Dallas Maritime Injury Lawyer

Protecting the Rights of Injured Maritime Workers in Dallas

Maritime accidents often result in severe, life-changing injuries. Although Dallas is not a coastal city, many maritime workers reside in North Texas, and a significant number of maritime and energy companies are headquartered in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, with operations spanning to ports, offshore platforms, and navigable waterways across Texas and the Gulf Coast. When injuries occur on or near navigable waters, federal maritime law applies—bringing rules that are very different from ordinary personal injury or workplace injury claims.

At Perkins & Perkins Trial Attorneys, we represent maritime workers from Dallas who have been injured offshore, aboard vessels, at docks, and in support of maritime operations. Our attorneys understand the complexities of maritime law and know how to pursue the full compensation injured workers are entitled to under federal statutes.

How Maritime Law Determines Compensation After an Accident

Federal Maritime Laws That May Apply

Maritime injury claims are governed by specialized federal laws depending on the worker’s role and the location of the accident. These laws often provide stronger protections than traditional injury claims when handled correctly.

The Jones Act
The Jones Act allows injured seamen to sue their employers when negligence contributes to an accident. It also provides “maintenance and cure,” which includes medical treatment related to the injury, daily living expenses during recovery, and ongoing care until maximum medical improvement.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
This law covers dockworkers, shipbuilders, harbor employees, and others injured on or near navigable waters who are not considered seamen. Benefits typically include medical care, wage replacement, and vocational rehabilitation.

The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA)
DOHSA allows surviving family members to seek compensation when a fatal accident occurs more than three nautical miles from U.S. shores. Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support and funeral and burial expenses.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
OCSLA extends The Longshore and Harbor Worker’ Act (LHWCA) protections to workers injured on offshore oil rigs and platforms located on the outer continental shelf.

General Maritime Law
General maritime law is a body of federal common law governing maritime activities and injuries that occur on navigable waters. It provides remedies even when a worker does not qualify under the Jones Act or other specific statutes aimed at providing relief to maritime workers. Determining which law applies is critical to maximizing recovery. Our Dallas maritime injury lawyers evaluate every detail to pursue the strongest claim available.

Limitations That May Affect Your Maritime Injury Case

Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, is unique, and workers injured at sea or in maritime operations face different rules than typical negligence claims. Some key limitations include:

Seaman Status

To qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act, a worker must generally spend at least 30 percent of their work time contributing to the function or mission of a vessel. Workers who do not meet this threshold may still have valid claims under other maritime statutes, but their legal rights differ.

Limitation of Liability Act

Vessel owners may attempt to limit their liability by claiming that damages should be capped at the value of the vessel and its pending freight. This process takes place in federal court and often involves complex valuation disputes. These limitations are not automatic and can be challenged with experts, and when the owner knew of unsafe conditions or acted recklessly.

Maritime Injuries and How They Happen

Maritime injuries occur while working on or near navigable waters such as oceans, rivers, docks, and offshore platforms. These accidents commonly affect seamen, offshore oil rig workers, longshoremen, harbor employees, and support crews. Due to the dangerous nature of maritime work, injuries are often severe or fatal.

Common Causes of Accidents

Maritime environments are among the most dangerous workplaces in the world. Common causes of maritime accidents include:

Equipment or machinery failures
Vessel collisions or groundings
Fires and explosions
Cargo handling accidents
Exposure to hazardous materials
Severe weather and rough seas

Common Maritime Injuries

Maritime workers often suffer serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment and long-term recovery, including:

Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
Severe burns and amputations
Crush injuries and broken bones
Respiratory illnesses and hearing loss
Illnesses caused by toxic exposure
PTSD and other psychological conditions
Drowning
Electrocutions

Our firm pursues compensation that reflects the full physical, emotional, and financial impact of these injuries.

Offshore Oil Rig Accidents

Offshore oil and gas operations involve even more unique hazards beyond traditional maritime work. Common dangers include:

Blowouts and explosions
Equipment malfunctions and poor maintenance
Helicopter and transport accidents
Fires and toxic chemical exposure
Accidents caused by severe weather

Workers injured in offshore oil rig accidents may be entitled to compensation under specialized maritime statutes.

Dock and Harbor Accidents

Ports and docks remain highly dangerous environments. Common incidents include:

Falling or unsecured cargo
Crane, forklift, and loading equipment accidents
Slips, trips, and falls
Chemical or fuel exposure
Slippery or wet surfaces
Trip hazards

Maritime Accident FAQs

1. What should I do after a maritime accident?

Seek medical attention immediately and report the incident. Do not sign documents or give recorded statements before speaking with an admiralty law attorney. Document everything, including photos, witness names, and unsafe conditions.

2. Can I recover compensation if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Maritime law allows injured workers to recover compensation even if they share some responsibility for the accident.

3.What if my employer refuses to provide medical care?

Failure to provide maintenance and cure may violate maritime law and expose the employer to additional penalties.

4. Are passengers covered by maritime law?

Yes. Maritime law applies to any passengers injured aboard vessels, including cruise ships and ferries. When an injury occurs on navigable waters or involves traditional maritime activity, passengers may bring claims under general maritime negligence principles.

5. Can families file claims for fatal maritime accidents?

Yes. Federal maritime laws allow families to pursue wrongful death claims in qualifying cases through the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).

6. Why hire a maritime attorney instead of a general injury lawyer?

Maritime law is highly specialized. An experienced maritime attorney understands the specific federal statutes, jurisdictional issues, and industry defenses that general injury lawyers are never exposed to.