Maritime Attorney in Houston

There are a pair of maritime laws you should be aware of if you work offshore:

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920

Better known as the Jones Act, the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 is designed to hold owners and operators accountable for keeping their vessels safe and in seaworthy condition. Under the Jones Act, workers who are injured due to negligence can sue their employer for damages. 

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) 

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides compensation, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation to employees who suffer on-the-job injuries on the navigable waters of the United States or in the adjoining areas. It also provides benefits to dependents in the case a loved one loses their life on the job. 

The LHWCA covers employees in traditional maritime roles (e.g., shipbuilders, ship repairers, longshore workers, ship-breakers, harbor construction workers) as well as non-maritime employees if they are injured working on navigable water.

Although maritime injuries vary, there are certain damages commonly sought by the victims:

• Medical Costs: This may include compensation for hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, physical therapy, and other expenses.
• Disability: Depending on the severity of your injury, you might qualify for disability (e.g., permanent total, temporary total, permanent partial, temporary partial)
• Death Benefits: If you lost a loved one in a maritime accident, you may recover compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, loss of companionship, and other relevant damages.

Our attorneys can help you identify which damages you might qualify for.

As America’s largest plaintiffs’ law firm, Morgan & Morgan has the resources to take on virtually any case. You’ll benefit in many ways from working with us:

• Over 1,000 attorneys collaborating to get the best results for our clients
• A track record of success that includes more than $20 billion won
• Around-the-clock access to our legal team
• A willingness to go to trial if that’s what it takes to get full and fair compensation

If you sustained a maritime injury, contact our Houston office. Our attorneys specialize in maritime law, and can take your case every step of the way from start to finish. What’s more, it costs nothing to hire us, so there’s no risk in getting started.

Schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation now.