Trial-tested maritime injury lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter.
If you have been injured while working on a vessel, offshore platform, dock, or port facility in Houston, an attorney experienced in maritime law can help you pursue compensation under the federal statutes that govern these claims. Maritime injury cases operate under a different legal framework than Texas personal injury law, and the statute that applies to your claim depends on your job classification and where the injury occurred.
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers represents maritime workers and their families on the plaintiff side throughout Texas. Our attorneys bring more than two decades of combined trial experience to maritime and offshore injury litigation and handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. If you need a Houston, TX maritime injury lawyer, contact our firm for a free consultation.
Maritime Injury Lawyer Houston, TX
A maritime injury lawyer represents workers hurt on navigable waters, aboard vessels, on offshore platforms, and at docks and port facilities. What sets these cases apart from every other type of personal injury claim is the legal framework. Maritime injuries do not follow Texas negligence law. They fall under federal admiralty jurisdiction and are governed by statutes including the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Which statute applies depends on whether you qualify as a seaman, a longshore worker, or an offshore platform worker, and the difference between those classifications can determine whether your case is worth five times more or five times less than you expect.
Houston is the center of the American maritime industry. The Port of Houston handles approximately 250 million tons of cargo annually and is one of the largest ports in the country. The Houston Ship Channel runs 52 miles from the Gulf of Mexico through one of the most concentrated industrial corridors in the world. Thousands of maritime workers operate on vessels, barges, tugboats, offshore rigs, and dock facilities connected to this system. According to the CDC, maritime workers face a fatality rate five times higher than the U.S. workforce overall, and the nonfatal injury rate is double the national average.
Types of Maritime Injury Cases We Handle in Houston
The type of maritime work you perform and the location where the injury occurred determine which federal statute governs your claim. Applying the wrong statute or misclassifying a worker’s status can reduce the available damages by hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Getting the classification right from the start is one of the most important steps in any maritime injury case.
At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, we handle maritime injury cases including the following:
- Jones Act claims. The Jones Act protects seamen who are injured due to their employer’s negligence or the unseaworthiness of the vessel. To qualify as a seaman, you must spend a substantial portion of your work time aboard a vessel in navigation. Jones Act claims carry a three-year statute of limitations, not the two-year deadline that applies to most Texas personal injury cases.
- Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims. The LHWCA covers dock workers, longshoremen, ship repairers, harbor workers, and other maritime employees who work on or adjacent to navigable waters but do not qualify as seamen. LHWCA requires notice to the employer within 30 days and a formal claim within one year.
- Offshore platform injuries. Workers injured on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf may have claims under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which extends certain state laws and LHWCA protections to these locations. Workers on mobile drilling units such as jack-up rigs and drill ships may qualify under the Jones Act because those units are classified as vessels.
- Vessel unseaworthiness claims. A vessel owner has an absolute duty to provide a seaworthy vessel. If the vessel or its equipment is defective, inadequate, or unfit for its intended purpose, the owner is liable for injuries that result. Unlike Jones Act negligence claims, unseaworthiness is a strict liability theory.
- Maintenance and cure claims. Maritime law requires vessel owners to provide injured seamen with maintenance (daily living expenses) and cure (medical treatment) regardless of fault. The obligation to provide maintenance and cure begins when the injury occurs and continues until the seaman reaches maximum medical improvement.
- Dock and port worker injuries. Workers at the Port of Houston and along the Ship Channel corridor who load cargo, operate cranes, and maintain vessels face hazards from heavy equipment, falling objects, chemical exposure, and unstable surfaces. Commercial truck traffic moving through port terminals adds further risk. These claims typically proceed under the LHWCA.
- Barge and tugboat accidents. Crew members on inland barges and tugboats operating on the Houston Ship Channel, the Intracoastal Waterway, and connecting rivers generally qualify as Jones Act seamen. Injuries from line handling, towing operations, and deck hazards are common.
- Wrongful death. When a maritime accident kills a worker, the applicable wrongful death statute depends on where the death occurred. The Jones Act, general maritime law, and the Death on the High Seas Act each apply in different circumstances and provide different categories of damages.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers as My Maritime Injury Lawyer in Houston, TX?
Maritime Industry Background on Both Sides of the Courtroom
Mike Streich brings maritime experience from multiple angles. Before joining the plaintiff side, he worked at Royston, Rayzor, Vickery and Williams, one of the oldest maritime injury law firms in Texas. He also spent one year as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company, handling injury cases and legal operations related to their Gulf of Mexico work. Before that, he spent years defending corporations and insurance syndicates, including Lloyd’s of London, in catastrophic injury and death cases involving offshore incidents. He graduated cum laude from the UH Law Center and has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers in multiple years.
Matt Greenberg has served as lead trial counsel in cases that produced record-setting verdicts and settlements across catastrophic injury litigation. He holds a J.D. from Baylor Law School, is licensed in Texas, Louisiana, and Arizona, and has been recognized by Lawdragon and the National Trial Lawyers.
Together, our attorneys have recovered over $375 million for injured clients, including a $16 million maritime injury recovery. As your personal injury lawyer in Houston, our firm handles every maritime case on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery.
What Is Important to Understand About a Maritime Injury Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Maritime Injury Cases
The damages available in a maritime case depend on which statute governs the claim. Jones Act seamen can recover the broadest range of damages, including lost wages, pain and suffering, and future earning capacity. LHWCA claimants receive scheduled benefits but may also pursue third-party negligence claims for additional damages. Unseaworthiness claims provide compensation for injuries caused by defective vessel conditions regardless of fault.
Jones Act damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering, including mental anguish
- Disability and disfigurement
LHWCA benefits include:
- Medical treatment for the work-related injury
- Temporary total disability benefits (two-thirds of average weekly wage)
- Permanent partial or total disability benefits
- Death benefits for surviving dependents
In addition to statutory damages, maintenance and cure provides a separate remedy. The vessel owner must pay for the seaman’s medical care and daily living expenses from the date of injury until maximum medical improvement, regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
What Are Important Aspects of a Maritime Injury Case?
Maritime claims present jurisdictional and classification issues that do not exist in other areas of personal injury law.
- Worker classification determines which statute applies. Whether you are a Jones Act seaman, an LHWCA-covered longshoreman, or an outer continental shelf worker changes everything about the case, from the available damages to the applicable deadline. Employers frequently misclassify workers to push them into a less favorable legal framework. Your attorney must evaluate your actual work duties and vessel time to determine the correct classification.
- Maintenance and cure is an immediate obligation. If you are a seaman, the vessel owner must begin paying maintenance and cure as soon as the injury occurs. Many employers delay or deny these benefits. An attorney can enforce the obligation and, in cases of willful refusal, pursue punitive damages for the denial.
- Offshore injuries involve overlapping federal statutes. A worker injured on a mobile drilling unit may have Jones Act claims, while a worker on a fixed platform may fall under OCSLA and state law. The classification of the structure as a vessel or a platform determines the legal path.
- Evidence from maritime accidents degrades quickly. Vessel conditions change with every voyage. Defective equipment that caused the injury must be preserved for inspection before it is repaired or replaced. Crew members rotate off and become difficult to locate. An attorney retained early can issue preservation demands and begin an independent investigation while the evidence is still available.
What Is the Maritime Injury Case Timeline?
The timeline varies based on the applicable statute, the severity of injuries, and whether the employer contests the worker’s classification.
- Investigation begins immediately. The attorney determines the worker’s classification, identifies the vessel or facility, and issues preservation demands for maintenance logs, crew records, and incident reports.
- Medical treatment continues, with maintenance and cure payments expected to cover medical expenses and living costs during recovery. For serious injuries involving traumatic brain injuries, burns, or amputations, treatment may extend a year or longer.
- The firm prepares a demand and enters negotiations with the vessel owner’s insurer or legal department.
- If fair terms are not offered, suit is filed. Maritime cases may be filed in federal or state court depending on the claims and the parties involved. These cases generally take one to three years from filing to resolution.
What Should You Bring to Your Maritime Injury Consultation?
Organizing your documentation before the meeting helps the attorneys evaluate your maritime claim more efficiently. You may not have all of these items at this stage. Bring whatever documentation is available:
- Your employment contract or seafarer agreement
- Any incident or accident reports filed with the vessel owner or the Coast Guard
- Medical records and bills from treatment received so far
- Records of maintenance and cure payments (or the employer’s refusal to pay)
- Photographs of the vessel, the injury site, or your injuries
- Names of crew members or coworkers who witnessed the accident
During the consultation, we evaluate your worker classification, explain which maritime statute applies, and provide a direct assessment of the claim. There is no charge for this meeting.
What Are Important Texas Legal Resources for Maritime Injury Cases?
Maritime law is primarily federal, though state law may apply in certain circumstances. The following resources help injured maritime workers and their families understand the legal framework.
- The Jones Act carries a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. LHWCA claims require employer notice within 30 days and a formal filing within one year.
- Jones Act negligence requires proof that the employer’s negligence contributed to the injury. The burden of proof is lower than in standard negligence cases.
- Unseaworthiness is a strict liability claim against the vessel owner for providing an unseaworthy vessel or defective equipment.
- The BSEE provides safety data and regulatory guidance for offshore operations.
- The Texas Legislature website provides access to Texas statutes that may apply in certain maritime and offshore cases.
- Our firm monitors Texas legal changes that intersect with maritime and offshore injury claims.
Reach Out to Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers to Schedule a Consultation
If you or a family member has been injured in a maritime accident in Houston, TX, our attorneys are available for a free and confidential case review. We handle Jones Act, LHWCA, and offshore injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Contact us to schedule a consultation at a time that works for you.
Maritime Injury Statistics in Houston
Maritime work is among the most dangerous employment in the United States. According to CDC maritime data, maritime workers face a fatality rate five times higher than the national average, and the nonfatal injury rate is double that of the overall U.S. workforce. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement reported 127 offshore fires and 333 lifting injuries in 2022 alone.
Houston’s maritime industry is the largest in Texas and one of the largest in the country. The Port of Houston handles approximately 250 million tons of cargo annually, and the Houston Ship Channel supports thousands of vessel movements each year. Workers at petrochemical facilities along the Ship Channel, on docks and terminals, and aboard barges, tugboats, and supply vessels face daily exposure to the hazards that drive Houston’s maritime injury caseload. Workers commuting to port facilities also face risk from motor vehicle collisions on Houston’s congested roads. Industrial operations connected to port activity add further risk for workers whose duties cross the boundary between land and water.
Key Differences Between Maritime Law and Texas Personal Injury Law
Maritime law and Texas personal injury law share some concepts, but the differences between them affect how a case is filed, what damages are available, and which court has jurisdiction. Understanding these distinctions matters because applying the wrong legal framework can significantly reduce the value of a claim.
1. Statute of limitations. Jones Act claims carry a three-year filing deadline, compared to the two-year deadline for most Texas personal injury claims. LHWCA claims require notice to the employer within 30 days and a formal filing within one year. Missing the applicable deadline bars the claim.
2. Negligence standard. The Jones Act uses a lower burden of proof than Texas negligence law. A Jones Act plaintiff must show only that the employer’s negligence played any part, even a slight part, in causing the injury. Texas negligence requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence.
3. Comparative fault. Under the Jones Act, there is no 50 percent bar. A seaman found 90 percent at fault can still recover 10 percent of the damages. Texas comparative negligence bars recovery entirely if the plaintiff’s fault exceeds 50 percent.
4. Maintenance and cure. This remedy has no equivalent in Texas personal injury law. A vessel owner must pay for the seaman’s medical treatment and living expenses regardless of fault. The obligation is nearly absolute.
5. Unseaworthiness. This is a strict liability claim unique to maritime law. The vessel owner is liable for injuries caused by an unseaworthy condition on the vessel, whether or not the owner knew about the condition. Texas personal injury law does not have a comparable doctrine.
6. Workers’ compensation. Most Texas employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Maritime workers covered by the LHWCA receive a form of federal workers’ compensation that operates differently from the Texas system. Jones Act seamen are not covered by any workers’ compensation system and must pursue their claims through litigation.
7. Jurisdiction. Maritime claims can be filed in federal court under admiralty jurisdiction or in state court. The choice of forum can affect the available procedures, the jury pool, and the timeline for resolution.
8. Available damages. Jones Act claims allow recovery for pain and suffering, which LHWCA benefits do not cover. However, LHWCA claimants may pursue separate third-party negligence claims that do include pain and suffering. The interaction between these statutes requires careful analysis by an attorney who understands how they work together.
Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer FAQs
What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a federal statute that allows seamen injured by their employer’s negligence to file claims for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished earning capacity. It also provides a cause of action for the estates of seamen killed in the course of employment.
How do I know if I qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act?
The legal test focuses on two elements: you must contribute to the function of a vessel, and you must spend a substantial portion of your work time aboard that vessel. Courts have generally interpreted “substantial” to mean roughly 30 percent or more. Your attorney evaluates your actual work duties and vessel assignment to determine whether you meet the standard.
What is maintenance and cure?
Maintenance covers daily living expenses while you recover. Cure covers all reasonable medical treatment for the injury until you reach maximum medical improvement. The vessel owner must pay both regardless of fault. If the employer refuses to pay or unreasonably delays payment, additional remedies may be available.
What is the difference between the Jones Act and the LHWCA?
The Jones Act covers seamen. The LHWCA covers land-based maritime workers such as longshoremen, dock workers, and ship repairers. The damages available under each statute are different, and the filing deadlines are different. Worker classification is the threshold question in every maritime injury case.
How long do I have to file a maritime injury claim?
Three years from the date of injury for Jones Act claims. LHWCA claims require notice to the employer within 30 days and a formal filing within one year. The applicable deadline depends on your worker classification and the statute that governs your claim.
Can I sue my employer under the Jones Act?
Yes. The Jones Act specifically allows seamen to sue their employer for negligence. Unlike many Texas employers, maritime employers cannot use the workers’ compensation exclusive remedy defense to prevent the lawsuit.
What if my employer says I am not a seaman?
Employers frequently classify workers as non-seamen to limit their exposure to Jones Act damages. The legal determination depends on your actual duties and vessel time, not on the label your employer uses. A consultation with an attorney experienced in maritime law can evaluate whether the classification is correct.
Do I need a lawyer for a maritime injury case?
Maritime law involves federal statutes, jurisdictional questions, worker classification disputes, and maintenance and cure obligations that most personal injury attorneys do not handle regularly. An attorney who understands these statutes can identify which legal path maximizes your recovery. Taking protective steps immediately after a maritime injury is also critical to preserving the claim.
Local Information for Houston Maritime Injury Cases
Where Maritime Injuries Are Most Common in Houston
Maritime injury risk in Houston concentrates along the Ship Channel, the port facilities, and the offshore staging areas that support Gulf of Mexico operations.
- The Houston Ship Channel runs 52 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Turning Basin in east Houston. Vessel traffic, dock operations, and industrial activity along the channel produce a high volume of maritime injury claims.
- Port of Houston terminals including Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal employ thousands of longshoremen and dock workers who face hazards from heavy equipment, container handling, and vessel loading operations.
- Offshore staging areas in Galveston, Sabine Pass, and Port Arthur serve as departure points for crew boats and supply vessels heading to offshore platforms and drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The Intracoastal Waterway runs along the Texas Gulf Coast and carries barge and tugboat traffic that connects Houston’s port facilities to other Gulf ports.
What Are Important Local Resources for Houston Maritime Injury Cases?
Maritime workers injured in or around Houston may need to contact the following agencies and facilities. These are listed for reference purposes only.
- U.S. Coast Guard for incident reporting and maritime safety
- Memorial Hermann, a Level I trauma center: (713) 704-4000
- Harris Health System (Ben Taub Hospital), a Level I trauma center: (713) 873-2000
- BSEE Gulf Region for offshore safety reporting and regulatory information
Listing these resources does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers.
About Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers is a Houston-based injury law firm focused on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including maritime and offshore injury litigation. Matt Greenberg is a member of the American Association for Justice and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Mike Streich previously worked at one of the oldest maritime law firms in Texas and served as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company. He is a member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association.
What Our Clients Say
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“Mike Streich is an amazing lawyer. He kept me informed throughout my case and always took the time to explain everything to me. He fought for what was right and I was very satisfied with the outcome. I would highly recommend him.”
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Contact Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
Maritime injury cases involve federal statutes, worker classification disputes, and procedural requirements that differ from standard Texas personal injury claims. At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, we provide free consultations for Houston maritime injury cases. Our contingency fee structure means no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us to schedule your free case review with a Houston, TX maritime injury attorney.
