face some of the highest injury rates of any industry in the country.
Our Houston maritime attorney team has fought for injured offshore workers for over 30 years and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of clients. We’re Texas Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyers, a distinction held by less than 2% of legal teams in the state.
Lead attorney Dennis Reich handled the Deepwater Horizon oil spill litigation on behalf of locals.
Our Houston maritime accident lawyers handle every type of offshore injury claim on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call 713-622-7271 for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Texas Maritime Lawyer (Not Just Any Personal Injury Attorney)
Maritime law, or admiralty law, is a subtype of federal law that operates separately from the Texas state court system.
Rules for workers’ compensation and personal injury claims brought in Texas state court typically don’t apply to maritime cases.
Filing a claim under the wrong law can cost an injured maritime worker.
Three primary types of maritime law govern most maritime injury claims:
- Jones Act
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- General Maritime Law (unseaworthy vessels and maintenance and cure)
Determining which admiralty laws apply to your maritime case is complex. This requires an experienced Houston offshore accident lawyer who understands maritime law.
Additionally, federal OSHA maritime safety regulations apply to many maritime accident claims and can be critical evidence.
Employers and their insurance companies aggressively contest maritime injury claims. They often pressure injured workers into accepting lowball settlements or signing documents that waive important rights under various laws.
Our Houston maritime accident attorney team has extensive experience helping injured maritime workers and surviving family members secure fair compensation and justice from some of the largest maritime companies in the world.
⚠ Do not delay. Statutes of limitations for maritime claims are strict:
3 years for Jones Act and General Maritime Law claims, and as little as 1 year for LHWCA claims. Maintenance and cure can have even shorter informal time limits. Contact a Houston maritime lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act grants injured seamen the right to sue their employers for negligence. To be eligible for Jones Act protections, a worker must spend ~30% or more of their working time aboard a vessel in navigable waters. This includes workers on tugboats, supply vessels, barges, offshore drilling ships, and other commercial vessels operating in Texas waters and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Jones Act provides significant legal remedies compared to standard workers’ compensation, including the legal right to a jury trial, recovery for pain and suffering, full compensation for lost wages, and complete medical expenses. Any employer negligence, however slight, that contributed to the injury can support a maritime injury claim.
To determine if you qualify, contact a skilled Houston maritime attorney from our law firm.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) covers land-based workers who don’t qualify for Jones Act claims. This includes dockworkers, harbor construction workers, ship repairmen, and certain staff on fixed platforms. The U.S. Department of Labor administers LHWCA claims through the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.
The LHWCA provides no-fault workers’ compensation-style benefits. So, injured workers don’t need to prove negligence to receive benefits. However, they can still seek compensation through third-party personal injury claims.
For example, a harbor worker injured by defective equipment can sue the manufacturer.
LHWCA benefits include lost income, medical care costs, and scheduled awards for permanent disabilities.
Our Houston maritime injury lawyers will fight for the full compensation you deserve after you’ve suffered harm.
General Maritime Law / Maintenance and Cure
Injured seamen can file unseaworthiness claims under general maritime law. Vessel owners have non-transferable duties to provide seaworthy vessels. If any condition, including defective equipment, insufficient staff, or dangerous conditions, renders the vessel operating “unseaworthy” and causes an injury or death, the injured party can recover damages regardless of whether the injury resulted directly from the vessel owner’s negligence.
Maintenance and cure is one of the oldest doctrines in maritime law. Maintenance refers to the daily living expenses an injured seaman receives from their employer. Cure refers to all medical care costs for the work-related injury. Workers receive compensation for injuries sustained on the job regardless of fault.
If employers willfully or unreasonably refuse to pay maintenance and cure, injured seamen may be entitled to punitive damages and attorney’s fees under the Atlantic Sounding Co. v. Townsend decision.
Our experienced Houston maritime injury lawyer team helps maritime workers fight for fair compensation. We take on some of the largest maritime companies and ensure they’re held accountable for all damages owed.
Legal Representation for Texas Maritime Accidents – Major Locations We Serve
Our Houston maritime attorneys represent injured workers and their families throughout the state. Whether an accident occurred in port, on a ship channel, or 200 miles offshore in the Gulf, we help recover maximum compensation for their injuries.
Harris County / Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer
The Port of Houston is the largest port by tonnage in the country and a major hub for cargo ships, container vessels, and maritime commerce. The Houston Ship Channel spans 52 miles and ranks among the busiest industrial waterways in the nation. If you’ve been injured in the Houston Ship Channel, our maritime lawyers in Houston can help secure the compensation you deserve.
Key Maritime Industries:
Petrochemical · LNG · Container Shipping · Tugboat Operations · Ship Repair
Galveston Bay / Galveston Maritime Injury Attorney
Galveston Bay supports significant barge traffic, tugboat operations, and chemical plant water access. Workers injured while departing from the Port of Galveston have specific legal rights under maritime law. Recreational and commercial boat accidents in Galveston Bay may also fall under maritime jurisdiction.
If you’ve been hurt in the Galveston Bay area, contact a maritime lawyer in Houston to explore your legal options for recovery.
Key Maritime Industries:
Corpus Christi Maritime Injury Lawyer
The Port of Corpus Christi is one of the most active and hazardous maritime work environments in the state. It is also a critical hub for LNG, refined products, and petrochemical shipping. Due to significant offshore rig support traffic, Corpus Christi accident claims are common.
An experienced Houston maritime attorney can help file maritime accident claims or pursue other legal remedies for recovery.
Key Maritime Industries:
Crude Oil Export · LNG · Petrochemicals · Offshore Supply Vessels
Port Arthur / Beaumont / Orange
This area has some of the world’s largest oil refineries and chemical plants with direct waterway access via the Sabine-Neches Waterway. Heavy barge and towing traffic support a massive industrial base. Sabine-Neches Waterway workers injured in refinery explosions, fires, or other accidents may have both maritime and industrial accident claims in Texas.
Our Houston maritime attorneys have combined legal experience in all the practices. We help injured workers all over the state seek compensation for their injuries.
Key Maritime Industries:
Refinery · Petrochemical · Shipbuilding/Repair · Barge Transport
Texas City / La Marque
Texas City is a major petrochemical and refining hub on Galveston Bay with heavy barge, tanker, and bulk cargo traffic. The Texas City Dike and Ship Channel support commercial maritime operations, including chemical tankers and large-scale commodity transfers.
Contact a maritime lawyer in Houston to see how our legal team can help.
Key Maritime Industries:
Freeport / Brazoria County
Port Freeport is a rapidly expanding deep-water port with significant container, LNG, and chemical cargo activity. Its proximity to offshore oil platforms and pipeline routes also makes it a major staging point for offshore support vessels and maritime operations, where maritime workers may face serious injury risks in high-traffic industrial conditions.
Our Houston maritime injury attorneys provide skilled legal representation to protect workers in this area and throughout the state.
Key Maritime Industries:
Brownsville / Harlingen (Rio Grande Valley)
The Port of Brownsville is a deep-water port in South Texas with active ship recycling, steel import operations, and ongoing LNG development. Expanding LNG export terminal construction has also brought a growing workforce and increased industrial job-site hazards for local maritime workers.
If you’ve been hurt, you need an experienced Houston maritime accident attorney for the most favorable outcome.
Key Maritime Industries:
Ship Recycling · LNG · Steel · Border Trade
Gulf of Mexico Offshore Injury Claims (Deepwater & Shelf Platforms)
Thousands of maritime workers from Houston, Texas, are employed on fixed platforms, jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, drillships, and FPSOs. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) governs what is considered a “safe work environment” on Outer Continental Shelf platforms. Violations of these regulations or other industry safety protocols can establish negligence in a maritime injury claim.
If you’ve been injured in the Gulf of Mexico, contact a Houston maritime attorney for a free consultation.
Key Industries:
Oil and Gas Drilling · Production Platforms · Subsea Pipeline · Diving Services
Industries Where Texas Maritime Accidents Are Most Common
Maritime accidents occur across a wide range of industries, from the deepwater oil and gas industry to commercial fishing and the emerging offshore wind sector.
Drilling Rig / Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
The offshore oil and gas industry is the largest maritime employer in the state. Offshore oil and gas accident claims include drilling contractors, oil platform workers, oil rig service crews, and subsea operators.
- Common hazards in platform and oil rig accidents include: blowouts, fires and explosions, falls from height, struck-by equipment, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure, and heavy equipment accidents.
- Applicable law: Primarily the Jones Act (for vessel-based oil workers), OCSLA (Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act) for oil platform crews.
Catastrophic blowouts and explosions on oil rigs can give rise to admiralty and maritime claims.
Waterfront Refinery and Petrochemical Accidents
Refineries and chemical plants along the Gulf Coast frequently use barges and tankers to receive feedstock and ship products. Maritime workers who load or unload vessels, work with manifold connections, or perform maintenance work on dock structures may be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Our Houston maritime lawyers have extensive experience handling cases involving chemical exposure, fire and explosion, falls from gangways, and caught-in-equipment incidents.
Commercial Shipping and Cargo Accident
Shipping companies along the Houston Ship Channel and the Port of Corpus Christi handle massive volumes. Longshoremen, cargo handlers, crane operators, and harbor workers loading and unloading cargo ships are typically covered under the LHWCA. Forklift accidents, cargo shifts, gangway collapses, and crane accidents aboard cargo vessels or on dock facilities are leading causes of serious maritime injuries.
Towing and Barge Accidents
Texas’s extensive Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) network and coastal barge routes employ thousands of deckhands, captains, and tankermen. Barge workers operating on the ICW and coastal routes are classic Jones Act seamen with full negligence rights against their employers. Common hazards include collisions, mooring line snap-back accidents, slippery deck conditions, equipment room incidents, and allisions with bridges and fixed structures, particularly on rough seas.
Marine Construction and Subsea Pipeline Accident
Offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction projects involve some of the most dangerous maritime work environments. Workers assigned to pipelay vessels, cable-lay ships, and marine construction barges may have substantial maritime injury claims when accidents occur offshore.
Workers injured during pipeline installation or near offshore pipeline ruptures may have both energy law and maritime injury claims depending on the circumstances of the incident.
Underwater welders and commercial divers injured during subsea operations may also hold significant maritime claims involving employer negligence, unsafe diving operations, or unseaworthy vessel conditions.
Offshore Diving Accident
Commercial saturation divers and air divers working on offshore pipelines, platforms, and subsea structures are often classified as seamen, particularly when they’re maritime workers employed on dive support vessels. Diving risks include decompression sickness, drowning, equipment failures, entrapment, and catastrophic pressure-related injuries.
Offshore dive boat accidents involve unique maritime legal issues that are very different from recreational diving injury cases. In the most serious maritime law cases, they result in fatal incidents and complex maritime wrongful death claims involving vessel owners, dive contractors, and offshore operators.
Commercial Fishing Accident
The Texas Gulf Coast commercial fishing industry, including shrimping, finfish, and crabbing operations, employs thousands of maritime workers aboard fishing vessels ranging from small independent boats to large offshore commercial fleets.
Common commercial fishing accidents include vessel capsizing and sinking, entanglement in fishing gear, falls overboard, and crushing injuries involving nets, winches, and hauling equipment. Fishing vessel crew members are generally classified as seamen and work in one of the most dangerous occupations in the country, according to NIOSH data, underscoring the importance of legal representation after offshore injuries.
Offshore Wind Energy (Emerging Sector)
As Gulf of Mexico offshore wind development expands under BOEM leases, new categories of maritime injury claims are emerging, involving vessel operations, offshore construction, heavy-lift operations, and transfer accidents. Many workers assigned to installation and service vessels may qualify as seamen under maritime law.
Cruise Ship Accident
Thousands of crew members work aboard vessels operating along the Port of Galveston, including onboard hospitality, maintenance, engineering, and marine crew positions. Crew members injured while working aboard cruise ships may pursue claims under the Jones Act and general maritime law for unsafe working conditions, negligent operations, or vessel-related hazards.
Passenger injury claims are handled differently and are typically governed by maritime negligence standards and contracts contained in the cruise ticket.
Shipyard Accident
Shipyards in Orange, Port Arthur, and the Houston area support major commercial and government vessel construction and repair operations. Most shipyard employees are covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA.
Common hazards in shipyards include: welding flash burns, electrocution, crane accidents, falls from elevation, and toxic exposure.
Electrocution injuries and heavy equipment accidents in shipyard settings may also support third-party claims against contractors, equipment manufacturers, or other non-employer entities involved in the work.
Types of Maritime Accidents in Houston, Texas, and Surrounding Areas
Our Houston maritime injury attorneys have experience litigating all types of maritime accident cases, from catastrophic explosions on offshore structures to injuries suffered in confined spaces. If you were hurt in any of the following types of maritime accidents, contact our law firm for a free consultation.
- Platform and rig fires and explosions
- Crane and lifting equipment failures
- Slip, trip, and falls on decks, gangways, and docks
- Machinery and equipment entanglement
- Man-overboard and drowning incidents
- Barge and vessel collisions/allisions
- Toxic chemical exposure and gas inhalation
- Diving accidents
- Underwater welding accidents
- Pipeline explosions (subsea and onshore-connected)
- H2S / hydrogen sulfide exposure
- Vessel capsizing and sinking
- Helicopter transport accidents (offshore crew transfers)
- Construction and structural failures on platforms
- Mooring line snap-back injuries
- Gangway and stairway collapses
Common Types of Maritime Injuries in Houston, TX
Maritime accidents are often catastrophic due to limited access to medical treatment. Evacuating offshore structures or vessels can take hours, and delays in receiving advanced medical care often significantly worsen outcomes.
Injury Type | Common Causes |
|---|---|
Falls from elevated platform decks, equipment strikes, explosions | |
Heavy lifting, falls, and machinery accidents can result in permanent paralysis | |
Platform fires, blowouts, chemical burns, steam line ruptures | |
Amputations and Crush Injuries | Mooring line snap-backs, deck machinery, caught-between accidents |
Welding flash, explosions, and chronic noise exposure on vessels | |
Multi-system trauma from major offshore accidents | |
Drowning and Near-Drowning | Man-overboard incidents, capsizing, diving equipment failure |
Shipyard work, engine room insulation, pipe lagging on older vessels | |
Fatal offshore explosions, drownings, and structural collapses |
When an offshore accident results in a fatality, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim under the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), general maritime law, or the Jones Act.
What Compensation Can a Houston Maritime Lawyer Help You Recover?
You may seek compensation under maritime injury claims, but the recovery available depends on which regulation governs the maritime law case. In many situations, maritime workers are entitled to compensation that is much higher than standard workers’ compensation benefits.
- Past and future medical expenses: including emergency evacuation costs, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and specialist care
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity: compensation for income lost during recovery and diminished future earning potential
- Pain and suffering: available under the Jones Act and general maritime law (not available in standard LHWCA claims)
- Maintenance and cure: daily living expenses plus all medical bills paid during recovery, owed regardless of fault
- Punitive damages: available for willful or wanton employer misconduct, including intentional failure to pay maintenance and cure
- Wrongful death damages: recoverable under the Death on the High Seas Act, general maritime law, and the Jones Act for families who have lost a loved one in an offshore accident
How Long Do You Have to File a Maritime Injury Claim in Texas?
Maritime injury claims are subject to strict filing deadlines that differ significantly from standard Texas personal injury statutes of limitations.
Type of Maritime Claim | Filing Deadline | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
Jones Act | 3 years from injury | Federal negligence claim; right to jury trial |
General Maritime Law (Unseaworthiness) | 3 years from injury | Strict liability claim against the vessel owner |
LHWCA | 1 year from injury or last voluntary payment | Whichever is later, notice to the employer within 30 days is recommended |
Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) | 3 years from death | Applies to fatalities occurring more than 3 nautical miles from shore |
Maintenance and Cure | Varies; can have shorter limits | Delay can waive rights; file as early as possible |
Evidence can be lost quickly. Beginning the investigation immediately after a maritime injury is critical to preserving the evidence needed to build a strong case.
Why Choose Reich & Binstock as Your Houston Maritime Accident Lawyer?
Not every personal injury firm has the resources, knowledge, and courtroom experience necessary to take on well-funded maritime employers and their insurance carriers. Reich & Binstock is a nationally recognized trial firm that has been handling complex offshore injury cases for more than three decades.
- 30+ years of complex injury litigation experience, including maritime, oil and gas, industrial, and toxic tort claims
- Nationally recognized trial lawyers: we are not a settlement mill; we prepare every case as if it is going to trial
- Contingency fee basis: you pay no fees and no costs unless we recover compensation for you
- Direct access to your attorneys: founders Dennis C. Reich and Robert J. Binstock personally handle complex maritime injury cases
- Proven results across practice areas: our experience with maritime, industrial, and environmental cases gives us a unique ability to identify every potential source of recovery in complex offshore cases
FAQs: Texas Maritime Injury Cases
What is the Jones Act, and how does it apply to Texas offshore workers?
The Jones Act is a federal law that gives injured seamen the legal right to sue their employers for negligence. To qualify, a worker must spend ~30% or more of their working time aboard a vessel in navigable waters. The Jones Act grants protections, including the right to a jury trial and the ability to recover compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses. Many offshore workers on tugboats, supply vessels, barges, and drilling vessels qualify.
What is the difference between the Jones Act and LHWCA for Texas workers?
The Jones Act covers “seamen” (employees who spend ~30% of their their time aboard vessels in navigable waters, such as deckhands, captains, etc.) The LHWCA covers land-based maritime workers like dockworkers, harbor construction workers, shipyard staff, and certain crews on fixed offshore platforms.
The Jones Act allows full negligence lawsuits against employers, while the LHWCA provides no-fault, workers’ compensation-style benefits and the option to sue negligent third parties.
Can I sue my employer if I'm injured offshore in Texas?
This depends on which maritime law applies to your situation. If you qualify as a Jones Act seaman, you have the right to file a negligence lawsuit. If you are covered under the LHWCA, you receive scheduled workers’ compensation benefits but can file separate negligence claims against responsible third parties. An experienced Texas maritime attorney can determine which law applies and what maritime claims you may pursue.
What if a worker was injured on an offshore platform (not a vessel) in the Gulf of Mexico?
Workers injured on fixed offshore platforms are generally not covered by the Jones Act because a fixed platform is not a “vessel in navigable waters.” Instead, these workers may be covered under the LHWCA or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). OCSLA extends certain federal and state laws to fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. This distinction depends on the platform’s location, your specific job duties, and the circumstances of the accident.
Does workers' compensation cover offshore injuries in Texas?
Generally, no. Most offshore workers are exempt from the Texas workers’ compensation system because federal maritime laws provide remedies for maritime workers. These federal laws often offer significantly greater protections and higher compensation than the state’s workers’ compensation benefits, including the right to sue for negligence and higher wage-replacement rates.
What should I do after an offshore injury in Texas?
- Seek immediate medical attention: do not refuse medical treatment or minimize your symptoms, even if you feel pressure to continue working.
- Notify your employer: ensure a written accident report is filed and request a copy for your records.
- Document everything: take photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and any equipment involved. Collect names and contact information for all witnesses. Note weather conditions, time of day, and any relevant log entries.
- Do not sign any documents from your employer or their insurance company before speaking with a maritime attorney. Insurers often present releases and settlement offers designed to minimize their liability.
- Contact Reich & Binstock at 713-622-7271 for a free, confidential consultation with a Houston maritime attorney.
Contact a Houston Maritime Accident Lawyer For a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured, don’t wait. Our Houston maritime attorneys offer free consultations and handle every case on a contingency fee basis. Clients don’t owe anything unless we win.
We represent injured workers across Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Port Arthur, Beaumont, Texas City, Freeport, Brownsville, and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
Call 713-622-7271 or use our online contact form to speak with a Houston maritime lawyer today.
There is never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
Additionally, clients are not obligated to pay expenses if a recovery is not made.
