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Learn MoreGulf Coast maritime injury attorneys
Jones Act, unseaworthiness, LHWCA, and OCSLA claims for injured offshore and maritime workers across the Texas-Louisiana coast.
Federal law, federal stakes
Maritime injuries are governed by a body of federal law that has very little in common with ordinary state-court personal-injury practice. The Jones Act, the doctrine of unseaworthiness, the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act each carve out their own remedies, deadlines, and procedural quirks. Choosing the wrong framework — or letting the employer's claims department choose it for you — can cost real money.
We represent seamen, longshore workers, riggers, divers, mariners, and offshore-platform crew injured anywhere from inland waterways to deepwater Gulf operations. Read our plain-language overview of what offshore workers need to know about the Jones Act.
Cases we handle
Our maritime practice spans:
- Jones Act negligence claims for injured seamen
- Unseaworthiness claims against vessel owners
- Maintenance and cure benefits and disputes
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) claims
- Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) cases
- Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) claims for offshore fatalities
How we investigate
We move quickly to preserve vessel logs, JSAs, near-miss reports, manning documents, drill records, and crew statements. Offshore evidence — particularly aboard vessels under contract to operators — has a way of disappearing. We also retain marine engineers, naval architects, and maritime safety experts where the case requires them.
Compensation we pursue
Under the Jones Act, an injured seaman may recover full economic and non-economic damages — past and future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and mental anguish, disfigurement, and disability. Maintenance and cure provides daily living expenses and reasonable medical treatment until maximum medical improvement is reached. Unreasonable denial of those benefits can support additional damages and fees.
Why choose carefully
Many offshore employers have an in-house claims process designed to channel injured workers into low-value settlements before they understand their rights. Recorded statements, "voluntary" trips to company doctors, and pressure to sign releases all happen quickly. Speak with a lawyer before signing anything. Contact us for a confidential, no-cost consultation.
3 yrs
Statute of limitations on most Jones Act personal-injury claims
~30%
Common threshold of vessel-service time for seaman status
No-fault
Maintenance & cure does not require proof of negligence
Frequently Asked
Common questions about maritime accidents cases
If your question isn't answered here, contact our team — every case is different, and a quick conversation costs nothing.
What is the Jones Act?
The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. §30104) is a federal statute that allows a "seaman" injured in the course of employment to sue his or her employer for negligence. Unlike state workers' compensation, the Jones Act permits a jury trial, full economic and non-economic damages, and a reduced "featherweight" causation standard — if employer negligence played any part in the injury, the employer is liable.
Who qualifies as a "seaman" under the Jones Act?
Generally, a seaman is a worker who (1) contributes to the function of a vessel (or fleet of vessels under common ownership or control) in navigation, and (2) has a connection to the vessel that is substantial in both duration and nature. Courts often look for roughly 30% of work time spent in vessel service. Payroll classification is not controlling — many "land-based" workers in fact qualify.
What are "maintenance and cure" benefits?
Maintenance is a daily living-expense allowance paid to an injured seaman until they reach maximum medical improvement. Cure is the obligation to provide reasonable medical treatment for the injury or illness. Both are no-fault benefits — they are owed regardless of who caused the injury. An employer who unreasonably denies or delays maintenance and cure can face additional damages, including attorneys' fees.
What is an "unseaworthiness" claim?
A vessel owner has a non-delegable duty to provide a vessel reasonably fit for its intended use. Defective equipment, untrained crew, inadequate manning, or unsafe conditions on board can all support an unseaworthiness claim. This is a separate cause of action from a Jones Act negligence claim, and it can be brought against the vessel owner even when the owner is not the seaman's employer.
What's the difference between the Jones Act, LHWCA, and OCSLA?
The Jones Act protects seamen — workers with a substantial connection to a vessel in navigation. The LHWCA covers maritime workers on navigable waters or adjoining piers, docks, and shipyards who are not seamen. OCSLA applies to injuries on fixed structures on the Outer Continental Shelf and often borrows the law of the adjacent state for tort claims. Which framework applies turns on where you were and what you were doing.
How long do I have to file a maritime-injury claim?
Jones Act and general maritime claims generally carry a three-year statute of limitations under 46 U.S.C. §30106. LHWCA claims have separate notice and filing deadlines — often within one year of the injury (or longer in some circumstances). DOHSA claims have their own deadlines. Because the deadlines differ by claim type, contacting counsel early is the safest approach.
Can I sue if I signed an arbitration agreement with my offshore employer?
Maybe. Some offshore employers — particularly foreign-flagged vessels and certain non-Jones-Act workers — can enforce arbitration agreements. Jones Act seamen, however, typically cannot be compelled to arbitrate negligence claims under §1 of the Federal Arbitration Act. Whether an agreement is enforceable depends on the worker's status, the contract's language, and applicable law. Have any agreement reviewed before relying on it.
Related practice areas
Many serious injury cases overlap multiple practice areas. Here are a few related matters our firm handles regularly.
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