# Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer | Brian White Law **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. Why Maritime Injury Victims in Houston, TX Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers 2. What Is a Maritime Injury? 3. Understanding Federal Maritime Laws and Protections 4. Am I Protected Under Texas State Law if I’m Injured in a Maritime Accident? 5. Common Maritime Injuries 6. What Will It Cost To Hire a Maritime Injury Attorney in Houston? 7. How Long Do I Have To Pursue Compensation for a Maritime Injury in Houston? 8. Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer ![Houston maritime injury](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/houston-maritime-injury-attorney-300x200.jpg) ![Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Houston-Maritime-Injury-Lawyer-241x300.png) Have you been injured in a maritime accident near Houston, Texas? [Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/about/) can help you. Call (713) 999-6042. We offer a free consultation with a Houston maritime injury lawyer who can explain your rights and fight for the full compensation you deserve. Maritime law is complex, but **injured workers may be entitled to damages for medical costs, lost wages, and lasting disabilities**. Our team provides strong legal advocacy for seamen and their families. Don’t settle for less than your claim is worth—[contact our Houston office](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/contact-us/) today to start your free case review. ## Why Maritime Injury Victims in Houston, TX Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers ![Why Maritime Injury Victims in Houston, TX Choose Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Why-Maritime-Injury-Victims-in-Houston-TX-Choose-Attorney-Brian-White-Personal-Injury-Lawyers-300x199.png) Federal maritime laws protect workers who get hurt on the job, but knowing how to collect the compensation to which you’re entitled can be challenging. **Choice of representation matters**, which is why injured maritime workers in Houston trust Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers. Here’s why clients continue to choose us when the stakes are high: - Our attorneys bring more than 45 years of combined experience handling challenging personal injury cases with skill and dedication. - We have secured tens of millions of dollars in settlements, benefits, and jury verdicts for clients facing life-changing injuries. - The firm is led by a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, reflecting the highest level of professional achievement in trial law. - Members of our team have been recognized by Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. - We are proud recipients of Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award, reflecting our commitment to client satisfaction and positive outcomes. - Insurance companies and corporations know us as a firm that goes above and beyond to protect the people we serve. Contact our office in Houston, TX, to learn more about the considerable benefits of having our personal injury law firm take the lead on your maritime injury case. Your initial case review with a Houston personal injury attorney is free. For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## What Is a Maritime Injury? ![What Is a Maritime Injury?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/What-Is-a-Maritime-Injury-300x200.jpg) Maritime activity is related to the seas, oceans, rivers, and other navigable bodies of water. Located on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Texas is a leader in the nation’s maritime industry, supporting [2.5 million workers](https://www.txdot.gov/discover/texas-maritime-ports.html) and pouring billions of dollars into the economy.  Maritime injuries are those sustained in accidents related to maritime operations, including: - Commercial fishing - Oil and gas drilling - Shipbuilding - Cargo shipping - Marine engineering - Commercial diving and welding - [Sinking Vessels](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/maritime-injury-lawyer/sinking-vessel/) Since maritime-related work is so dangerous, the federal government has enacted laws to protect workers who suffer injuries or the families of workers who are killed on the job. Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer Near Me [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Understanding Federal Maritime Laws and Protections ![Understanding Federal Maritime Laws and Protections](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Understanding-Federal-Maritime-Laws-and-Protections-300x200.jpg) While they serve many functions, federal maritime laws allow maritime workers to recover monetary compensation when they suffer injuries in the course of their employment. **Different maritime laws protect different types of workers and apply in different situations**. ### The Jones Act The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which is most commonly referred to as the [Jones Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/jones_act), allows seamen to recover maintenance and cure benefits and/or sue their employers for negligence if they’re injured on the job. Maintenance and cure benefits cover a seaman’s medical expenses and daily living expenses until they’re able to return to work.  If a seaman is injured because their vessel is unseaworthy or because of their employer’s negligence, they’re permitted to seek additional [damages](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/damages-in-jones-act-dohsa-cases/) through a civil tort action. You can pursue compensation under the Jones Act if you’re legally considered to be a seaman, which means you work in support of a navigable vessel in navigable waters and spend at least 30 percent of your time on board that vessel. ### The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act The [Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act](https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/the-longshore-harbor-workers-compensation-act-overview.html) (LHWCA) is a federal workers’ compensation law that applies to most maritime workers. You can qualify if you work in a maritime-related position and are hurt on, over, or adjacent to navigable waters of the United States. Maritime workers can receive no-fault [benefits](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/dlhwc/FAQ/lsfaqs) under the LHWCA for: - Medical expenses - Disability benefits, including temporary total, temporary partial, permanent partial, and permanent total - Vocational rehabilitation Death benefits can also be awarded to surviving family members when a worker is killed in a fatal maritime accident in Houston. ### Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act **Workers on oil rigs off the coast of Texas weren’t initially covered by the LHWCA or other federal maritime laws**. If they got hurt on the job, federal benefits weren’t available to help them get back on their feet. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act changed that by extending LHWCA benefits to maritime workers who get hurt in accidents that: - Took place on a temporary or permanent structure on the subsea or subsoil of the Outer Continental Shelf - Took place while developing, exploring, or extracting natural resources, and - Didn’t take place on a ship. Benefits can also be paid for the wrongful death of a worker covered by the OCSLA. [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## Am I Protected Under Texas State Law if I’m Injured in a Maritime Accident? ![Am I Protected Under Texas State Law if I’m Injured in a Maritime Accident?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Am-I-Protected-Under-Texas-State-Law-if-Im-Injured-in-a-Maritime-Accident-300x200.jpg) Texas law can protect maritime workers injured in Houston, including those hurt at the Port of Houston or elsewhere on land. State personal injury laws may allow you to pursue damages from nearly any negligent party responsible for the accident. However, if your employer provides workers’ compensation insurance, **you may be restricted from filing a lawsuit against them directly**. If you can file a civil maritime injury lawsuit, you can pursue [economic](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-economic-damages/) and [non-economic damages](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-non-economic-damages-in-texas/) from a liable party. If your maritime accident case gets to trial, a jury would also have the discretion to award [punitive damages](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-punitive-damages/) if there is compelling [evidence](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/understanding-evidence-in-a-personal-injury-case/) of malice or gross negligence. However, Texas’s [modified comparative negligence doctrine](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.33.htm) may apply to civil maritime injury claims. Under the law, damages are awarded on a reduced basis as long as shared responsibility is no greater than 50 percent. Once [contributory fault](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-is-contributory-fault/) is greater than half, the right to demand compensation is forfeited. Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Common Maritime Injuries ![Common Maritime Injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Common-Maritime-Injuries-300x183.jpg) While maritime jobs are critical for the economy, they’re also among some of the most dangerous, **with fatality rates sometimes 5 or 6 times higher than in other professions**. At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we proudly fight to help maritime workers who’ve suffered all types of painful and [catastrophic injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/catastrophic-injury-lawyer/), including: - [Spinal cord injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/spinal-cord-injury-lawyer/) - [Back injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-injury/) - [Paralysis injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/quadriplegia/) - [Amputation injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/amputation-injury/) - [Degloving injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/degloving-injury/) - [Nerve damage](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/nerve-damage/) - Burn injuries - Neck injuries - Head injuries - [Brain injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/brain-injury-lawyer/) - [Crushing injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/crushing-injury/) - [Chest injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/chest-injury/) - Leg injuries - [Broken bones](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/broken-bones/) - [Soft tissue injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/soft-tissue-injury/) - [Eye injuries](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/eye-injury/) - Hearing loss - Wrongful death After a maritime accident, it’s imperative that you report any injuries to your employer and seek prompt medical care. These two steps can ensure that the incident is thoroughly documented and improve the odds that you’ll be able to secure the maximum benefits to which you’re entitled under state and federal law. ## What Will It Cost To Hire a Maritime Injury Attorney in Houston? ![What Will It Cost To Hire a Maritime Injury Attorney in Houston?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/What-Will-It-Cost-To-Hire-a-Maritime-Injury-Attorney-in-Houston-300x177.png) Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers fights for injured maritime workers in Houston on a [contingency fee](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/resources/contingency-fee/) basis. We don’t get paid until we win your [offshore accident and injury](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/types-of-offshore-accidents-and-injuries/) case. When we negotiate a settlement or win a verdict for you at trial, our attorney fees are simply taken out of that financial award. This means there’s no out-of-pocket cost or added stress when you ask for our help. If we don’t win, you pay nothing at all. ## How Long Do I Have To Pursue Compensation for a Maritime Injury in Houston? ![How Long Do I Have To Pursue Compensation for a Maritime Injury in Houston?](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/How-Long-Do-I-Have-To-Pursue-Compensation-for-a-Maritime-Injury-in-Houston-300x200.jpg) It depends. Different legal claims are subject to different filing requirements. - Jones Act claims must be filed within [three years](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title46/subtitle3&edition=prelim) of the date of injury - Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims are subject to a [one-year statute of limitations](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oalj/PUBLIC/LONGSHORE/REFERENCES/REFERENCE_WORKS/2002_LHWCA_TOPIC_13), but can only be brought if you’ve notified your employer of your injury within [30 days](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/owcp/dlhwc/FAQ/lsfaqs#VOCREHAB) of getting hurt - Civil personal injury lawsuits filed under Texas state law have a [two-year filing deadline](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.16.htm#16.003) You must file your maritime injury claim before the applicable [statute of limitations](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/understanding-the-statute-of-limitations-and-your-personal-injury-case/) runs out. When time expires, you will lose the opportunity to collect compensation that could make a meaningful difference in your life as you work hard to get back on your feet. ## Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer ![Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Schedule-a-Free-Consultation-With-an-Experienced-Houston-Maritime-Injury-Lawyer-300x168.png) Don’t struggle with the consequences of a maritime injury alone. **Assert your rights under federal maritime law and demand compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, disability, and other damages**. Better yet, focus on your recovery and trust the award-winning team at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers to fight for you. Our Houston maritime injury lawyers offer **45+ years of collective legal experience** and an undisputed ability to win tough cases. As fierce advocates for Houston, Texas’s injured workforce, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in monetary awards. [Contact us](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/contact-us/) today to schedule a free initial case review. ### Related Maritime Injury Blog Posts - [Underwater & Hyperbaric Welding: What You Need to Know](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/underwater-hyperbaric-welding-what-you-need-to-know/) ### What Our Clients Say About Us ``` Kuqui Ahmed Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Recomiendo al 100% a los abogados de Brian White, gracias a la Abogada Aimee Diaz por haberme ayudado a ganar mi caso de accidente en tan poco tiempo. DIOS LES BENDIGA. Candice Boyce Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After my car accident, it was highly recommended that I hire a personal injury attorney. I had no idea how to go about choosing one, so I chose from Google reviews. While this has been a long process, with some definite ups and downs, the end result is better than I expected. Brian White's team has done a great job representing my needs, and I would tell anyone who asks that they are the right team for the job. German Bello Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional and communicative Christine kinkead Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Professional A C (‫רַק דָּבָר אֶחָד‬‎) Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I want to give a huge thank you to Alondra for all of her help and support throughout my settlement process. From beginning to end, she stayed connected with me, kept me updated, and made sure I never felt like I was going through the process alone. One thing I really appreciated about Alondra was her honesty. If she didn’t know the answer to one of my questions right away, she didn’t just give me an answer to get me off the phone. She would take the time to find the correct information and always come back to me with an answer. Throughout this entire process, she showed me the value of having someone on your side who truly cares about the people and families they are helping. Her communication, patience, and willingness to be there for us meant a lot to me and my family. Thank you, Alondra, and thank you to Brian White and the entire team for your support and for helping my family through this settlement process. We truly appreciate everything you have done for us! Stefany Miranda Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The best! And profesional services ! Friendly and professional Alexis Valenzuela Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’m very grateful I chose this law firm to handle my accident case. They jumped right on my case and helped get everything moving quickly. They were professional, responsive, and kept me informed throughout the entire process. They took care of my treatment and fought hard to make sure I was taken care of medically every step of the way. They worked hard on my behalf and helped me get a settlement I was very happy with. Thank you to the entire team for everything you did for me! I truly appreciate it and would definitely recommend them. Daisy Valero Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Attorney Julie who worked with my motor vehicle accident, is absolutely amazing and very attentive! She always kept me updated and always had my best interest in mind. If I could rate Ms.Julie more than 5 stars then I would! Very sweet and thoughtful. If I (God forbid) ever get into another car accident I will definitely be coming back to Ms. Julie!! Treasure Nlemchi Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Andrea has been very attentive and responsive with my case, any questions I had she always answered, the service overall has been excellent, the overall customer service of this firm has been a 10/10, they truly care for their clients and their needs Kiaro Reed Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quick response. Very helpful and very knowledgeable. Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 2526 reviews ``` ``` ``` ``` ``` Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Houston Blog Posts: [![Teen Driving Laws in Texas—What Every Teen and Parent Needs to Know](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Teen-Driving-Laws-in-Texas-What-Every-Teen-and-Parent-Needs-to-Know-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/teen-driving-laws-in-texas-what-every-teen-and-parent-needs-to-know/) [Teen Driving Laws in Texas: What Every Teen and Parent Needs to Know](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/teen-driving-laws-in-texas-what-every-teen-and-parent-needs-to-know/) Texas operates on a graduated driving system for underage drivers, allowing restricted driving privileges that [![Clear the Shelters](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Screen-Shot-2026-08-03-at-9.43.28-AM-2048x1142-1-300x167.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/clear-the-shelters/) [Clear The Shelters](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/clear-the-shelters/) Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to support NBCU Local’s Clear The Shelters, a nationwide pet [![Understanding Assumption of Risk in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Understanding-Assumption-of-Risk-in-Texas-1-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/understanding-assumption-of-risk-in-texas/) [Understanding Assumption of Risk in Texas](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/understanding-assumption-of-risk-in-texas/) When you’re injured, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing a claim to collect from the insurance of a [![Texas Personal Injury vs. Texas Workers’ Compensation Law](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/texas-personal-injury-vs-texas-workers-compensation-law/) [Texas Personal Injury vs. Texas Workers’ Compensation Law](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/texas-personal-injury-vs-texas-workers-compensation-law/) Most states require employers to carry worker’s compensation insurance to cover employee expenses related to --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/houston-tx/maritime-injury-lawyer/