Maritime law, or the law of the seas, comes into play when Texas residents suffer injuries while working offshore. Maritime law is very different from common law practiced on land, and it is common for maritime workers injured offshore to feel uncertain and daunted by their circumstances after sustaining injuries at sea. If you or a loved one has experienced this type of situation, it’s vital to connect with a Houston maritime injury attorney as soon as possible. Navigating any case pertaining to maritime law in Houston or Sugar Land requires input from a maritime attorney who has practical experience with this type of law. The team at Houston Injury Lawyers, PLLC, has the experiences and resources you need to navigate your case with greater confidence.
Generally, maritime law provides legal protection for workers who sustain injuries while performing job duties offshore. However, because they are technically outside the jurisdiction of Texas state law, maritime law applies when they sustain injuries working on offshore oil rigs, container ships, commercial fishing vessels, or any other type of watercraft on the sea.
Maritime workers typically face many job-related dangers, including environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, sun exposure, and stormy seas. They also often work on industrialized watercraft designed for particular purposes, often involving working with or near heavy machinery and specialized equipment. As a result, severe injuries are common, including weather-related and drowning injuries, heavy equipment injuries, crushing injuries, burns, injuries from explosions, and much more.
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Maritime law provides benefits to injured offshore workers in much the same way as standard workers’ compensation. In addition, maritime law provides “maintenance and cure” to any offshore worker injured while performing their job duties at sea. “Maintenance” refers to economic payments for the worker’s lost income while they recover, and “cure” pertains to financial coverage for the injured worker’s medical expenses.
Whenever you face any type of legal case, it’s vital to have legal counsel from a Houston maritime lawyer who has professional experience handling that specific type of case. For example, an injury case filed under maritime law is very different from a standard personal injury claim.
As you can see, maritime law is complex and multifaceted. Depending on how and where your offshore injury occurred and the extent of your damages, one or more of the aforementioned maritime acts could come into play. This is why you need a Houston maritime injury attorney to assist you in your recovery.
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Navigating any type of civil claim is difficult when you do not have reliable legal representation on your side. This is especially true for any situation involving maritime law, as these laws are precise and complex. The maritime injury attorneys at Houston Injury Lawyers, PLLC, have years of experience representing clients in a wide range of complex civil cases, including those that fall within the purview of maritime law.
As your legal team, we will help you investigate every aspect of your claim and determine the best path toward securing compensation for your losses. Depending on how your injury occurred and the extent of the resulting damage, we may coordinate testimony from relevant experts to support your case. For example, you may need to prove that your employer failed to follow applicable safety regulations or that a specific piece of machinery was unfit for service. In addition, we may consult with engineers, outside legal professionals who deal in admiralty law, medical professionals, and various forensic investigators to establish liability for your damages.
Ultimately, the team at Houston Injury Lawyers, PLLC, wants to provide you with comprehensive and responsive legal counsel you can trust, so you can approach your case with greater confidence. We understand the uncertainty and stress that is likely to follow any offshore injury and will do everything in our power to maximize your recovery. If you or a loved one suffered an injury at sea, we could help. Contact Houston Injury Lawyers, PLLC, today to schedule a free case review and find out how our Houston maritime injury lawyers can assist you with your maritime law claim.At , our Houston maritime injury lawyer is proud to help injured maritime workers seek compensation. Every occupation has its risks, and the maritime industry is no different. In fact, seamen participate in one of the most hazardous industries in existence.
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Seamen are at risk for work-related injuries whenever they are on the boat. The courts recognize this. Moreover, our Houston personal injury law firm works continuously to fight for injured seamen.
Maritime law allows injured maritime workers the opportunity to claim necessary compensation for any suffering of work-related complications. Moreover, these laws are the basis for all injuries that seamen sustain.
When you sustain an injury at sea, it is vital to work with a Houston maritime attorney with a comprehensive understanding of these laws. If you have been injured in the maritime industry, contact our personal injury attorneys and let us fight for you.
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Our maritime injury lawyers help injured dockworkers and seamen attain the compensation they require to recover at our personal injury law firm. Typically, serious injuries lead to expensive medical treatments. Above all, these injuries can have a long-term impact on your life, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
This can include an array of accidents that occur on “navigable waters, ” including rivers, bays, oceans, harbors, and docks. Our Houston maritime injury attorneys understand maritime law. We also know the best practices and culture of the maritime industry.
Admiralty law exists to help injured seamen recover from injuries sustained during work. Without these laws, injured seamen would be forced to act independently to counteract any suffering sustained at work. Whenever a maritime worker becomes sick or injured, the owner of the vessel must reimburse their losses. Maritime attorneys refer to this as “maintenance and cure.”
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Essentially, this means that the employer must provide for the affliction until the worker recovers fully. Courts view this obligation as a duty that the owner owes any worker aboard their vessel.
Moreover, seamen are eligible to recover full wages for the length of the voyage during which they sustained the illness or injury. Oftentimes, their employment contract dictates the number of unearned wages they are eligible to receive.
Commercial maritime work is dangerous. Occasionally the negligence or wrongful act of an employer or co-worker can result in a worker’s death. Under the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), if a loved one working on a commercial vessel died at least three nautical miles from a U.S. shoreline, the spouse, parent, child or another dependent relative may recover fair compensation for lost wages, funeral expenses, and costs for counseling.
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For a claim to be successful, a maritime attorney must prove negligence on the part of the shipowner or a fellow worker. Even if the decedent may have contributed to his or her own loss of life, some compensation may still be warranted.
When in need of a knowledgeable and experienced maritime injury lawyer, Houston residents know they can trust Firm to provide reliable, strategic representation.
If your place of employment is for a business on land yet you sustain work-related injuries, the workers compensation laws for that particular state apply. That’s simply not the case when your work is off-shore.
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The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act, is a federal statute enacted in 1920 which mainly regulates maritime commerce between U.S. ports. However, a portion of the Act also enables maritime workers to file for benefits from their employers for work-related injuries due to their negligence.
This applies whether you are a captain or mate, a deckhand or cook or bartender. If you contribute at least 30 percent of your work time to the work of a vessel while on navigable waters and you sustain injuries, you can apply for benefits. This includes lost wages, medical expenses, as well as compensation for pain and suffering.
In some instances, off-shore workers may also be entitled to punitive damages if it can be proven that the employer demonstrated a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of employees. A good Jones Act lawyer can put together a strong suit and get you the compensation you deserve.
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The Limitation Liability Act protects vessel owners from having to pay compensation for an injury or death that exceeds the value of their craft. This can be bad news for a maritime worker with a claim.
Once a vessel owner files a limitation of liability suit, the proceedings for all claims are stayed. This stay lasts until they consolidate the hearings into a single proceeding where those with competing claims may have to accept pro-rated settlements.
Additionally, limitation liability suits disallow jury trials. Fortunately, some personal injury suits are exempt. These include suits for wages owed to seamen as well as maintenance and cure claims.
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If a limitation liability suit has been filed to counter your claim, you need a qualified maritime injury lawyer. Houston is home to one of the best firms in the business, Firm. Moreover, we provide a free initial consultation to help you understand your rights.
The LHWCA is similar to the Jones Act. It provides an avenue for
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