Houston, Texas and surrounding areas

Working on the ocean remains one of the world's most dangerous occupations

Injuries to Seamen...

Specifically, a "seaman" is a worker who spends 30% or more of his working hours onboard a specific vessel or fleet of vessels under common ownership or control. There are specific laws in place to protect the rights of injured seamen that include:

• The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness
• The Principle of Maintenance and Cure
• The Jones Act

The Doctrine of Unseaworthiness
This doctrine applies if a seaman is injured because the ship or appliance of the ship is defective in some way or otherwise deemed "unseaworthy."

The Principle of Maintenance and Cure
This principal is similar, in some ways, to workers' compensation. Unless a seaman was injured due to his own willful gross negligence, he could be eligible to receive reimbursement for his medical treatment and living expenses.

The Jones Act
The Jones Act was created in 1920 to govern the injuries that take place while employed aboard a vessel, and extends unique rights to compensation for injured seamen. Under The Jones Act, seamen and offshore workers are entitled to file suit against their employers and/or the owner(s) of ships and/or offshore oil rights directly. As such, an injured seaman's rights to compensation are not limited to the "no fault" arrangements common to most state's workers' compensation programs.

Injuries to Longshoremen and Harbor Workers...

Workers injured onboard a vessel that are not considered "seamen," are protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). The act provides benefits to maritime workers who are not covered by the Jones Act or traditional workers' compensation. Injuries covered by the LHWCA may include injuries sustained while:

• Repairing or maintaining a vessel
• Building a vessel
• Loading or unloading a vessel
• Longshoring
• Harbor Work
• Stevedoring

We Fight for YOUR Rights.

Contact The Camberg Law Firm today to schedule a free case evaluation. All initial consultations are free. The majority of our cases handled are on a contingency fee basis which means under this type of agreement you will not be charged a fee unless you recover compensation. We also handle cases on an hourly basis or a mixed hourly/contingency basis.

The information on this page should not be construed as legal advice.
Contacting The Camberg Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.