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Maritime Injury Lawyers in Pasadena, TX
Protecting Seamen, Dockworkers & Their Families
Pasadena sits along the Houston Ship Channel, part of Port Houston, the nation's largest port by waterborne tonnage, which moved roughly 309.5 million tons of cargo in 2023 alone. Thousands of people work this stretch of water every day: seamen aboard tugboats and tankers, longshoremen who load and unload vessels, and terminal and dock workers who keep cargo moving. When one of them gets hurt, the case usually isn't governed by ordinary Texas personal injury or workers' comp rules. It falls under federal maritime law, a specialized area with its own statutes, deadlines, and standards of proof.
If you or someone you love was injured working on or near the water in Pasadena, we can help you understand which laws and processes apply to your situation and what they mean for your case. SJ Injury Attorneys helps clients in Pasadena and throughout the surrounding areas in Texas, including Sugar Land, Deer Park, Houston, and beyond.
If you or someone you love was injured working on or near the water in Pasadena, contact SJ Injury Attorneys today to talk through what happened and what your options are.
Our Neighbors. Their Outcomes.
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$11,000,000 Chemical Plant InjurySettlement recovered for a client who sustained severe injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$10,000,000 Shoulder, Neck & Back Injury
Settlement recovered for a client who sustained shoulder, neck, and lower back injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$5,000,000 Lower Back InjurySettlement recovered for a client who sustained lower back injuries while working a turnaround at a chemical plant in Pasadena, TX
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$3,500,000 Back and Leg InjuriesRecovered for three patrons of a McAllen restaurant who were struck by a car. Injuries ranged from a broken leg to soft tissue low back injuries which required surgery
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$3,000,000 Fatal Rear-End CollisionRecovered in a wrongful death case. The client’s spouse was tragically killed in a rear-end accident on Highway 146 in Seabrook, TX
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$2,000,000 Catastrophic Hand InjurySettlement for a client who sustained a degloving injury of his left hand while working at a machine shop in Houston, Texas
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$1,400,000 18-wheeler CollisionRecovered for a client who was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on Highway 225 in Pasadena, Texas. The client sustained low back injuries which required low back surgery
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$1,400,000 Serious Back InjuryRecovered for a client who was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on Highway 225 in Pasadena, Texas. The client suffered lower back injuries requiring surgery
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$1,200,000 Neck InjuryRecovered for a client who sustained injuries at a refinery when debris fell on his head. The client’s injuries required neck surgery.
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$964,000 Neck and Soft Tissue InjuriesRecovered for clients who were rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 10 near Channelview, TX. One client suffered neck injuries that required surgery and the passenger sustained soft tissue injuries.
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$865,000 Slip and Fall Injury
After a three-day trial, a judge awarded $865,000 to our client. Our client suffered multiple fractures to her leg as a result of a slip and fall at work.
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$800,000 Leg Fractures Injury
Injured worker from Spring, Texas suffered multiple fractures to her leg. After a three day trial the judge awarded her $800,000. Attorney fees and expenses were $340,000.
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$750,000 Back and Neck Injury
Settlement recovered for a client who was rear-ended by a box truck on U.S. Hwy. 59 in Houston, Texas. Client required a series of three epidural steroid injections to his lower back and neck.
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$685,000 Back and Soft Tissue InjuriesRecovered for clients who were struck by an 18-wheeler when the truck driver made a wide right turn. One client required microdiscectomy surgery and the other sustained soft tissue injuries.
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$565,000 Herniated Disc Injury
18-wheeler ran a stop sign and struck my client's vehicle at a low rate of speed. The client aggravated a prior neck injury and suffered a herniated disc in her low back, which required surgery. The case was settled for $565,000.
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$550,000 Falling Debris Injury
$550K recovered for a worker who was injured at a refinery after tools and debris fell on him from a 30-foot platform.
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$500,000 Lower Back Injury
Recovered for a client who was rear-ended by a pickup truck in Baytown, Texas. The client required minor back surgery.
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$485,000 Neck and Spine Injury
Recovered for a client who was “T-boned” after a company pick-up truck ran a red light on Spencer Highway in Pasadena, Texas. The client sustained neck injuries that required surgery.
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$400,000 Pipeline Explosion Injury
Recovered for a client injured when a pipeline exploded in Robertson County, Texas. The client required rotator cuff surgery.
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$355,000 Cervical Disc Injury
Client was rear-ended on a Houston freeway causing herniated disc in his neck. We forced the insurance company to pay $355,000.
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$350,000 Workplace Fall Injury
Recovered for a warehouse worker who fell from a 10-foot platform. The employee suffered multiple facial fractures.
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$240,000 Herniated Disc Injury
Client was rear-ended by a company pickup truck. She sustained a herniated disc to her low back which will require surgery. Client declined surgery and the case settled for $240,000. After attorney fees and expenses the client received $120,000.
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$195,000 Herniated Lower Back Disc InjurySuccessfully negotiated a $195,000 settlement on behalf of a young man rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on IH 45. Client sustained a herniated disc to his low back which required surgery.
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$175,000 Herniated Disc Injury
A client’s vehicle was struck in the rear by an 18 wheeler on I-10 in Houston, Texas. The client suffered herniated discs to his neck but refused surgery. The case settled for $175,000.
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Confidential Soft Tissue InjuriesPersonal injury client struck cargo dropped from a semi-truck forcing the client's vehicle into another vehicle. Client sustained soft tissue injuries.
Jones Act Claims for Injured Seamen
If you qualify as a "seaman," which generally means you spend at least 30% of your work time aboard a vessel in navigation, the Jones Act (46 U.S.C. § 30104) gives you the right to sue your employer for negligence, with a jury trial. And a seaman gets to sue their employer under one of the most worker-friendly causation standards in federal law: you only need to show your employer's negligence played some part, however small, in your injury. Unlike a typical workplace injury claim, there's no cap on damages, and you may recover for pain and suffering, lost wages, and future lost earning capacity. Jones Act claims must generally be filed within three years of the injury under 46 U.S.C. § 30106.
Maintenance & Cure
Separate from a negligence claim, seamen also have a nearly absolute right to "maintenance and cure": daily living expenses (maintenance) and medical treatment (cure) from their employer while they recover, regardless of who was at fault for the injury. This obligation generally continues until you reach maximum medical improvement.
Employers who unreasonably deny or delay these payments can face additional damages for that failure alone.
Unseaworthiness Claims
Under general maritime law, a vessel owner has a near-absolute duty to provide a "seaworthy" vessel, meaning the ship, its equipment, and its crew are reasonably fit for their intended use. If a defective winch, an untrained crew member, or unsafe deck conditions caused your injury, you may have an unseaworthiness claim against the vessel owner, separate from and in addition to a Jones Act negligence claim.
Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)
Not every maritime worker is a "seaman." Longshoremen, harbor workers, and employees engaged in shipbuilding or ship repair are typically covered instead by the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 901-950), a federal no-fault system for workers injured on navigable waters or adjoining areas like piers, docks, and terminals. The LHWCA and the Jones Act are mutually exclusive, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, since the Longshore Act specifically excludes a "master or member of a crew of any vessel."
LHWCA benefits typically include two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you're unable to work, plus medical treatment, but unlike a Jones Act claim, they don't include compensation for pain and suffering. Claims generally must be filed within one year of the injury. In some cases, an injured longshore worker can also bring a separate negligence claim against the vessel owner under Section 905(b) of the Act, on top of standard Longshore benefits.
Meet the Team Behind Every Case
From intake to trial, every person on this team plays a part in getting you the outcome you deserve.
Behind every case file is a full team working on your behalf: case managers, paralegals, and support staff who answer your calls, track down your records, and keep you in the loop every step of the way. We built this firm to feel less like a law office and more like a neighbor you can count on. That starts with hiring people who care, and it shows in how we treat every client who walks through our door.
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“Thanks to attorney Skylar who handled my case. I love this firm.”- Past Client
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“Awesome Law firm!! Brenda was amazing in helping manage my case and if for some reason she wasn't available, Chris or Dawn was immediately there to help me. I see some complaints on here about not returning phone calls? I never had an issue. Sometimes I would have to leave a message, but they always got back to me with updates. My case took a while but totally worth the wait because they never just took whatever was offered.”- Amy G.
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“This place took my case and provided me with guidance from A to Z about what I needed to do and how I was to get the appropriate medical treatment necessary to get better. Very friendly and professional staff.”- Cody B.
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“Right from the beginning, we felt like we had a champion in our corner. His entire staff was great to work with, and Chris never stopped fighting for us. He made the entire process a breeze to work through, and when he took on the responsibility of dealing with the doctor's bill and insurance it freed my wife and I up to concentrate on our healing process. Thanks, Chris Soileau for doing such a fantastic job. The big check at the end was pretty nice too!”- Joey J.
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“I’ve never experienced or had an idea of how the process worked with accidents, especially 18 wheelers! Highly recommend Brenda to talk to. She was very professional and stayed on top of my case from the very beginning!”- Erica E.
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“Mr. Soileau represented me in a car accident that occurred in November 2014 where I suffered a herniated disc to my neck requiring surgery. After surgery the medical bills were piling up which caused me quite a bit of stress worrying about how all of the medical bills were going to get paid. As my case was complicated and took almost 2 years to work through, Mr. Soileau and his staff were very understanding of my situation throughout the whole ordeal. They took the time to answer my questions, assist with getting the appropriate medical care and kept me in the loop throughout the process. The outcome was much better than I expected. I highly recommend Mr. Soileau and will refer my family and friends if they ever find themselves in need of his services.”- J.N.
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“We contacted Mr. Soileau after being rear-ended in Kemah, Texas. When we contacted Mr. Soileau we had no health insurance and we were not sure what to do. He helped us find doctors who would work with us and then went on to settle the case for the maximum amount of all insurance policies available.”- J.M.
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“I truly would like to thank Brenda for all of her help and remaining professional with me no matter how many times I called which was a lot. My settlement was way more than I ever expected. I am more than satisfied I would like to suggest that Brenda be acknowledged and rewarded for such a great job done. If I ever need to be represented again I will definitely call this law firm with no hesitation.”- Amelia P.
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“There was no need to constantly call them to check up on my case. They would always update me with any new developments as they got it. I would certainly recommend this firm to anyone and I will definitely use them again.”- Monica V.