Vessel cases can involve employer negligence, unseaworthiness, maintenance and cure, or proceedings under the Limitation of Liability Act. The worker's status, vessel control, equipment, and operation determine which questions need to be addressed. Horton Legal Group's Clear Lake office serves the maritime communities around the Houston Ship Channel and Gulf Coast.
• How and where the incident occurred
• The vessel, equipment, line, machinery, or operation involved
• Employment and contractor relationships
• Ownership, charter, and operational control where relevant
• Witnesses, incident reports, photographs, maintenance records, and other available evidence
• The full medical and vocational effect of the injury
Offshore injuries can involve fixed platforms, floating facilities, jackup rigs, and other vessels or structures. A worker's duties, vessel connection, worksite, and applicable law matter; an offshore job does not automatically make someone a Jones Act seaman. We evaluate that broader picture and identify the appropriate legal framework.