Houston’s location along the Gulf Coast and its network of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and the Houston Ship Channel make it one of the most active areas in the country for maritime activity. With that activity comes significant risk. These cases operate under a completely different set of laws than standard personal injury claims, and they require an attorney with specific maritime law experience. Our Houston maritime law attorney team is ready to help.
Recreational Boating Accidents
Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, Galveston Bay, and the many reservoirs around the Houston metro see substantial recreational boat traffic — especially during spring and summer. If you were injured in a recreational boating crash, our boating accident lawyers handle these cases under both state law and, where applicable, federal maritime law.
Common causes of recreational boating accidents include operator inattention or inexperience, alcohol use (boating under the influence is illegal in Texas), excessive speed, failure to observe navigation rules, defective boat equipment, and overloaded vessels.
Commercial Maritime Injuries and the Jones Act
Workers injured aboard vessels on navigable waters — including offshore workers, deck hands, commercial fishermen, and crew members operating on the Gulf of Mexico or the Houston Ship Channel — may have rights under federal maritime law, including the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104).
The Jones Act allows injured seamen to bring negligence claims directly against their employers, with a lower burden of proof than standard negligence cases. It also provides for maintenance and cure — a daily living allowance and medical expense coverage while recovering from a work-related injury.
Other Maritime Legal Remedies
Beyond the Jones Act, maritime workers and accident victims may have claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA), or general maritime law for negligence and unseaworthiness claims. Our personal injury attorneys identify and pursue all applicable remedies in maritime cases.
Call Maida Law Firm at 713-785-9484 for a free consultation. Maritime law is specialized — experience in these cases makes a real difference in your outcome.
About the authors
Sam A. Maida, Jr.
Owner and Managing Attorney
Sam A. Maida, Jr. has represented injured Texans in the greater Houston area since the firm opened in 1993.
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Bernard G. Johnson III
Litigation Managing Attorney
Bernard G. Johnson III is a board certified trial lawyer licensed in Texas since 1996 and a graduate of South Texas College of Law.