Offshore Injury Lawyer League City, TX
Working offshore means accepting risks that land-based workers never face. You operate heavy equipment on moving platforms surrounded by water. Emergency medical care is hours away by helicopter. The combination of isolation, industrial hazards, and marine conditions makes offshore work among the most dangerous employment in America.
When offshore accidents happen, the legal landscape is equally complex. Federal maritime law governs most claims. The Jones Act provides specific remedies for seamen. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act covers certain maritime workers. Knowing which laws apply and how to navigate them requires attorneys with genuine maritime experience.
At Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers, our League City, TX offshore injury lawyer brings more than two decades of combined experience to maritime injury cases. We have recovered over $300 million for injured clients, including a $16 million recovery in a Jones Act case involving traumatic brain injury. We handle every case on contingency. No upfront costs. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us for a free consultation.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers for Offshore Injuries in League City, Texas?
Attorneys With Actual Maritime Industry Experience
Offshore injury cases require more than general personal injury knowledge. They require understanding of vessel operations, platform safety protocols, maritime regulations, and the federal laws that govern these claims. Many firms advertise maritime experience they do not actually possess.
Mike Streich spent 14 years handling maritime and offshore injury matters. He worked at Royston Rayzor, the oldest maritime law firm in Texas, and Phelps Dunbar, the largest maritime firm in Louisiana. He served as on-call first responder for shipboard investigations, traveling to vessels immediately after serious incidents to document conditions and interview witnesses. He spent a year as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company, giving him direct insight into how these operations function.
For nearly a decade of that career, Mike defended vessel owners, offshore operators, and Lloyd’s of London syndicate members in catastrophic injury and death cases. He knows how maritime defendants investigate accidents, evaluate exposure, and build defenses. That knowledge now benefits injured offshore workers instead of the companies that hurt them.
Mike graduated cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center and has been designated a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2014, 2017 through 2021, and 2023 through 2025.
Record-Setting Results in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Matt Greenberg has served as lead trial counsel in catastrophic injury cases producing record results across Texas. He secured a $37.5 million verdict in Dallas County and a $35 million settlement in Fort Worth, the largest recorded personal injury settlement in Tarrant County at the time. He holds the largest recorded personal injury verdict in Montgomery County.
In maritime matters specifically, our attorneys have recovered $16 million in a Jones Act case involving traumatic brain injury. Matt also secured $20 million for an oilfield worker severely burned when contractors failed to close a blowout preventer valve.
Matt graduated magna cum laude from Abilene Christian University and earned his J.D. from Baylor Law School. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers, Lawdragon, and the National Trial Lawyers.
We Know the Maritime Defense Playbook
Most maritime injury attorneys have only represented plaintiffs. They learn defense tactics by encountering them. Mike spent years creating those tactics. He knows what evidence offshore defendants want to suppress. He knows how they will attack causation. He knows the medical experts they hire and the arguments those experts make.
When you face a maritime employer or vessel owner, you are not facing a general insurance company. You are facing sophisticated defendants with specialized maritime counsel. Having an attorney who operated in that world levels the playing field. If you need a personal injury lawyer in League City, TX with genuine maritime credentials, our firm provides that experience.
Contingency Fee Representation
Offshore workers recovering from serious injuries should not worry about legal fees while they heal. We handle maritime injury cases on contingency. No retainer. No hourly billing. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
What Our Clients Say
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“Mike Streich handled my injury case with professionalism and dedication from start to finish. He took the time to explain the legal process and kept me informed every step of the way. His knowledge of maritime law made all the difference in my case. I would recommend him to any offshore worker who has been injured on the job.” — Jonathan Louis
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Types of Offshore Injury Cases We Handle in League City
League City’s proximity to Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico means many residents work in offshore operations. Platforms, drilling rigs, supply vessels, and support operations employ thousands of workers from the Greater Houston area. We represent injured offshore workers in claims involving:
- Platform accidents. Fixed platforms, floating production facilities, and tension leg platforms present industrial hazards compounded by marine conditions. Falls, struck-by incidents, equipment failures, and explosions injure platform workers. Multiple contractors often operate on single platforms, creating complex liability questions.
- Drilling rig injuries. Offshore drilling involves high-pressure systems, heavy equipment, and continuous operations. Blowouts, equipment malfunctions, crane accidents, and caught-between incidents cause severe injuries. Mike’s experience as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company provides direct insight into drilling operations.
- Supply vessel accidents. Offshore supply vessels transport workers, equipment, and materials between shore and offshore facilities. Deck injuries, crane loading accidents, vessel collisions, and personnel transfer incidents injure crew members and passengers.
- Diving accidents. Commercial divers performing underwater construction, inspection, and repair face unique hazards. Decompression sickness, equipment failures, entanglement, and drowning cause injuries and fatalities. Diving contractors must comply with OSHA commercial diving regulations.
- Helicopter accidents. Helicopter transportation to offshore facilities creates crash risk. Weather, mechanical failures, and pilot error cause accidents that result in fatalities and catastrophic injuries. Aviation and maritime law may both apply depending on circumstances.
- Crane and lifting accidents. Heavy lifts on platforms and vessels create struck-by and crush hazards. Rigging failures, operator errors, and equipment malfunctions cause severe injuries.
- Burn injuries. Flammable materials, high-pressure systems, and welding operations create fire and explosion risk offshore. Injuries from burns sustained at sea often worsen because of the time it takes to get medical help, which is often far away.
- Falls overboard and drowning. Working over water creates constant drowning risk. Inadequate fall protection, slippery surfaces, and vessel motion contribute to falls overboard. Rescue delays in offshore environments prove fatal more often than similar incidents on land.
- Toxic exposure. Hydrogen sulfide, benzene, drilling fluids, and other hazardous substances expose offshore workers to respiratory damage, neurological injury, and cancer risk. Long-term health effects may not manifest for years after exposure.
- Maritime injuries. Crew members injured aboard vessels operating in navigable waters may have Jones Act claims regardless of whether the vessel was engaged in offshore operations specifically.
- Wrongful death. When offshore accidents prove fatal, surviving family members may pursue claims under the Jones Act, general maritime law, or the Death on the High Seas Act depending on where the death occurred.
Federal and Texas Maritime Laws Governing Offshore Injury Claims
Offshore injury claims fall under federal maritime law rather than Texas state law. The applicable statute depends on worker classification, location of injury, and type of employer. Understanding this framework is essential because it determines available remedies and procedural requirements.
The Jones Act
The Jones Act, formally known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, offers legal recourse to seamen injured because of their employer’s carelessness or a ship’s unseaworthiness. Seamen are those who work extensively on ships that are actively navigating. This encompasses crew members on supply boats, drilling ships, and some workers on mobile offshore drilling units, which are considered vessels.
Jones Act claims allow recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Unlike workers’ compensation, the Jones Act is a fault-based system requiring proof of employer negligence. However, the negligence standard is lower than ordinary negligence. Even slight employer fault can support recovery.
The Jones Act also provides maintenance and cure, an obligation requiring vessel owners to pay living expenses and medical treatment for seamen injured in service of the vessel regardless of fault.
General Maritime Law
General maritime law provides additional remedies for maritime workers. Unseaworthiness claims hold vessel owners strictly liable when vessel conditions or equipment are not reasonably fit for their intended purpose. This differs from negligence because fault is not required. A defective piece of equipment can render a vessel unseaworthy even if the owner did not know about the defect.
General maritime law also provides remedies for non-seamen injured on navigable waters, though the specific remedies differ from Jones Act coverage.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides workers’ compensation benefits for maritime workers who do not qualify as seamen. This includes longshoremen, harbor workers, shipbuilders, and certain offshore platform workers on fixed platforms attached to the outer continental shelf.
LHWCA benefits include medical expenses and partial wage replacement but do not include pain and suffering. However, third-party claims against parties other than the employer remain available and can provide additional recovery.
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act extends certain federal laws to artificial islands, platforms, and structures on the outer continental shelf. When state workers’ compensation would otherwise apply to land-based work, OCSLA may extend that coverage to offshore platform workers.
Death on the High Seas Act
When maritime deaths occur more than three nautical miles from shore, the Death on the High Seas Act governs wrongful death claims. DOHSA provides recovery for pecuniary losses including lost financial support but historically excluded non-economic damages. Recent amendments have expanded available damages in certain circumstances.
Statute of Limitations
Jones Act claims must be filed within three years of the injury under 46 U.S.C. § 30106. This differs from the two-year limitations period for most Texas personal injury claims. However, LHWCA claims have shorter notice requirements. Consulting an attorney promptly ensures all deadlines are met.
What Damages Are Recoverable in League City Offshore Injury Cases?
Offshore injuries tend toward the severe end of the spectrum. The combination of industrial hazards, heavy equipment, and delayed medical treatment results in catastrophic outcomes more frequently than comparable land-based accidents. Maritime law provides recovery for economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate for quantifiable financial losses.
Medical expenses. Emergency evacuation, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. Offshore injuries requiring helicopter evacuation incur substantial costs before hospital treatment even begins. We work with medical specialists to project lifetime treatment needs accurately.
Lost wages. Income lost during recovery. Offshore workers often earn premium wages due to the hazardous nature of the work. Lost wage calculations reflect actual offshore earnings, not minimum wage assumptions.
Lost earning capacity. Many offshore injuries prevent return to maritime employment. Lost earning capacity calculations project income loss over remaining work years, accounting for the higher wages offshore work commands.
Maintenance and cure. For Jones Act seamen, vessel owners must pay maintenance (daily living expenses) and cure (medical treatment) until maximum medical improvement regardless of fault. This obligation exists separately from negligence-based damages.
Vocational rehabilitation. When injuries prevent return to offshore work, retraining costs for alternative employment are recoverable.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address losses without precise dollar values but with profound impact on quality of life.
Pain and suffering. Physical pain from injuries and throughout recovery. Offshore injuries frequently involve burns, crush injuries, and amputations causing severe and lasting pain.
Mental anguish. Psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Many offshore accident survivors experience lasting psychological effects, including fear of returning to maritime work.
Physical impairment. Reduced physical capabilities affecting daily activities and quality of life.
Disfigurement. Visible scarring, burns, or limb loss affecting appearance and self-image.
Loss of enjoyment of life. When injuries prevent participation in activities that previously brought pleasure.
Loss of consortium. Available to spouses for damage to the marital relationship.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages may apply in maritime cases involving willful misconduct or gross negligence. Vessel owners who knowingly operate unseaworthy vessels, falsify safety records, or ignore serious hazards may face punitive damages.
What Steps Should I Take After an Offshore Injury?
Actions taken after an offshore injury affect both your health and your legal rights. The unique challenges of offshore incidents require specific steps beyond those for land-based accidents.
1. Report the injury immediately.
Federal regulations require reporting injuries aboard vessels and on offshore platforms. Report to your supervisor and ensure the injury is logged. Request copies of incident reports before leaving the vessel or platform.
2. Seek medical attention.
Accept medical evacuation if offered. Do not minimize injuries to avoid leaving the job site. Delayed treatment worsens outcomes and gives defendants arguments that injuries were not serious.
3. Document everything possible.
If physically able, photograph the accident scene, equipment involved, and your injuries. Conditions offshore change rapidly. Equipment gets repaired. Scenes get cleaned up. Photograph evidence before it disappears.
4. Identify witnesses.
Coworkers who observed the accident or hazardous conditions provide critical testimony. Offshore workers rotate crews and change employers frequently. Collect contact information before witnesses scatter.
5. Preserve physical evidence.
Keep damaged personal protective equipment, clothing, and any equipment involved in the incident. Do not allow employers to take possession of evidence without legal guidance.
6. Request maintenance and cure.
If you are a Jones Act seaman, your employer owes maintenance and cure immediately upon injury regardless of fault. Request these benefits in writing if not provided automatically.
7. Be cautious with company representatives.
Employers and their insurers will investigate immediately. Company representatives may appear sympathetic while gathering information to minimize your claim. Decline detailed statements until consulting an attorney.
8. Do not sign releases or settlement documents.
Employers may pressure injured workers to sign documents while still offshore or immediately after returning to shore. These documents may waive legal rights. Have an attorney review anything before signing.
9. Keep detailed records.
Document medical treatment, symptoms, pain levels, and how injuries affect daily activities. Maintain copies of all medical records and correspondence.
10. Contact a League City offshore injury attorney.
Maritime law differs substantially from state personal injury law. Employers have specialized maritime defense counsel. You need attorneys with equivalent maritime experience. We offer free consultations.
Offshore Injury Statistics in League City
League City’s location near Galveston Bay provides access to Gulf of Mexico offshore operations employing thousands of workers from the Greater Houston area. Understanding the scope of offshore hazards illustrates why these cases require specialized handling.
According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico experience hundreds of reported incidents annually. These include fires, explosions, injuries, and fatalities across drilling rigs, production platforms, and support operations.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that oil and gas extraction, which includes offshore operations, consistently ranks among the most dangerous industries in the United States. Workers in this sector face fatality rates multiple times higher than the national average.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through NIOSH has studied offshore worker safety, identifying falls, struck-by incidents, and caught-in hazards as leading causes of offshore injuries. The agency has noted that offshore workers face compounded risks from marine conditions including vessel motion, weather exposure, and distance from emergency medical services.
The U.S. Coast Guard investigates maritime casualties including offshore incidents. Coast Guard data reflects ongoing safety challenges in offshore operations despite regulatory oversight.
Galveston County serves as a base for numerous offshore support operations. Supply vessels, crew boats, and helicopter services operating from Galveston transport workers to platforms throughout the Gulf. Many League City residents commute to offshore assignments lasting weeks at a time.
The Gulf of Mexico contains thousands of offshore platforms and structures. Major operators including Shell, Chevron, BP, and ExxonMobil maintain significant Gulf operations. Contractors providing drilling, construction, diving, and support services employ the majority of offshore workers.
League City Offshore Injury Lawyer FAQs
What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act is a federal law providing negligence-based remedies for seamen injured aboard vessels in navigation. It allows recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages when employer negligence contributed to the injury. The negligence standard is lower than ordinary negligence, meaning even slight fault can support recovery.
Am I a seaman under the Jones Act?
Seaman status depends on whether you spend a significant portion of your employment aboard vessels in navigation and contribute to vessel function. Crew members on supply boats, drilling ships, and certain mobile offshore drilling units typically qualify. Platform workers on fixed structures generally do not qualify as seamen but may have other maritime remedies.
What is maintenance and cure?
Maintenance and cure is a maritime remedy requiring vessel owners to pay injured seamen’s living expenses (maintenance) and medical treatment (cure) until maximum medical improvement. This obligation exists regardless of fault and applies immediately upon injury. Employers who unreasonably deny or delay maintenance and cure may face additional damages.
What if I work on a fixed platform, not a vessel?
Fixed platform workers may have claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, or general maritime law depending on specific circumstances. Some platform workers may also qualify as seamen if they spend significant time aboard vessels. Classification affects available remedies.
How long do I have to file an offshore injury claim?
Jones Act claims must be filed within three years. LHWCA claims have shorter notice requirements. State law claims, if applicable through OCSLA, follow state limitations periods. Consulting an attorney promptly ensures all deadlines are identified and met.
Can I sue my employer for an offshore injury?
Jones Act seamen can sue employers for negligence. LHWCA-covered workers generally cannot sue employers but may pursue third-party claims against other responsible parties. Workers at non-subscriber employers not covered by maritime law may sue directly under Texas law.
What third parties might be liable for my offshore injury?
Depending on circumstances, liable third parties may include vessel owners (if different from employers), platform operators, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and companies providing services where the injury occurred. Offshore operations involve multiple companies, often creating multiple sources of recovery.
What if my employer denies my injury claim?
Employers and their insurers frequently deny or minimize maritime injury claims. Denied claims do not mean you have no case. Having experienced maritime counsel makes a substantial difference in overcoming denials and obtaining fair compensation.
How much is my offshore injury case worth?
Case value depends on injury severity, applicable maritime law, available defendants, and long-term impacts. Our firm recovered $16 million in a Jones Act brain injury case. We provide candid assessments during free consultations after reviewing specific circumstances.
Will I lose my job if I file a claim?
Retaliating against workers for filing legitimate injury claims is illegal. Fear of retaliation causes many offshore workers to delay pursuing valid claims. We handle these situations carefully to protect your rights while pursuing compensation.
What should I bring to a consultation?
Incident reports, medical records, employment records showing vessel or platform assignments, photographs, witness contact information, and any correspondence from employers or insurers. If you lack certain documents, we can help obtain them.
How do I pay for medical treatment while my case is pending?
Jones Act seamen should receive maintenance and cure from employers. Health insurance may cover treatment with reimbursement from settlement proceeds. Some providers treat on a lien basis. We help coordinate care and manage financial arrangements.
Most Dangerous Locations for Offshore Injuries in League City
League City offshore workers typically access Gulf operations through several departure points. Understanding these locations helps illustrate the scope of maritime activity affecting area residents.
Port of Galveston serves as a major hub for offshore supply vessels and crew boats transporting workers to Gulf platforms. Personnel transfer operations at the port create injury risk before workers even reach offshore facilities.
Texas City waterfront hosts multiple offshore service companies. Supply vessels, platform supply vessels, and anchor handling tugs operate from these facilities.
Galveston Offshore Supply Base provides staging for equipment and personnel heading to deepwater operations in the Gulf.
Pelican Island facilities support offshore construction and diving operations with vessels departing for platform work throughout the Gulf.
Houston Ship Channel sees constant traffic from offshore support vessels, creating collision risk and hazardous working conditions for maritime workers aboard these vessels.
Freeport operations south of League City support offshore drilling and production activities with crew and supply vessels running regular routes to Gulf facilities.
Workers departing from these locations face injury risk both during transit and upon arrival at offshore platforms and vessels throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
What Are Important Local Resources for League City Offshore Injuries?
These resources may assist offshore workers dealing with injuries in League City. Listing does not constitute endorsement by Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement oversees offshore oil and gas operations and investigates offshore incidents.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston investigates maritime casualties and vessel safety issues.
Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs administers Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act benefits.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Houston Area Office investigates workplace safety violations. Phone: (281) 286-0583
UTMB Health Galveston provides trauma and specialized medical services for offshore injuries.
HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake offers emergency services for injuries. Phone: (281) 332-2511
UTMB Health League City Campus provides primary care and specialist referrals. Phone: (409) 772-1011
Texas Workforce Commission provides information on employment rights and retaliation protections.
Contact Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
Offshore injuries present unique challenges. The legal framework is complex. Employers have specialized maritime defense counsel. Medical treatment is expensive and ongoing. Lost wages from high-paying offshore work create substantial financial pressure.
Our League City offshore injury attorneys bring genuine maritime experience to these cases. Mike Streich spent 14 years in maritime law, including time at two of the oldest and largest maritime firms in Texas and Louisiana. He served as on-call first responder for shipboard investigations. He spent a year as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company. He defended vessel owners and offshore operators before transitioning to plaintiff representation.
We have recovered over $300 million for injured clients across Texas, including $16 million in a maritime traumatic brain injury case. We handle cases personally and prepare every claim for trial because that is what produces results.
Free consultations. No fees unless we win. If you were injured offshore or aboard a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, contact Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers.
