Houston Harbor Longshoreman Injury Lawyers

The International Port of Houston contains more than 150 private and public industrial terminals along the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel. It is the largest port in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico, and each year, it moves more than 241 million tons of cargo. There is never a dull or quiet day at the Houston Port. Every day, vessels move in and out of the ship channel with care, trying to get to and from the appropriate terminals without incident. While docked, many hands are on deck to load or unload the vessel without any property damage or worker injuries.

Unfortunately, the maritime industry is full of risk, and one small mistake can lead to a severe accident. If you were injured while at the port or within the Houston Ship Channel, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer. As a maritime worker, you need a legal representative who is highly experienced in federal and Texas maritime law, such as our Houston ship channel injury lawyers at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. We have the necessary knowledge and years of experience handling Gulf Coast worker injuries you need to obtain compensation for your work-related injury.

Contact a Houston maritime injury lawyer at 281-283-8500 to schedule a free consultation.

Workers at Risk for Ship Channel Injuries

The Port of Houston has thousands of vessels that come and leave with cargo every year. Its shipping channels and docks are some of the busiest in the country. However, with the number of vessels entering through the channels, the containers being loaded and offloaded, and cranes moving about, all types of maritime workers have to be vigilant to remain safe. If any one person or group falls short in their duties, a variety of workers are at risk including:

• Seamen
• Marine pilots
• Engineers
• Port workers
• Vessel traffic workers
• Tugboat operators
• Dock workers
• Dredge workers
• Terminal workers
• Forklike operators
• Crane operators
• Stevedores
• Oil workers

Whatever your position on a ship or the docks, if you are hurt at work, you need to call our Gulf Coast maritime accident lawyers. At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., our Houston maritime attorneys will review your situation and determine which maritime laws apply. Once we know which law dictates your rights and compensation, we will pursue a financial recovery on your behalf.

Common Causes of Ship Channel & Port Accidents

Some of the most frequent causes of accidents that harm Gulf Coast channel workers include:

• Inadequate training
• Lack of appropriate safety gear
• Old or defective safety gear
• Safety code violations
• Improperly maintained equipment
• Insufficient worker supervision
• Failure to keep a proper lookout
• Heavy equipment malfunctions
• Heavy equipment operator negligence
• Falling objects
• Being pinned by or between objects
• Falls from heights
• Slip/trip and falls
• Falling into the water
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Electrical hazards
• Fires and explosions

If you were involved in an accident you believe was caused by one of these factors or something else, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into what happened and why. They will gather evidence regarding the cause of the accident and who was responsible. All of this information may be necessary if you must file a lawsuit against your employer or another party for compensation.

Common Ship Channel Injuries

If you were hurt within the Houston Ship Channel or at another port, you might experience a common Gulf Coast channel worker injury, such as:

• Lacerations
• Disfigurement
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bone fractures
• Crushed limbs
• Traumatic amputation
• Traumatic brain injury
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Burns

If you are a maritime worker, whether you work on a vessel or at the port, and you are injured in an accident, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer. You are protected by numerous maritime laws, which entitle you to compensation for your injuries. An attorney will ensure you receive fair compensation while you recover from your accident.

Maritime Laws for Ship Channel Workers

The maritime laws that apply to your accident and injuries depend on your position within the maritime industry and where you were hurt. You may be covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. This federal law entitles most dock and port workers to obtain compensation and disability benefits for injuries sustained while performing work duties. If you are a maritime worker who works mostly on dry land, call The Krist Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your right to workers’ comp.

If you are not covered by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act after a ship channel accident, call us to discuss the Jones Act. This law enables sailors and seamen to sue their employer’s for compensation based on negligence. If you are a seaman and there is evidence that a co-worker, supervisor, or another agent of your employer was careless or reckless while on the job, then you may sue your employer for compensation for your economic and non-economic injuries. The act also gives you the right to maintenance and cure, which includes reimbursement for your daily living and medical expenses.

When the accident and your injuries were the results of someone outside of your employer, you may have the right to file a third-party claim. Our Houston ship channel injury lawyers will investigate your situation and gather evidence on your behalf. We may be able to use this as evidence to establish in court that this other individual or business was negligent, and therefore liable for compensating you for your injuries.

If you lost a loved one in a ship channel or port accident, contact us at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. You may have a right to death benefits or wrongful death compensation through one of these maritime laws or another. We will thoroughly review the accident that led to your loved one’s passing and advise you on your best course of action.

Contact a Houston Ship Channel Injury Lawyer

After suffering an accident at work or losing a loved one within the maritime industry, you need to call an attorney. Our team at The Krist Law Firm, P.C. has years of experience handling maritime claims, including those related to:

• Ship Accidents
• Equipment Related Injuries
• Crane Injuries
• Mooring Line Injuries
• Dock Worker Injuries
• Longshore Claims
• Offloading Facility Injuries

It only takes one day and one accident for you and your family’s life to entirely change. One day you are working and feel financially stable. The next, you may not know how you are going to pay all of the bills. We understand you may feel overwhelmed. We can guide you through this situation and to fight for you to obtain the compensation you are entitled to under the law.

While you may want to trust your employer to do the right thing by you, maritime claims are often complex and contested. Large companies have insurers who will attempt to reduce their liability and costs associated with the accident. Your employer’s focus will be on themselves, not what you need. By hiring a lawyer from The Krist Law Firm, P.C., you will get someone who is squarely on your side and who will be aggressive in pursuing your compensation.

To learn more about how we can help and fight for you, contact The Krist Law Firm, P.C. by calling 281-283-8500 for a free consultation.