Houston Ship Channel Accident Lawyer

Personal injury and maritime injury claims have strict deadlines under state and federal law and vary by the type of claim:

• Jones Act (seamen): three years from the date of injury
• LHWCA (longshore and harbor workers): one year from the date of injury or last compensation payment
• Texas personal injury and wrongful death (land-based): two years from the date of injury/death
• DOHSA: three years from the date of death

Personal injury claims and maritime injury claims both have strict statutes of limitations, often around 2-3 years. Contact Trey Barton Law immediately if you’ve been injured or lost a loved one.

It depends on your job classification and where you were working when the injury occurred.

• Jones Act: applies if you are a seaman assigned to a vessel in navigation; covers negligence and unseaworthiness
• LHWCA: applies if you are a longshoreman, harbor worker, terminal employee, or ship repairer working on or adjacent to navigable waters
• Texas personal injury law applies to land-based contractors, refinery workers, and others not covered by federal maritime statutes

Many channel workers qualify under more than one framework, and choosing the wrong one can cost you significant compensation. Call 832-916-2526 to have an attorney evaluate your specific classification.

Yes. Workers’ compensation coverage, if it even applies, doesn’t eliminate your right to sue negligent third parties.

Texas allows injured contractors to pursue claims against the plant owner, equipment manufacturer, general contractor, or any other third party whose negligence contributed to the accident. Many channel-area fatalities and serious injuries involve contractor workers whose employers had no workers’ comp at all, leaving a direct negligence claim as the primary route to recovery.

Contact Trey Barton Law to identify every liable party before any statute of limitations expires.

Surviving family members file under Texas wrongful death and survival statutes, or federal maritime law if the worker was a seaman or harbor worker.

• Texas Wrongful Death Act: available to spouses, children, and parents; must be filed within 2 years of death
• Texas Survival Statute: allows the estate to pursue damages the deceased could have claimed
• Jones Act wrongful death: available to the estate of a seaman killed due to vessel negligence
• LHWCA death benefits: payable to eligible dependents of covered workers

These claims can run concurrently, and the interaction between them is complex. Speak with an attorney at 832-916-2526 before accepting any settlement from an employer or insurer.

Yes. Texas and federal maritime law both recognize latent injury claims where the diagnosis comes years after the exposure.

The discovery rule tolls the filing deadline until you know or should have known your illness was linked to job-related injuries. Benzene-related leukemia, MDS, and lymphoma frequently have latency periods of 5 to 20 years. Brain damage from H2S exposure may not present for extended periods. Documenting history and obtaining a doctor’s diagnosis early is critical evidence.

Contact Trey Barton Law as soon as you receive a diagnosis. The filing deadline is strictly enforced in Texas.

No. Accepting workers’ compensation benefits does not release third-party negligence claims.

Texas workers’ comp benefits only cover employers. If another company or contractor caused or contributed to your injury, you have the legal right to sue them directly regardless of any paperwork you’ve signed. In many Port of Houston accident cases, injury claims are worth significantly more than workers’ compensation benefits.

Call 832-916-2526 before signing anything beyond a standard workers’ comp claim form.

The employer’s argument doesn’t matter in terms of liability, but this can work in your favor.

Texas law allows injured workers to file claims against all negligent parties. You can potentially seek financial compensation from both the employer and contractor, depending on your job status and where the accident happened.

When employers and contractors point fingers, it often shows neither did an outstanding job of protecting workers or upholding duties. Our Port of Houston accident attorneys can conduct outside investigations to determine who controlled the site, hiring, equipment, and processes, regardless of what either person says.

Contact Trey Barton Law to have your claim independently evaluated before any employer or insurer shapes the narrative.

Maritime attorneys often operate on a contingency fee basis. At Trey Barton Law, you don’t pay unless we win.

If we recover compensation through settlements or verdicts, our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If we don’t win, you pay nothing. This gives you access to expert witnesses, maritime engineers, and process safety consultants, regardless of your financial situation.

Call 832-916-2526 or use our contact form for a free consultation.

Most cases settle before trial, but having an attorney willing to go to court is what drives great settlements.

Jones Act, LHWCA, and maritime negligence defendants, including vessel operators, terminal companies, and insurance companies, will provide full settlements when they know the maritime injury lawyers have the dedication and resources to fight in court. Cases that appear headed for low-ball offers from insurance companies often resolve for much higher once discovery is underway and trial preparation is visible. Our Houston maritime lawyers prepare all injury claims for court.

Call 832-916-2526 to discuss how we secure maximum compensation for clients.