Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer

Maritime Injury Lawyer

TALK TO OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT A MARITIME INJURY LAWSUIT

Maritime accidents can lead to serious injuries that may leave you too hurt to work. And when you’re not getting the paycheck your family relies on and you have expensive medical bills to pay, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn. Maritime claims are different from workers’ compensation cases. You need a Houston maritime injury lawyer to determine what benefits you are entitled to.

Maritime accidents can lead to serious injuries that may leave you too hurt to work for weeks, months, or even years. And when you’re not getting the paycheck your family relies on and you have expensive medical bills to pay, you may feel like you have nowhere to turn. Don’t give up—get in touch with Terry Bryant today.

Why Contact a Maritime Injury Lawyer?

Maritime workers aren’t given traditional workers’ compensation benefits like other types of employees. Attorneys help maritime workers find a path to get the compensation they deserve, whether it’s through the Jones Act or a third-party liability claim. If you were hurt on the job, you likely face medical bills, pain, and lost income.

Contact the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant today to schedule a free case assessment at (713) 973-8888.

Cases Our Houston Maritime Injury Lawyers Have Handled

As a Houston maritime injury attorney, Terry Bryant has years of experience in this area of the law. Our team understands the complexities of maritime law, and we use our knowledge to get clients the payment they deserve. We have experience in the following:

• Jones Act Cases
• Offshore Drilling Accidents
• Faulty Tugboat or Barge Equipment
• Cruise Ship Accidents in International Waters.

Types of Maritime Workers

Many different occupations are entitled to benefits and protection provided by maritime law. Here are a few examples of people we represent in maritime injury cases:

• Seamen
• Deckhands
• Engineers
• Cooks
• Tankermen.

What is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act is a federal law that holds employers of maritime workers responsible for paying damages to workers injured as a result of the negligence of the employer, including the negligence of a co-worker. A full range of damages are available to the injured worker, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, etc.

What is Maintenance and Cure?

Maintenance and cure requires a ship owner or maritime worker’s employer to pay for injured workers’ living expenses and medical bills while recovering from injuries sustained in the service of a vessel. If the responsible party fails to pay the proper amount of maintenance and cure, an injured maritime worker may have a separate claim for punitive damages.

Can I Sue my Maritime Employer?

Yes. Under federal maritime law, if you are a “seaman” by definition, you may take civil action in the appropriate U.S. District Court against your employer for negligence, willful misconduct, failure to uphold standards of seaworthiness or failure to properly man a ship.

If you are not a “seaman” by definition but you work in a nautical industry, you may have rights to sue for compensation under the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

How Do I Know Whether I Qualify for Benefits as a “Seaman”?

If you spend more than 30% of your time working on a vessel in navigation, you are normally considered a seaman and are eligible for Jones Act benefits. If you are a longshoreman, harbor worker, or other on-shore maritime employee, you may qualify for benefits under the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

How Do I Get Medical Benefits?

Under maritime laws, your employer is required to provide medical care if you are hurt on the job. These include:

• Prescriptions
• Hospital Stays
• Medical Devices.

Living costs to be covered until the voyage is complete, whether you are on the vessel or not, include the following:

• Grocery bills
• Utility bills
• Other Reasonable Living Expenses.

How Do I Report my Maritime Injury?

To protect your future rights, file a report of your injury with your employer as soon as possible after it happens. The master of the vessel is required to make an entry in the official logbook for each illness or injury to a seaman on the vessel. The master of the vessel is also required to record any death that may occur, including the cause and details concerning the seaman’s money and property.

The entry needs to be dated, with the date the incident happened. If the injury, illness, or death happened prior to the vessel’s arrival at the final port of discharge, the entry shall not be made later than 24 hours after the arrival. The master of the vessel and the chief mate, or another seaman, are required to sign the entry.

What is the Statute of Limitations on Maritime Cases?

In general, the statute of limitations for maritime cases is three years from the date of the incident. In cases involving federally-owned vessels, minors or mentally incompetent individuals, and wrongful death cases, the laws can vary. You need to consult an offshore injury lawyer for the details regarding your case.

To find out if you’re eligible, contact the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant immediately at (713) 973-8888.

Get In Touch With A Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer

Contact Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law after your maritime injury. We’re familiar with the ins and outs of the Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and other maritime laws. That knowledge and experience can make the difference in your case.

Call our office at 713-973-8888 or fill out a free initial consultation form and get help from a skilled maritime injury attorney in Houston, Texas.