Were you involved in a maritime accident near Dallas, Texas? Call Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (469) 300-5046. Our experienced Dallas maritime accident lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options and help you pursue compensation.
Our personal injury law firm has over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims throughout Texas. We’ve recovered more than $100 million for our clients to date, and we’ll treat your case with the same level of tenacity and professionalism if you hire us to represent you.
Reach out to our Dallas personal injury attorneys for more information about your ability to take legal action. We can provide you with some initial legal advice during your free case evaluation.
Why Hire Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Maritime Accident Case in Dallas, Texas?
Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers is one of Texas’s most successful firms in this area of the law. We’re uniquely qualified to handle maritime accident cases in Dallas, TX, because we thoroughly understand the state and federal statutes that apply to these claims.
You’ll be able to focus on your health and well-being, knowing that you have a top-rated team of attorneys on your side to help you make the most of your case.
Clients trust our Dallas personal injury lawyers because:
- We have a full century of combined experience practicing personal injury law, including maritime accident cases.
- Our case results include multiple verdicts and settlements in the eight figures, including a recent $60 million recovery.
- We can leverage our relationships with leading expert witnesses to strengthen your claim as much as possible.
- We’ve received awards from Super Lawyers and other leading legal organizations for our work.
- We will prioritize your case and ensure that you know your legal options at every stage of the process.
Contact our Dallas maritime accident attorneys today for more information. Your initial consultation is free, and there are no obligations afterward.
Overview of Maritime Accident Law
Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, governs legal matters that occur on navigable waters. These laws differ significantly from standard state personal injury statutes. Depending on your job duties, location, and employer, your rights may fall under one of several maritime laws.
Some of the most common include:
- The Jones Act: This federal law allows seamen who are injured due to their employer’s negligence to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Covers dockworkers, shipbuilders, and harbor employees who are not classified as seamen but still work in maritime environments.
- The Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA): Provides compensation to families of maritime workers who die as a result of wrongful acts or negligence occurring beyond three nautical miles from the shore.
- General Maritime Law: Covers unseaworthiness claims and other maritime torts not governed by specific statutes.
Maritime law is relatively complex, making it important to have a lawyer on your side who is familiar with these overlapping statutes. Our Dallas maritime injury attorneys can review your specific situation to determine your best legal strategy for obtaining full compensation.
Common Types of Maritime Accidents We Handle in Dallas, TX
Working offshore or in a maritime setting can be hazardous. Despite strict safety protocols, accidents can still occur in various ways.
At Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent clients who have been injured in all kinds of maritime incidents, including:
- Offshore drilling rig accidents
- Barge and tugboat accidents
- Commercial fishing vessel accidents
- Cargo ship and tanker injuries
- Dock and port accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Equipment and machinery failures
- Explosions and fires
- Crane and winch accidents
- Falls overboard and drowning incidents
If you select us to help with your claim, we’ll conduct a detailed investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and who is legally responsible.
How Much Is My Dallas Maritime Accident Case Worth?
Every maritime injury claim is different, and there’s no fixed formula for calculating its value. The amount you can recover will depend on the facts of your case, the severity of your injuries, and which maritime law applies.
Some of the key factors that can affect how much your Dallas maritime accident case is worth include:
- The nature and extent of your injuries
- Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
- The amount of time you’ll miss from work and your future earning potential
- The cost of your medical treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation
- The level of negligence involved in causing your accident
- The emotional and psychological impact of your injuries
In cases involving catastrophic injuries, the value of your claim could be substantial. We can provide you with more personalized insight during your free consultation.
What Kinds of Compensation Can I Recover in a Dallas Maritime Accident Case?
Maritime workers may be eligible for various types of compensation depending on the circumstances of their case and the applicable laws. Generally, you can pursue both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate for financial losses, such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage related to the accident
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages cover personal and emotional losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
Under the Jones Act, injured seamen can also seek “maintenance and cure” benefits. “Maintenance” covers day-to-day living expenses like rent and food while you recover, and “cure” pays for your medical care until you reach maximum medical improvement.
Further, in rare cases that reach the trial stage, it’s possible that punitive damages may be awarded to punish egregious conduct from the at-fault party.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Maritime Accident Lawyer in Dallas, TX?
At Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you won’t pay any upfront fees or hourly rates for our help.
Our fee will be a percentage of the financial recovery we obtain for you. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing in attorney’s fees. Before you hire us, we’ll also go over the contingency agreement in detail so that you understand exactly how it works. That way, there are no surprises along the way.
You don’t need to worry about affording legal representation after being involved in a maritime accident. This arrangement ensures that your goals and ours are aligned, as we’re motivated to secure the best possible result in your case.
What if I’m Being Blamed for My Maritime Accident in Texas?
It’s not unusual for maritime employers and their insurance companies to argue that the injured worker was partly to blame for their own accident. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence law, meaning your compensation can be reduced if you share fault. However, you can typically still recover damages as long as you were less than 51% responsible.
Just because your employer claims that you caused the accident, that doesn’t mean they’re right. Our maritime accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case and work to minimize any claims of shared fault. We’ll make sure that liability is placed where it truly belongs.
How Long Do I Have to File a Maritime Accident Claim in Texas?
The time limit to file a maritime injury claim depends on which law governs your case. For instance, if your claim falls under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), you generally have one year from the date of injury to file. As another example, the Texas statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is typically two years.
However, exceptions may apply in cases where the injury wasn’t immediately discoverable and when there are disputes about jurisdiction. Missing the applicable filing deadline can mean losing your right to recover compensation entirely.
That’s why it’s important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. We’ll help you meet every required deadline and preserve your legal rights as best as we can.
Contact Our Dallas Maritime Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a maritime or offshore accident near Dallas, TX, you may be entitled to significant compensation under state and federal maritime law. Omar Khawaja Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate this complicated legal process and fight for the justice you deserve. Call our Dallas maritime accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.