Maritime Accidents Articles

Picture of On Behalf of Abraham Watkins

What Is the Jones Act?

If you work in the maritime industry in Houston, TX, it’s essential to know your rights should you ever sustain a work-related injury. In order to recover compensation for medical bills and lost income, you may file a claim under the Jones Act: the federal law regulating US maritime commerce and protecting the rights of…

Read More
Picture of Chris Mahfouz

Safety for Individuals Working Over or Near Water

What must construction site managers and employers do to protect workers who are engaged in work over or near water? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) addresses this concern in 29 CFR 1926.106, which provides for the following: Although simply stated, these requirements have been the subject of numerous letters of interpretation over the…

Read More
Picture of Ben Agosto III

The Basics of the Longshore Act & Available Remedies for Injured Maritime Workers

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (“LHWCA” or the “Longshore Act”) is a federal workers’ compensation scheme designed to provide coverage to maritime employees who are injured or killed in an incident “occurring upon the navigable waters of the United States (including any adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal, building way, marine railway, or…

Read More
Picture of Alicia Patterson

Warmer Temperatures Bring Boating Accidents for Houston Residents

With warm weather returning and summer officially starting, Houstonians are starting to enjoy many of the nearby water recreational opportunities in large numbers. Many take advantage of the numerous lakes in the region for boating, swimming, and leisure. Unfortunately, the benefits of water recreation sometimes come with a cost. Injuries and deaths while boating happen…

Read More
Picture of Brant Stogner

Federal Agencies Underreport Offshore Oil & Gas Deaths, Creating the Illusion of Safety

Recent investigations into the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) allege that deaths of offshore oil and gas workers frequently go unreported. Specifically, “inconsistent and missing data, as well as loopholes that allow some fatalities to go unreported, make the offshore industry appear safer than it really is.” Investigators allege that at least 30%…

Read More