Houston maritime injury lawyer Stephen Goldenzweig leads a team devoted to protecting the men and women who keep our ports, shipyards, and offshore rigs moving. We focus on your well-being from the first call, guiding you through medical care, wage recovery, and the maze of federal admiralty statutes.

Our office on West Loop South in Bellaire is minutes from the Port of Houston, so we can visit accident sites quickly and meet injured seamen at local hospitals without delay. We handle every case on contingency—no fees unless we win—and front all litigation costs, because we believe every maritime worker deserves top-tier legal help regardless of ability to pay.

If a maritime accident upended your life, Houston attorney Stephen Goldenzweig will fight for you. Call 713-561-5003 or drop by our Bellaire office today. Our attorneys return calls the same day, arrange second medical opinions, and coordinate transportation if you are still recovering.

What Types of Accidents Cause Maritime Injuries in Houston?

Maritime work is uniquely dangerous. Houston’s heavy petrochemical traffic, long shipping lanes, and booming offshore industry create daily hazards such as:

  • Oil & Gas Platform Explosions or Fires – Jack-up rig blowouts and platform flash fires leave victims with catastrophic burns and lung damage.
  • Vessel Collisions or Capsizing – Tugboats, barges, and container ships collide in the busy Ship Channel, often due to fatigued crews or inadequate navigation systems.
  • Falling & Machinery Accidents – Deck falls, snapped cables, and crane drop loads fracture bones and sever limbs in seconds.
  • Slip/Trip & Overboard Falls – Slippery decks, missing handrails, and unsafe gangways can lead to drowning or traumatic brain injuries.
  • Crane & Cargo Incidents – Unsecured containers, defective rigging, or rushed loading schedules crush stevedores and harbor workers.
  • Chemical Exposures – Leaks from nearby refineries along I-10 East expose workers to benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxins.

Less-Common but Serious Maritime Accidents

  • Helicopter Transport Crashes carrying crews to deep-water rigs
  • Commercial Diving & Salvage Mishaps under Galveston Bay
  • Recreational Vessel Collisions during ship-assist operations
  • On-shore Training Facility Injuries where maritime gear is tested

Each scenario demands swift investigation, expert reconstruction, and precise application of specialized maritime statutes—tasks the Houston maritime injury attorneys at Goldenzweig Law Group perform daily.

Which Maritime Laws Protect Houston Workers Injured at Sea?

A land-based workers’-comp claim rarely covers a seaman’s losses. Instead, maritime statutes fill the gap:

  • Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) – Lets qualifying “seamen” sue an employer directly for negligence, collect full wage loss, and recover pain and suffering—remedies unavailable under ordinary workers’ comp.
  • Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) – Provides medical care and disability benefits for dockworkers, shipbuilders, and harbor mechanics injured on navigable waters or adjoining areas.
  • Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) – Extends LHWCA protections to injuries on rigs anchored to the Gulf seabed.
  • Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) – Gives families financial support when a loved one dies more than 12 nautical miles offshore.
  • Maintenance & Cure Doctrine – Requires an employer to cover daily living expenses and medical bills until you reach maximum recovery.
  • Unseaworthiness Claims – Hold a vessel owner accountable when unsafe equipment or understaffing causes harm.

Bellaire maritime injury attorney Stephen Goldenzweig and our litigation team determine which statute maximizes your recovery, then file in the forum—state or federal—most favorable to you.

What Compensation Can I Recover for a Houston Maritime Injury?

Our goal is to make you financially whole and secure your future care. Depending on the law that applies, damages may include:

  • All Medical Costs – Emergency transport, surgeries, rehab, prosthetics, long-term therapy, and future procedures.
  • Full Lost Wages & Fringe Benefits – Past paychecks, overtime, offshore rotation bonuses, and retirement contributions you would have earned.
  • Maintenance & Cure – Daily housing, food, and utility allowances plus 100 % of reasonable medical expenses.
  • Pain, Suffering & Mental Anguish – Recognizes the toll of chronic pain, PTSD, and loss of life’s pleasures.
  • Loss of Future Earning Capacity – For disabling injuries that shorten your maritime career.
  • Wrongful Death Benefits – Economic support for spouses, children, and dependent parents.
  • Punitive Damages – Available when an employer willfully withholds maintenance & cure or acts with reckless disregard for safety.

Stephen Goldenzweig and our team of Houston Jones Act lawyers calculate every category with help from economists, life-care planners, and maritime medical experts so the defense cannot undervalue your claim.

Deadline alert: Injured seamen generally have three years to sue, but internal company rules often require notice within seven days. Missing either window can bar recovery. Call us as soon as possible to protect your rights.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Houston Maritime Accident?

  1. Seek Medical Help – Accept shipboard treatment, then request evacuation to shore. Early records tie your injury to the incident.
  2. Report the Accident – File a written report with your supervisor; keep a copy or photo for your records.
  3. Document Evidence – Photograph hazards, log entries, defective gear, and witness contact info.
  4. Decline Quick Settlements – Do not sign statements or release forms without advice. Companies often offer low figures before you know the full extent of your injuries.
  5. Call a Maritime Lawyer – The maritime lawyers at our firm start preserving evidence immediately, arrange independent doctors, and shield you from employer retaliation.

How Do Houston Locations and Industries Impact Maritime Cases?

Houston ranks among the world’s busiest energy hubs. The Port of Houston spans 52 miles and eight cargo terminals, while nearby petrochemical plants line the Ship Channel from La Porte to Baytown. This dense industrial corridor increases accident frequency and complexity.

  • Offshore Rigs in the Gulf expose crews to brutal weather, explosive hydrocarbons, and remote medical care.
  • Towboats & Barges in the Ship Channel navigate heavy traffic and narrow drafts, leading to frequent collisions.
  • Shipyards in Galveston, Texas City, and Freeport perform hot-work repairs near volatile chemicals.

Understanding local tides, pilot associations, refinery shutdown schedules, and Coast Guard investigation protocols gives our Houston maritime accident attorneys an edge when reconstructing events and proving liability.

Statistics reinforce the stakes: federal data shows more than 11,000 nonfatal maritime injuries and 87 fatalities nationwide in recent years, with the Gulf Coast posting the highest totals. Even “minor” deck injuries can become life-threatening if infections set in during a long Gulf transit.

Why Choose Goldenzweig Law Group for Your Houston Maritime Injury Case?

Lead attorney Stephen Goldenzweig treats every client like family. We:

  • Offer free consultations—phone, video, or bedside at Houston Methodist, LBJ Hospital, and others.
  • Staff cases with bilingual paralegals to serve Spanish-speaking seamen.
  • Retain maritime engineers, naval architects, and former Coast Guard officers as expert witnesses.
  • Prepare every claim for trial, forcing insurers to pay fair value or face a jury.

Past victories include seven-figure settlements for a Galveston Bay towboat deckhand crushed by a winch, an OCS diver injured in a pipeline explosion off High Island, and a cook scalded when a tanker’s galley steam system failed. While results vary, they show our commitment to maximizing recoveries.

When you call 713-561-5003, you speak directly with a Houston maritime injury lawyer at Goldenzweig Law Group, not an intake center. We answer 24/7 because accidents rarely happen during business hours, and questions can’t wait.

Testimonials

“A friend referred me to Mr. Goldenzweig and I am so thankful they did. My case with treated with individual attention and I feel like Mr. Goldenzweig truly understood every detail. The outcome of my case was incredible too. But even before it was finalized, I knew that Mr. Goldenzweig led me in the best direction. I tremendously appreciate all the time and attention I was shown.” – Brian T.

“One of the best attorney’s I know – and I’m only one of the attorney’s who has turned to him when they need someone tough and fair to take on a case. From personal experience, you will not go wrong choosing Stephen to handle your case, you can trust him.” – Lauae K.

Ready to Protect Your Future?

If an offshore accident, dockside mishap, or Ship Channel collision upended your life, let Stephen Goldenzweig, Houston maritime injury attorney, fight for the justice you deserve. Call 713-561-5003 or visit our Bellaire office today. Our team is standing by to chart your course toward full recovery.