Call Us Today
Call Us Today
We won a verdict for a single plaintiff in an action against a multi-national pharmaceutical company.
We won a jury verdict for a client who suffered head trauma and permanent scarring in an ATV rollover case in South Texas.
Won a settlement against a Fortune 500 pipeline company for burn victims of a plant explosion in South Texas.
Won settlement for family who lost loved one in trucking crash.
Maritime work along the Texas Gulf Coast demands long hours, physical endurance, and constant attention to safety. When an accident occurs on a vessel, dock, or offshore platform, the impact can be immediate and life‑changing. Injured maritime workers often face medical expenses, lost income, and uncertainty about their legal rights while trying to recover.
In these difficult moments, guidance from a Galveston maritime injury lawyer can help injured individuals and their families understand the protections available under federal maritime law with the support of Kherkher Garcia LLP.
Schedule your free consultation today
Galveston has long played an important role in Texas maritime activity. According to the City of Galveston Maritime operations program, the region’s port and coastal infrastructure support commercial shipping, tourism vessels, and offshore service operations across the Gulf Coast. Commercial cargo ships, offshore energy vessels, tourism boats, and recreational traffic all move through the same coastal waters. With this level of activity, maritime workers often perform their duties in environments where accidents can occur quickly and without warning.
State boating reports document numerous serious boating accidents across Texas each year. Data published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s boating accident reporting overview shows incidents involving injuries, property damage, and fatalities on waterways used by both commercial and recreational vessels. Some incidents involve significant injuries or property damage, while others lead to tragic fatalities. Workers who spend their days on or near these waterways face increased risk while performing physical tasks aboard vessels or offshore support equipment.
Maritime work also presents risks that differ from many land-based jobs. Crews often work miles offshore where medical care may not be immediately available. Even a short delay in treatment can complicate recovery after a serious injury. Workers may also perform tasks on moving decks or in tight areas near large machinery. These conditions can increase the likelihood of accidents. Examples include:
When accidents occur in these environments, determining responsibility may require careful review of vessel records, safety procedures, and operational decisions made by maritime employers.
Offshore Drilling Rig
Federal maritime law provides specific protections for workers injured while performing duties at sea or on navigable waterways. These protections differ significantly from traditional workplace injury claims and are designed to address the unique risks of maritime employment. Two federal statutes form the foundation of most maritime injury claims.
No Fees Unless We Win
Get In Touch With Us
713-333-1030
The Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) protects seamen who are injured due to the negligence of a vessel owner, operator, or fellow crew member. A qualifying seaman is generally a worker who spends a substantial portion of their employment aboard a vessel in navigation. Under the Jones Act, injured seamen may pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Unlike many workplace injury frameworks, the Jones Act allows claims to proceed in federal court, giving injured workers direct recourse against negligent employers and vessel operators.
The LHWCA covers maritime workers who do not qualify as seamen under the Jones Act, including longshoremen, harbor workers, ship repairers, and dock workers. This federal statute provides medical benefits, disability compensation, and vocational rehabilitation for covered workers injured on navigable waters or adjoining areas such as piers, wharves, and terminals.
Federal maritime law also requires vessel owners to provide maintenance and cure to injured seafarers, covering daily living expenses and medical costs until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement. Vessel owners also carry a duty to provide a seaworthy vessel, and when unsafe equipment, inadequate training, or negligent operation contributes to an accident, injured workers may have grounds to pursue additional compensation under the unseaworthiness doctrine.
Accidents in maritime environments often occur when demanding physical work intersects with heavy equipment and changing sea conditions. Vessel crews, offshore support teams, and dock workers regularly operate machinery capable of causing severe injuries.
Not all maritime injuries involve heavy machinery, however. Many incidents arise during everyday operations such as cargo loading, equipment maintenance, or vessel navigation.
Common causes of maritime accidents may include:
When accidents occur, injuries can be serious and require extensive medical treatment. Maritime injuries often include:
For some workers, these injuries make it difficult or impossible to return to physically demanding maritime jobs. Recovery may involve surgery, rehabilitation, and months away from work. In more serious situations, injured individuals may face permanent limitations that affect their ability to earn a living.
Compensation in maritime injury cases depends on the applicable legal framework. Federal maritime law recognizes several forms of financial recovery intended to help injured workers address losses connected to the incident. Potential damages may include:
Every maritime injury claim is unique, and the compensation sought depends on the facts surrounding the accident. Vessel ownership, employment status, and evidence of negligence may all influence the outcome of a case.
Investigating these claims often requires careful review of vessel maintenance logs, crew statements, and safety records. Proper review and case preparation allows injured individuals to present their claims clearly before a judge and/or jury if litigation becomes necessary. Early legal guidance may also help preserve important records, clarify the worker’s legal status under maritime law, and ensure that key evidence is preserved while the facts surrounding the accident are still fresh.
Maritime injury claims involve legal rules that differ from most traditional personal injury cases. Federal statutes, maritime doctrines, and vessel liability standards often determine how these cases proceed.
At Kherkher Garcia LLP, our legal team represents injured maritime workers in complex catastrophic injury matters involving offshore accidents, maritime incidents, and industrial injuries. Our team’s experience in serious injury litigation allows us to address complicated legal and factual issues that often arise in maritime cases.
Investigating maritime accidents may require cooperation with accident reconstruction specialists, medical professionals, and maritime safety experts. This work can help clarify whether vessel operators, shipping companies, or other parties failed to maintain safe working conditions. Our team has the knowledge and resources needed to get the facts and build a strong case.
Careful preparation helps preserve evidence early in the legal process. At Kherkher Garcia, we know how to carefully gather and preserve evidence. Vessel logs, maintenance records, and witness statements can play an important role when evaluating liability.
A maritime accident can result in serious medical and financial consequences for injured workers. Legal guidance can help individuals understand their rights and the process for pursuing compensation under maritime law. Speaking with a lawyer early on after an injury may also help preserve important evidence and clarify the legal options available after a serious maritime incident.
Call Kherkher Garcia LLP at 713-333-1030 for a free consultation with a Galveston maritime injury lawyer. The legal team at the Kherkher Garcia can review the circumstances of a maritime accident, explain how federal maritime law may apply, and discuss possible legal options for pursuing compensation.
Jesus Garcia Jr. is a founding partner of Kherkher Garcia LLP and a nationally recognized trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience representing victims of catastrophic injury and wrongful death caused by corporate negligence.
Raised in Rio Grande City, Texas, Jesus brings a deep understanding of hard work, perseverance, and accountability to every case he handles. His commitment to justice has led to record-setting verdicts and settlements, including some of the largest recoveries in Texas history.
Known for his trial-ready approach and relentless advocacy, Jesus has dedicated his career to holding powerful corporations accountable and fighting for families when they need it most.
Terry Yates is a seasoned trial lawyer with decades of experience handling complex civil and criminal matters across Texas and nationwide. A lifelong Texan, he brings deep courtroom knowledge shaped by years of public service and private practice.
Board Certified in Criminal Law by both the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Terry has tried numerous high-profile cases and previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County. He is also a graduate and former faculty member of the Trial Lawyers College under renowned trial attorney Gerry Spence.
In addition to his legal practice, Terry serves as an Associate Judge for the City of West University Place and as a legal analyst for ESPN radio.
Working on or near Galveston’s waters comes with risks that land-based jobs simply do not carry, and when a maritime accident occurs, the legal path forward is unlike any other. At Kherkher Garcia LLP, our team of Galveston personal injury lawyers understands the complexities of federal maritime law and is prepared to fight for the full compensation injured workers and their families deserve. When you need a maritime injury lawyer near you in Galveston, we are ready to put our experience to work for you.
Visit us at 2101 Mechanic St, Suite 228, Galveston, TX 77550, or call 713-333-1030 for a free consultation today.
Client Reviews
I’ve had an excellent experience with the Kherkher Garcia Law Firm. They were always super helpful when I had any questions. The attorney Terry Yates is very knowledgeable and compassionate. Highly recommend this team for anyone needing help with an offshore or refinery injury!!
I would highly recommend Attorney Yates and the Kherkher Garcia firm. Incredibly professional and knowledgeable. They took the time to explain everything clearly. Excellent experience.
Highly recommend Terry Yates and the team at Kherkher Garcia. Their experience handling Gulf Coast related cases including maritime, offshore, refinery, and serious personal injury matters is truly unmatched. Terry and his team are knowledgeable, professional, and deeply committed to their clients.
Kherkher Garcia promptly returned my call and got me connected with attorney Terry Yates, who walked me through the entire process and kept me well informed about my case. I highly recommend this firm for anyone dealing with a personal injury matter in the Galveston area.
I can’t say enough good things about Kherkher Garcia Law Firm. From start to finish, they were attentive, compassionate, and relentless in fighting for my mother after her serious collision with an 18-wheeler. They truly went above and beyond to ensure she was taken care of for life. Attorney Terry and the entire team are outstanding, knowledgeable, dedicated, and genuinely caring.
View More Reviews on Google Maps
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorneys Steve Kherkher and Jesus Garcia Jr., who have more than 50 years of combined legal experience championing the rights of those who have experienced catastrophic injury due to negligence.
Connect with a Kherkher Garcia trial lawyer today to pursue maximum compensation for your injury.
Call Us 713-333-1030 
Call Us 713-333-1030
Message Us 
Call Us