The first question in any maritime injury case is where the accident happened. Maritime law generally applies when the incident occurs on navigable waters (i.e., waterways that can be used for interstate or international commerce).
This includes:
- Oceans and seas, such as the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean
- Major rivers connected to the sea (like the Mississippi or Columbia)
- Harbors, ports, and inlets where ships load or unload cargo
- Coastal waterways, channels, and bays used by commercial vessels
If your injury happened on one of these waterways or while performing work related to maritime commerce, federal maritime law likely governs your case (rather than state law).
By contrast, accidents on landlocked lakes or private ponds generally fall under state personal injury law.
Types of Maritime Personal Injury Cases
Maritime law encompasses a broad range of personal injury scenarios, including accidents involving crew members and passenger injuries on recreational vessels.
Common examples include:
- Seamen injured while working aboard commercial vessels can bring claims under the Jones Act, which allows them to recover compensation if their employer’s negligence contributed to the injury.
- Workers on drilling rigs and oil platforms may be covered under either the Jones Act or the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), depending on the type of structure and its location.
- Dockworkers, shipbuilders, and harbor laborers are generally protected by the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).
- Commercial fishermen, divers, and other maritime workers may have claims if their injury resulted from unsafe working conditions or vessel unseaworthiness.
Tourists and recreational boaters injured on cruise ships or other vessels can bring claims under maritime law, often against the shipowner or operator for negligence.
Maritime Law and the High Seas
Many maritime injury cases occur on the high seas. If you were injured while working or traveling on a vessel beyond U.S. territorial waters, maritime law will determine your rights and remedies.
Crew members working on vessels that travel internationally are often covered by the Jones Act, while passengers injured on cruise ships in foreign waters may file suit in U.S. federal court under admiralty jurisdiction.
Coastal and Inland Waters
Maritime law doesn’t stop at the ocean. It also applies to coastal and inland waterways used for commerce.
For example, maritime law may apply to:
- A barge worker injured on the Mississippi River
- A deckhand hurt while docking a cargo ship in the Port of Houston
- A ferry passenger injured on San Francisco Bay
Each of these accidents would likely fall under maritime law. Even a smaller bay or inlet can qualify if it connects to larger waterways that facilitate commercial navigation.
Injuries Near Ports, Harbors, and Docks
Many maritime personal injury claims involve workers injured in or around ports, shipyards, and docks. Although these areas may technically be on land, injuries here can still fall under maritime jurisdiction.
For example, longshoremen are typically covered by the LHWCA. This federal law provides wage replacement, medical coverage, and disability benefits similar to those offered through workers’ compensation, but specifically designed for maritime employment.
Offshore Rigs and Platforms
Injuries on offshore drilling rigs often involve a mix of maritime and federal law.
Movable or floating rigs are generally covered by maritime law and the Jones Act, while fixed platforms anchored to the seabed fall under the OCSLA. The distinction can significantly impact how injured workers pursue compensation and the benefits available to them.
Contact an Experienced Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer at Zehl & Associates for a Free Consultation
At Zehl & Associates, our Undefeated Houston maritime injury lawyers don’t just talk results—we deliver them. We’ve recovered billions of dollars for offshore workers, seamen, maritime employees, and other personal injury victims, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Whether you were injured on a rig in the Gulf, aboard a cargo ship, or in a port accident, our team has the resources, experience, and track record to prevail against the largest employers and insurers in the maritime industry.
Call us at 1-888-603-3636 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
For more information, please contact our Undefeated Maritime Injury Lawyer attorneys in Houston, Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
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Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
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