If you or a loved one suffered a maritime injury — whether on a cargo ship, oil rig, or offshore platform — you may be entitled to compensation for employer negligence or unsafe working conditions, and you shouldn’t have to face powerful employers or insurance companies alone.

We’ll help you:

  • Understand your rights under maritime law
  • Identify the cause of your accident and prove negligence
  • Calculate the full value of your maritime injury claim
  • Build a strong case and fight for maximum compensation

At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., our Houston maritime lawyers and personal injury attorneys know what it takes to win complex offshore and maritime injury cases.

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Call 443-234-0423 or fill out our online form for a free consultation today.

Understanding Maritime Law and Your Rights

Jobs in the maritime industry are some of the most dangerous in the world, often leading to serious injuries that require experienced legal help. Many offshore workers face long hours, limited training, and heavy physical demands — often with too few crew members or proper equipment. Jobs in the oil and gas industry are especially hazardous, with higher injury and fatality rates than most other sectors, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Why Maritime Injuries Are Different

Maritime injuries are not handled like regular workplace accidents. They fall under federal maritime and admiralty laws, such as:

These laws apply to injuries that happen offshore, on vessels, docks, ports, or navigable waters. Proving these cases requires experience — and that’s where our firm stands out.

What Your Maritime Injury Case Could Be Worth

Whether you’re one of Houston’s offshore workers, longshoremen, or harbor crew, you may recover:

  • Medical expenses for current and future care
  • Lost wages or reduced earning ability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Disfigurement or disability

If you’re a seaman, you may also qualify for:

  • Maintenance and Cure – daily living and medical costs while you recover
  • Vocational rehabilitation – to help you return to work
  • Disability payments – if you cannot return to your job

Insurance companies often try to undervalue maritime injury claims or deny legitimate benefits. Our experienced Houston maritime lawyers know how to challenge these tactics and pursue the full compensation you deserve.

Types of Maritime Accidents We Handle

Houston is home to one of the busiest ports in the U.S., and with heavy equipment, large vessels, and tough conditions, accidents happen. Our team represents workers hurt in:

Offshore & Cargo Ship Accidents

Working offshore or aboard cargo ships carries major risks. Rough seas, heavy equipment, and human error can lead to devastating maritime accidents and offshore injuries. Common causes include:

  • Unseaworthy vessels, cargo ships, and cruise ships
  • Collisions, barge accidents, and groundings
  • Slippery or cluttered decks
  • Poorly trained or understaffed crew members

Port & Dockside Accidents

Houston’s busy ports and docks are dangerous worksites where heavy machinery and cargo ships can cause serious maritime accidents. Our maritime attorneys handle all types of dockside injuries, including:

  • Crane and cargo loading accidents
  • Mooring line failures
  • Falls from ladders or decks
  • Faulty or poorly maintained equipment

If you’ve been hurt in a port or cargo ship accident, you may have a right to file a maritime injury claim under laws like the LHWCA.

Oil & Gas and Offshore Platform Accidents

Workers on oil rigs and offshore platforms face extreme danger every day. A single maritime accident — such as an explosion, fire, or equipment failure — can cause catastrophic offshore injuries. Common causes include:

  • Explosions, fires, and blowouts
  • Gas or chemical leaks
  • Equipment failure
  • Helicopter or boat transport accidents

Fixed Platform Injuries

Fixed platforms are permanent offshore structures used in oil and gas production. They’re anchored to the seabed and support heavy drilling and production equipment. While generally stable, these offshore structures still pose serious risks for workers and often lead to maritime accidents or offshore injuries.

Common causes of fixed platform injuries and oil rig accidents include:

  • Slippery or cluttered decks
  • Explosions and fires
  • Improper training or insufficient staffing
  • Collapsed grates or structural failures
  • Exposure to toxic fumes or chemicals

Even with strict federal safety rules, employers sometimes cut corners on training, equipment, or maintenance. When that happens, injured workers may have the right to pursue a maritime injury claim under maritime law. Our Houston maritime lawyers help victims of offshore oil platform accidents recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

Dynamic Positioning Vessel Accidents

Dynamic positioning (DP) systems let vessels stay in one spot without anchors, even in rough seas. They’re common on oil, gas, and energy vessels working far from shore.

When DP systems fail, vessels can drift or lose control, putting divers and crew in danger. These accidents may cause collisions, strand divers, or delay rescue efforts.

Maritime employers must follow strict safety laws to protect divers and crew. But even when these rules are followed, serious or fatal accidents can still occur because of negligence or sudden equipment failure.

Plant & Refinery Explosions

Explosions at refineries and chemical plants can cause catastrophic injuries and widespread damage. Oversight often involves the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) — agencies responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards.

Despite these protections, tragedies still occur. The fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas killed 15 people and revealed that OSHA hadn’t inspected the site in five years. Many refineries and chemical plants still operate with outdated equipment, poor maintenance, or ignored warning signs, making these environments among the most dangerous for Texas workers.

Petrochemical Accidents

Houston’s massive petrochemical and oil rig industry faces constant risk of explosions, toxic leaks, and devastating maritime accidents.

Petrochemical accidents can cause catastrophic explosions, toxic releases, and serious injuries to maritime workers and nearby residents. Common causes include:

  • Human error or ignored safety procedures
  • Defective or poorly maintained equipment
  • Inadequate employee training
  • Failure to follow maintenance schedules

Even a small mistake in a petrochemical plant can trigger large-scale destruction. Our Houston maritime attorneys hold companies accountable when unsafe practices or neglected maintenance lead to devastating injuries.

Pipeline Transportation Accidents

Pipeline failures can cause deadly explosions, fires, and spills. Since 1986, these accidents have killed more than 500 people and caused billions in damage. With increased oil and gas production, serious incidents have become more common both onshore and offshore.

Much of the Gulf of Mexico’s pipeline network is decades old and more likely to fail from corrosion or equipment wear. In fact, corrosion causes up to 20% of major U.S. pipeline accidents. Federal investigations show that equipment failure and aging infrastructure are leading causes, along with welding defects and damage from heavy machinery. When companies ignore maintenance or delay inspections, workers and nearby communities pay the price. Our Houston maritime attorneys help victims of pipeline accidents recover compensation for their injuries and losses.

Serious Maritime Injuries

The following are some of the injuries our team frequently handles, many of which are suffered by Houston-area longshoremen, seamen, and harbor workers:

What To Do After a Maritime Accident

Act fast after a maritime or offshore injury — evidence disappears quickly at sea or on a dock. Here’s what to do:

  1. Report the accident to your supervisor.
  2. Get medical care immediately, preferably from an independent doctor.
  3. Take photos of the scene and your injuries.
  4. Write down names of any witnesses.
  5. Don’t sign anything or accept settlements before speaking to a lawyer.

Our firm will take over from there, investigating, gathering evidence, and building your case for maximum compensation.

Maritime Laws That Protect Workers

Your rights are protected under several key laws:

  • The Jones Act – lets injured seamen sue employers for negligence
  • The LHWCA – gives dock and harbor workers benefits similar to workers’ comp.
  • The Defense Base Act (DBA) – extends LHWCA coverage to civilian contractors working on U.S. military bases or under government contracts overseas
  • The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness – requires vessels to be safe and properly maintained
  • The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) – covers offshore oil and gas workers.
  • The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) – provides for families of workers who die offshore

Our lawyers understand how these laws apply to Gulf Coast and Port of Houston cases — and how to use them to get you paid.

Maritime Accident Claims & Legal Representation

How We Prove Negligence in Maritime Cases

To win your case, your maritime attorney must show that someone’s negligence caused your injuries. That means proving they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm.

  • Poor maintenance or inspections
  • Faulty equipment
  • Unsafe work practices
  • Insufficient manpower or inadequate training
  • Violating safety rules or regulations

At The Krist Law Firm, we uncover every detail, from broken safety systems to ignored maintenance logs, to prove fault and hold employers accountable.

Our Experience with Houston Maritime Cases

We’ve helped injured maritime workers across the Gulf and Port of Houston recover millions, including one of the largest maritime injury verdicts in Texas history: $15,120,000 for a worker struck by a snapped mooring line.

Our team has decades of experience, deep maritime law knowledge, and access to top experts in engineering, safety, and medicine. We know how to fight big companies and win.

Why Choose The Krist Law Firm, P.C.?

Award-winning maritime attorney Scott Krist can make the difference in maximizing your claim and recovering everything you deserve. With more than 30 years of experience, he’s fought for injured seamen and maritime workers across the Gulf, securing some of the largest recoveries in Texas maritime law history.

Choosing a maritime lawyer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make after an accident. Here’s what you get with our firm:

  • Full case investigation – We review vessel records, safety logs, and training documentation.
  • Access to experts – We work with top engineers, accident reconstructionists, and medical professionals.
  • Aggressive negotiation – We don’t settle for less than what you deserve.
  • Trial-ready representation – We’re prepared to fight in court if necessary.
  • No fees unless you win – You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Get a Free Consultation Today

At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., you’re not just a case number. We take the time to explain your rights, answer questions, and guide you through every step of your case.

If you’ve suffered a maritime or offshore injury at sea, on an oil rig, cargo ship, or offshore platform — or at the Port of Houston — let our Houston maritime and personal injury lawyers fight for the compensation you deserve.

Call 443-234-0423 or contact us online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.