Galveston Maritime Lawyers

Representing Injured Seamen & Offshore Workers

The offshore industry is America's oldest industry. Maritime law was the law when we were just British colonies, and many of our founding fathers were maritime lawyers before the Revolution. Many of those basic precepts still form the foundation of maritime law today, particularly the rule of maintenance and cure. Maintenance and cure refer to the responsibility of a ship's owners or captain to fund an injured worker's living expenses and medical treatment if he or she was injured while working aboard.

Despite centuries of progressively better safety, offshore work is still some of the most dangerous work anyone can get into. America's industries depend on the risks that our offshore workers take: from shipping vessels to barges to offshore oil rigs, our workers are doing the high-stakes work that keeps our nation running. That's why our Galveston maritime attorneys fight to protect workers after they've been grievously injured offshore while doing their jobs—their companies owe workers a great debt, but none of them are willing to pay it unless someone makes them.

If you or your loved one was injured in an offshore accident, call (888) 493-1629. Our Galveston maritime lawyers want to help you get the treatment and support you need to rebuild.

Common Galveston Offshore Injuries & Accidents

Ships and rigs are dangerous places to work. That's why vessel owners and supervisors are made responsible for the upkeep and safety of their vessels—by holding them legally liable, the hope is that they'll work harder to ensure the safety of their workers. When fines and citations aren't enough to deter unsafe environments, offshore accident survivors can file claims to further deter unsafe practices.

In some instances, injuries are so serious that a person might never fully recover. Sometimes, this means that a person has a lifetime of medical care and pain ahead of them. Other accidents cause injuries that force seamen to lose their ability to work as they once did. When injuries have a lasting and negative impact on a person's life, they're referred to as catastrophic.

Catastrophic maritime injuries include:

When an offshore worker sustains injuries such as the ones listed above, they need the help of our Galveston maritime catastrophic injury lawyers. We fight to make sure clients have the compensation required to live their life as comfortably as possible. This includes demanding compensation for lost income, the cost of current and future medical care, and any other damages a person needs to recover so their life can be as normal as possible.

Galveston Oil Rig Accidents

Oil rig workers are expected to work for 12 hours a day for 2 weeks at a time—it's a hard, grueling living. Many workers find it rewarding, however, so there's never a shortage of men and women willing to take a spot on a rotating crew. Unfortunately, there's always an open spot because drilling operations are seven times deadlier than the average workplace in the United States. Our Galveston oil rig accident attorneys have represented hundreds of oil rig workers who were injured on the job, getting them the millions they needed to rebuild their lives and start new careers (or replace their income if they were no longer able to work).

We represented over one-third of the Deepwater Horizon crew after the deadly explosion that killed 11 people and injured 17.

Demanding Answers After Galveston Maritime Deaths

Sometimes, companies fail to prevent accidents that are deadly for their workers. When this happens, grieving families deserve answers and a way to move forward after losing so much. Our Galveston maritime death attorneys fight for the justice families deserve after the unthinkable.

Our Galveston maritime death law firm has help recover compensation such as:

Funeral expenses
Medical debt
Lost income
Loss of consortium
Emotional suffering
Loss of support

Jones Act Lawyers Serving Galveston

Working as a Galveston seaman in the maritime industry can be risky, especially with heavy equipment and unsafe conditions on many vessels. When an injury occurs at sea, it can be extremely difficult to get proper medical care while you are thousands of miles offshore. That’s why maritime injuries tend to be more dangerous than injuries that occur on land, according to a CDC study.

In addition to the centuries-old principles of admiralty law that govern maritime accidents, the United States has passed four laws that are foundational to offshore workers' rights: the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act, the Limitation of Liability Act, and the Longshoreman & Harbor Workers Compensation Act. The most relevant to injured seamen is the Jones Act—a law that entitles workers who have been injured by negligence to recover for their lost wages, lost earning capacity, mental and physical suffering, living expenses during recovery, and medical care. It's similar to workers' compensation for mainland workers, but it includes a far more qualifying losses.

If you have sustained serious injuries offshore, it is vital to contact a Galveston Jones Act attorney as soon as possible. Arnold & Itkin refuses to stand by and let companies refuse their duty to their employees.

What Is the Jones Act?

The Jones Act provides protection under admiralty law that offers support for any U.S. citizen working as a seaman who suffers injuries due to employer negligence. The Jones Act refers to The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which is a federal statute enacted to encourage workers to take offshore jobs and stoke the industry’s growth. Since maritime work is dangerous by nature, the Jones Act is vital for creating relief for injured workers and ensuring they get fair compensation for their injuries.

Although the Jones Act is similar to workers’ compensation, a Jones Act settlement is usually larger than a workers’ comp settlement because offshore workers can claim more avenues for recovery, whereas worker’s compensation generally covers only basic medical care. Importantly, workers’ comp does not require a beneficiary to prove negligence, but the Jones Act does.

Jones Act claims can include the following:

Cost of living while recovering
Loss of future earning capacity
Lost wages from recovery time
Medical care
Mental anguish
Physical pain, suffering, and disfigurement

Our Galveston maritime attorneys are also ready to help grieving families secure justice. If your loved one has been killed while working offshore, we can fight to help you get the compensation you need for losses such as funeral expenses, lost wages, and loss of companionship.

Maritime Workers' Rights Under the Jones Act

The Jones Act allows maritime workers to seek compensation for an injury that occurs aboard a vessel and as a result of negligence of the vessel owner, operator, or other employee. Families also have the right to bring a seaman’s wrongful death action under the Jones Act if their loved one died as a result of a work-related injury or illness. Learn more about your rights by contacting Arnold & Itkin today.

Your rights as a seaman under the Jones Act include:

The right to a reasonably safe work environment.
The right to make a claim if injured by negligence.
The right to maintenance and cure related to the injury or illness.
The right to additional compensation if the vessel or crew is deemed unseaworthy.
The right to punitive damages if an employer wrongfully refused to pay maintenance and cure.

Claims of Unseaworthiness Under the Jones Act

The Jones Act protects offshore workers from negligence that can cause fatal accidents. Unseaworthiness is a common claim filed by maritime workers if a vessel is not deemed reasonably safe for the type of work required.

There are many factors that contribute to a ship’s seaworthy condition, including:

Improperly stowed cargo
Too few crew members or workers
Lack of appropriate safety guards or rails
Lack of fire extinguishers
Lack of proper elevators
Lack of sufficient food or supplies
Untrained crew or captain
Hazardous living or working conditions

If you believe an unseaworthy ship was the cause of your offshore accident, it is advised to contact an attorney to know how to proceed. These cases require specific investigations to prove your case. Arnold & Itkin attorneys can help alleviate your suffering by pursuing the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Galveston Offshore Explosion Lawyers

Sometimes, offshore workers face some of the largest and most destructive work accidents possible: explosions. Oil rigs and other vessel deal with volatile substances that, if handled improperly, can cause catastrophic explosions. Our Galveston oil rig explosion lawyers have been there to help injured workers recover, and we're ready to help you do the same. In fact, we're the firm that many of the crew members of the Deepwater Horizon turned to after the rig was part of one of the worst maritime disasters in United States history.

We refuse to let companies treat our clients wrong and never back down from a fight. Our team investigates complex offshore explosions and we refuse to settle until we're convinced that the other side is taking responsibility for the suffering it could have prevented.

Helping Harbor Workers & Longshoremen with Galveston LHWCA Claims

The Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a law that helps injured workers get the compensation they need after sustaining injuries on the job. It covers workers who load, unload, craft, and repair vessels as well as those who work on navigable waters within the United States.

Our Galveston LHWCA attorneys help workers such as:

Harbor workers
Shipbuilders
Ship repairers
Longshore workers

The LHWCA is important because it helps injured workers receive compensation for the full extent of their injuries that extends beyond what typical workers' compensation would provide. For example, the act can help injured harbor workers hold negligent companies accountable and recover things such as lost wages, medical bills, and any other damages caused by their accident.

Schedule a Free Review of Your Case with Galveston Maritime Attorneys

If you were hurt while working in the offshore industry—from working in harbor warehouses to the heart of the ocean—then you need someone to watch your back. Offshore companies are notorious for using underhanded tactics to keep their workers from seeking the amount they deserve for their pain. Our Galveston offshore law firm levels the playing field so you can focus on starting again.

Here's what will happen if you contact us: we'll schedule a time for you to meet with a lawyer for a free review of your options. If we can help you, we'll cover the cost of your claim from beginning to end—no upfront payment, no invoice or bill. Every penny—from our fee to the investigators we hire—will be advanced against your verdict or settlement. If you don't win, we absorb the loss so you won't owe a thing.

Call (888) 493-1629 or contact us online. Our Galveston maritime injury lawyers can fight to help you get your life back.

Maritime Lawyers

Our Galveston Maritime Attorneys Have Won Billions for the Injured