Pasadena, TX Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured working on a vessel, barge, or tugboat near Pasadena, you’re dealing with more than physical pain. Medical bills are mounting, you likely cannot work, and whoever employed you is already building a defense.
Maritime workers along the Houston Ship Channel face dangerous conditions every shift. The petrochemical terminals, the commercial vessel traffic, and the industrial dock operations in Pasadena create a serious injury risk daily. Our Pasadena, TX maritime injury lawyer has the litigation record and courtroom experience to hold negligent employers and vessel owners accountable. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
Why Choose Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers for Pasadena, TX Maritime Injury?
Deep Background in Maritime and Admiralty Law
Attorney Mike Streich has spent 14 years handling maritime injury cases. His background is unusual for a plaintiff’s attorney. Before representing injured workers, Mike worked at Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, one of the oldest maritime law firms in Texas, and then at Phelps Dunbar, one of the largest maritime firms in Louisiana. He also spent a year as in-house counsel for an offshore construction company, handling all legal operations, including injury claims.
As a young associate on the defense side, Mike served as an on-call first responder for shipboard investigations of maritime incidents. He interviewed crew members, collected evidence, and worked directly with federal agencies in the hours and days following vessel and port accidents. This level of investigative experience is rare among plaintiff’s attorneys. He knows exactly how employers and their insurers build defenses because he used to build them himself.
Attorney Matt Greenberg brings 12 years of trial experience across county, state, and federal courts. As a personal injury lawyer in Pasadena, TX, Matt has served as lead trial counsel in cases resulting in record-setting verdicts and settlements across Texas, including the largest recorded personal injury settlement in Tarrant County and the largest recorded personal injury verdict in Montgomery County. He is recognized by Super Lawyers, Lawdragon, and the National Trial Lawyers for his trial skills and commitment to client advocacy.
Over $300 Million Recovered for Injured Clients
Our firm has recovered more than $300 million for injured clients across Texas. In maritime cases specifically, we secured a $16 million settlement for a Jones Act seaman who suffered head and neck injuries while working offshore. That result reflects the preparation and litigation strategy we apply to every maritime injury case.
Mike is an active member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association and has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers multiple times between 2014 and 2025. Matt is active in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice.
What Our Clients Say
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“I’ve worked with Mike in the recent past and there’s no way I could ever thank him enough for his help representing me . He went above and beyond to make sure I was well taken care of , answered all questions, even worked weekends when he could have been with his family. If you are ever in need of an attorney to fight for you he’s your guy. Mike thanks again” – Brandon Hattaway
Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Contingency Fee Representation
We handle maritime injury cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly bills, and no retainer. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing. That structure allows injured maritime workers to access the same caliber of legal representation that vessel owners and offshore companies have on their side.
Types of Pasadena Maritime Injury Cases We Handle
Pasadena sits along one of the busiest waterways in the country. Workers here face hazards tied to vessel operations, industrial marine facilities, and offshore assignments originating from the Houston Ship Channel corridor. We handle claims arising from these specific types of incidents:
- Jones Act claims. If you qualify as a seaman under federal law and were injured due to your employer’s negligence, you can file a claim under the Jones Act. We handle cases involving unsafe equipment, inadequate training, and negligent crew supervision aboard vessels.
- Offshore accidents. Workers on drilling rigs, production platforms, and supply vessels face constant risk. Many of these cases involve the same hazards found in oilfield accident claims. We pursue claims under general maritime law, the Jones Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, depending on the circumstances.
- Boating accidents. Collisions, capsizing, and falls overboard cause serious harm. We represent crew members and passengers injured due to operator negligence or vessel defects on both commercial and recreational watercraft.
- Burn injuries on vessels. Fires and explosions on tankers, barges, and chemical carriers result in devastating burns. Flash fires from volatile cargo and fuel line failures are among the most common causes we see.
- Refinery accidents. Many Pasadena maritime workers move between vessels and shore-side refinery terminals. Injuries at the interface between ship and dock often fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
- Wrongful death. When a maritime worker is killed due to negligence or unseaworthiness, surviving family members can recover damages under the Jones Act, general maritime law, or the Death on the High Seas Act.
Texas Legal Requirements for Maritime Injury
Maritime injury law is federal. That distinction matters. Unlike a typical car accident or slip-and-fall case governed by Texas state law, most maritime injury claims are controlled by federal statutes and centuries of admiralty case law. Understanding which laws apply to your situation is the first step toward full compensation.
The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) allows seamen injured during the course of employment to sue their employer for negligence. The burden of proof is lower than in most personal injury cases. If the employer’s negligence contributed to your injury in any way, even slightly, you have a valid claim.
The Longshore Act (33 U.S.C. § 901) covers dock workers, ship repairers, and other maritime employees who do not qualify as seamen. It provides no-fault benefits, including medical expenses and two-thirds of your average weekly wage during periods of disability.
General maritime law also provides the doctrine of maintenance and cure, which requires a vessel owner to pay for a seaman’s medical treatment and basic living expenses after an injury, regardless of fault. And the unseaworthiness doctrine holds vessel owners strictly liable when a defect in the vessel or its equipment causes injury.
Texas state law plays a limited role in maritime cases, primarily in determining where a case can be filed and whether certain state remedies supplement federal ones. Recent Texas legal changes have affected some aspects of personal injury litigation in state courts, though most maritime cases proceed under federal authority. The OSHA maritime standards also apply to many workplaces along the Ship Channel, governing everything from confined space entry to personal protective equipment in shipyard employment.
What Damages Are Recoverable in Pasadena Maritime Injury Cases?
The damages available to an injured maritime worker depend on which law applies. Jones Act claims and general maritime law claims provide broader recovery than Longshore Act benefits alone, and an injured worker can pursue claims under more than one legal theory simultaneously.
Economic damages cover the financial losses you can document. That includes past and future medical bills, lost wages from the time you missed work, and loss of future earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to your prior occupation. For maritime workers whose careers depend on physical ability, the loss of earning capacity is often the largest component of a claim. A deckhand who can no longer pass a physical, for example, faces decades of diminished income.
Non-economic damages account for pain, suffering, and mental anguish caused by the injury. Maritime work injuries often involve brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, and severe burns. These damages also cover the loss of enjoyment of life and the emotional toll of a permanent disability.
Under the Jones Act, punitive damages are generally not available. However, in cases involving willful and wanton misconduct, additional remedies exist under general maritime law. And in explosion or catastrophic injury cases, third-party claims against equipment manufacturers, contractors, or other negligent parties expand the available recovery.
Maintenance and cure benefits are separate from any negligence-based damages. A vessel owner who refuses to pay maintenance and cure faces additional penalties, including attorney’s fees and punitive damages for the arbitrary denial of benefits.
What Steps Should I Take After a Pasadena Maritime Injury?
- Get medical attention immediately. Maritime accidents produce the same delayed symptoms that follow any serious accident on land, including concussions, internal bleeding, and spinal compression. Even if you think the injury is minor, have it documented by a medical professional.
- Report the injury to your supervisor or vessel captain. Federal regulations require that maritime injuries be reported. Make sure the report is in writing if possible, and keep a copy for yourself.
- Document everything at the scene. Take photographs of the area where the injury occurred, any equipment involved, weather and sea conditions, and your visible injuries. Use your phone to capture this evidence before the scene is altered or equipment is moved.
- Get the names of witnesses. Other crew members or dock workers who saw what happened can provide critical testimony later. Write down their full names, job titles, and contact information.
- Request a copy of the vessel’s incident report. Your employer is required to file one. You are entitled to see it. Compare it to your own account of what happened.
- Do not sign anything from your employer’s insurance representative. Maritime employers often send adjusters or company investigators within hours of an accident. They will ask you to give a recorded statement or sign documents that limit your rights. Decline until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
- Keep detailed records of your medical treatment. Save every receipt, invoice, and doctor’s note. If you are receiving maintenance and cure payments, track every payment you receive and every expense you incur.
- Do not post about the accident on social media. Defense attorneys routinely monitor social media for anything they can use against you. Even a simple post about your daily activities can be taken out of context.
- File a report with the U.S. Coast Guard if the accident involved a reportable marine casualty. Serious injuries, vessel damage, and deaths must be reported to the Coast Guard within specific time frames.
- Contact a maritime injury attorney. The sooner you get legal counsel involved, the better your chances of preserving evidence and maximizing your recovery. We offer free consultations and can evaluate your claim quickly.
Pasadena, TX Maritime Injury Statistics
Pasadena’s position along the Houston Ship Channel puts it at the center of one of the most active maritime corridors in the United States. The Port of Houston handles more than 220 million short tons of foreign waterborne cargo annually, making it the top-ranked U.S. port for foreign waterborne tonnage. More than 8,000 vessels call the port each year, exposing thousands of maritime workers to daily injury risk.
According to BLS occupational injury data, transportation and material moving occupations had the highest number of fatal work injuries of any occupational group in 2023, with 1,495 deaths nationwide. Water vehicle incidents accounted for 31 fatal workplace injuries that year. In 2024, that number rose to 52, a sharp increase that underscores how dangerous work on navigable waters remains.
Texas ranked among the states with the highest number of fatal occupational injuries in 2023, with 564 total workplace fatalities. Transportation incidents accounted for 246 of those deaths, representing 44% of all workplace fatalities in the state. The petrochemical and maritime industries along the Houston Ship Channel are primary contributors to that total.
The OSHA maritime safety data identifies the most common hazards for maritime workers as slips, trips, and falls, machinery and equipment failures, hazardous chemical exposure, confined space incidents, and fire. Along the Houston Ship Channel, the concentration of petrochemical terminals adds chemical release and explosion risk that workers in other ports don’t face to the same degree.
The U.S. Coast Guard investigates marine casualties on the outer continental shelf and navigable waters. Their data shows that human error, equipment failure, and inadequate safety procedures remain leading causes of maritime accidents. For Pasadena and the surrounding Ship Channel area, the combination of heavy vessel traffic, hazardous cargo, and industrial marine operations creates one of the highest-risk maritime work environments in the country.
Pasadena Maritime Injury Lawyer FAQs
What is the Jones Act and does it apply to my injury?
The Jones Act is a federal statute that allows qualifying seamen to sue their employer for negligence. To qualify, you generally must spend at least 30% of your working time aboard a vessel or fleet of vessels in navigation. If you meet that threshold and your employer’s negligence contributed to your injury, even minimally, you have a claim.
What is the difference between a Jones Act claim and a Longshore Act claim?
The Jones Act covers seamen. The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act covers maritime workers who are not seamen, such as dock workers, ship repairers, and harbor construction workers. The key difference is your employment relationship to a vessel. An experienced Pasadena maritime injury attorney can help determine which law applies.
How long do I have to file a maritime injury claim in Texas?
Jones Act claims have a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. Longshore Act claims must be filed within one year. General maritime law claims for unseaworthiness also carry a three-year deadline. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim, which is why prompt action is critical.
Do I have to use the company doctor after a maritime injury?
Under the Jones Act and general maritime law, your employer selects the initial treating physician for maintenance and cure purposes. However, you have the right to seek your own medical evaluation, and in many cases, getting an independent medical opinion is critical to the value of your claim.
Can I sue my employer if I’m a maritime worker?
Yes, you can. Unlike most land-based workers in Texas who are limited to workers’ compensation, Jones Act seamen have the right to bring a negligence lawsuit against their employer with a jury trial. This is one of the most significant protections maritime law provides to injured workers.
What is maintenance and cure?
Maintenance is a daily stipend for basic living expenses like housing and food while you recover from a maritime injury. Cure covers your medical treatment costs. These benefits are owed regardless of who was at fault. An employer who unreasonably denies or delays these payments faces additional penalties.
What if my employer says the injury was my fault?
Maritime law uses a comparative fault standard. Even if you were partially responsible, you can still recover damages. Your compensation would be reduced by your percentage of fault, but it would not be eliminated. And the burden of proof for employer negligence under the Jones Act is lower than in most civil cases.
What is unseaworthiness?
Unseaworthiness is a separate legal theory from negligence. A vessel owner has a duty to provide a reasonably fit vessel and crew. If a defective piece of equipment, an improperly maintained deck, or an unqualified crew member causes your injury, the vessel owner is strictly liable regardless of whether they were negligent.
How much is my maritime injury case worth?
Every case is different. The value depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of your lost wages and future earning capacity, the strength of the evidence of negligence or unseaworthiness, and the impact on your quality of life. Our firm evaluates these factors carefully during your free consultation.
Can I file a claim if I was injured on a barge?
Yes, barges are vessels under maritime law. If you were working on or injured by a barge on navigable waters near Pasadena, you have potential claims under the Jones Act, general maritime law, or the Longshore Act depending on your employment status.
What if my employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance?
Many maritime employers are not required to carry Texas workers’ compensation because federal maritime law governs their obligations. Instead, they often carry protection and indemnity insurance. The absence of state workers’ compensation coverage does not eliminate your right to recover, and in many situations it expands your options.
Should I talk to my employer’s insurance adjuster?
Not without legal counsel present. Insurance adjusters working for vessel owners and offshore companies are trained to minimize payouts. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used against you later.
Can family members file a claim if a maritime worker dies?
Yes, they can. Wrongful death claims under the Jones Act, general maritime law, and the Death on the High Seas Act allow surviving spouses, children, and other dependents to seek compensation for lost financial support, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship.
Do I need a lawyer for a maritime injury claim?
You are not required to hire one. But maritime law is complex and different from standard personal injury law. Employers and their insurers have attorneys who begin working immediately after an accident. Having a lawyer who understands maritime law from both sides of the courtroom makes a measurable difference in the outcome of your case.
What does a free consultation involve?
We review the facts of your injury, explain which laws apply, and give you an honest assessment of your case’s potential value. There is no obligation to hire us.
Most Dangerous Locations for Pasadena, TX Maritime Injuries
Pasadena sits at the heart of the Houston Ship Channel industrial corridor, and certain areas see a disproportionate number of maritime injuries.
The stretch of the Ship Channel between the Washburn Tunnel and the Bayport Container Terminal is one of the busiest sections for vessel traffic in the Gulf Coast region. Workers along this corridor handle petroleum, chemical, and liquefied natural gas cargo daily. The Pasadena Refining System terminal, LyondellBasell’s Channelview complex, and the Kinder Morgan terminal complex are all within a few miles of each other. Truck accident and car accident claims also arise along the access roads serving these facilities.
Other high-risk areas include the private fleeting areas along Vince Bayou, the industrial docks south of the La Porte Freeway, and the Battleground area terminals where ship repair and barge maintenance take place. The Ship Channel chemical release history in this corridor adds another layer of risk for workers in these facilities.
What Are Important Local Resources for Pasadena Maritime Injuries?
If you’ve been injured in a Pasadena maritime accident, the following local resources can be useful. We are providing these for informational purposes only. Listing a resource here does not constitute an endorsement by Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers.
- HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast – (713) 359-2000. Level III trauma center serving the Pasadena area.
- Bayshore Medical Center – (281) 359-2000. Emergency and inpatient care near the Ship Channel corridor.
- USCG Sector Houston-Galveston – (713) 671-5113. Handles marine casualty reports and vessel safety enforcement for the Houston Ship Channel.
- Pasadena Police Department – (713) 477-1221. For reporting injuries involving criminal conduct or traffic incidents related to maritime facility access roads.
- Texas Dept. of Insurance – (800) 252-7031. For questions about workplace injury benefits and reporting requirements.
- OSHA Houston Area Office – (281) 286-0583. For reporting unsafe working conditions at maritime and industrial facilities.
Listing these resources does not constitute an endorsement by Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers.
Contact Greenberg Streich Injury Lawyers
If you were hurt working on a vessel, at a dock, or along the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, TX, we encourage you to reach out. Our maritime injury attorneys offer free consultations and handle every case on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront costs and no fees unless we win. Contact us today.
