Austin Maritime Lawyers

Like everything else relating to Texas, the maritime industry is huge in this state. Each year, around 15,000 vessels make their way through the many ports of Texas, and all this maritime activity generates billions of dollars for the state economy. Many Texans make their living on vessels or ports around the Gulf of Mexico. If you belong to the legions who toil on the sea, then you already appreciate that this industry is as dangerous as it is lucrative.

As one of the foremost maritime law firms in the nation, Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. has helped many seamen from around the country, including the Austin, TX area, in their quest to obtain suitable compensation for their injuries and suffering. Our admiralty and Jones Act lawyers are waiting to hear from you.

Maritime Personal Injury Cases

Maritime work is not for slackers. Heavy cargo, dangerous weather, slippery floors, and other hazards mean that the threat of grave injury is never very far away. Seamen can and do suffer major harm in connection with their job duties. Common injuries resulting from maritime and offshore accidents include—but are hardly limited to—the following:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and brain injuries
• Skin burns
• Compartment Syndrome
• Amputation
• Frostbite and hypothermia
• Pleural disorders

Any of these above-mentioned injuries can lead to life-changing complications—even death. Victims of maritime accidents need to understand that there are legal options available to them. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the injury, they may qualify for substantial compensation.

Maintenance and Cure

A traditional part of maritime policy, maintenance and cure is a type of financial aid given to sick or injured seamen during their recovery period.

“Maintenance” refers to the modest payments, sent on a weekly basis, that provide the recovering seaman with a minimum level of living expenses. “Cure” is the compensation given to them for their medical expenses. This type of compensation is paid out regardless of the degree of responsibility that the injured party bears for their condition.

Contacting a maritime injury attorney is your best bet when it comes to ensuring that you get the maximum compensation to which you are entitled under the law.

Additional Kinds of Maritime Injury Compensation

If a seaman has been seriously harmed on the job due to the negligent actions or inactions of a vessel owner or crew person, then it is possible to seek out compensation in addition to standard maintenance and cure. When dealing with this area of law, it is extremely helpful to hire the services of a personal injury lawyer with specific experience in maritime statutes and practices.