Understanding Your Rights Under Maritime Law
Working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Seamen, deckhands, and offshore workers face daily risks from rough seas, heavy equipment, and demanding conditions. When accidents happen, the consequences are often life-changing — including broken bones, back injuries, burns, and even traumatic brain injuries.
Thankfully, federal law provides special protections for offshore workers. The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) gives injured seamen the right to sue their employers for negligence and recover compensation for their injuries. Unlike standard workers’ compensation, the Jones Act allows claims directly against employers who fail to provide safe working conditions, proper training, or seaworthy vessels.
What the Jones Act Covers for Offshore Workers
If you qualify as a “seaman,” the Jones Act protects you when you’re hurt while working offshore. This includes jobs on:
- Oil rigs and drilling platforms
- Supply boats and crew boats
- Tugboats and barges
- Tankers, cargo ships, and container vessels
- Fishing and shrimp boats
- Offshore construction and service vessels
Under the Jones Act, injured workers can recover damages for:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability or reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death benefits for surviving families
The law also requires employers to provide maintenance and cure — covering daily living expenses and medical treatment — until the worker reaches maximum medical recovery.
Why Injured Seamen Need an Experienced Jones Act Attorney
Jones Act claims are very different from standard injury cases in Texas. Employers and their insurers often move quickly to minimize payouts — sometimes pressuring workers to sign away their rights or return to work before they’re healed.
At Gilman & Allison, LLP, our attorneys have real maritime backgrounds and decades of trial experience. We’ve represented injured seamen and offshore workers across the Gulf Coast, from Houston and Galveston to Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and Port Arthur. We know how to prove negligence, fight big companies, and secure fair compensation for our clients.
If you or a loved one has been injured offshore, don’t wait. Call us today at Houston (713) 224-6622 or Corpus Christi (361) 357-8365 for a free case review.
