Longshoremen and dockworkers play one of the most physically demanding and dangerous roles in Houston's maritime economy. From loading and unloading cargo to operating heavy machinery, moving containers, and working alongside massive vessels, longshore workers face daily risks that require strict safety protocols.
When employers, contractors, or vessel owners fail to maintain safe conditions, longshoremen can suffer life-changing injuries. Calderon Law Firm represents longshore workers injured in accidents at the Port of Houston, marine terminals, cargo facilities, docks, and shipyards. Our firm understands the unique rules that govern longshoreman injury claims, including federal protections under maritime law.
We help injured workers navigate the legal process, protect their rights, and pursue the compensation they need to heal, recover, and support their families.
Key Takeaways:
- Longshoreman injuries fall under federal maritime protections, not standard state injury law
- Many injuries happen due to unsafe equipment, vessel negligence, or poor terminal conditions
- Longshore workers have rights under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)
- Some cases allow additional claims against vessel owners for unsafe operations
- A Houston longshoreman lawyer can help secure compensation for medical care, lost income, and serious injuries
Comprehensive Legal Support for Injured Longshoremen in Houston
Longshoremen keep Houston's maritime industry moving, working long hours in challenging environments where safety must be a top priority. Unfortunately, many accidents happen when employers fail to maintain equipment, enforce safety procedures, or provide adequate training.
Dockworkers also face risks from vessel owners, contractors, and third parties operating on marine terminals. When something goes wrong, longshore workers can suffer severe injuries that impact their ability to work, earn, and live without pain.
Calderon Law Firm supports injured longshoremen by providing detailed case evaluations, evidence preservation, and guidance through complex maritime laws. We help workers injured during:
- Cargo loading or unloading
- Container handling operations
- Forklift or crane usage
- Heavy lifting or securing cargo
- Working around suspended loads
- Dockside machinery operation
- Vessel-to-shore transfers
- Slip and falls on oily or unsafe surfaces
- Crush or pinning accidents between containers or equipment
The aftermath of a port-related injury can be overwhelming. Workers may face immediate medical needs, restricted work abilities, and pressure from employers to return too soon. Some companies attempt to minimize responsibility or claim the worker caused the accident.
Calderon Law Firm stands in your corner from the start. We assist with documenting your injuries, protecting your rights under LHWCA, and pursuing additional claims when a vessel's negligence contributed to the accident. You focus on healing-our team handles the rest.
Experienced Representation for All Types of Longshoreman and Dockworker Accidents
The Port of Houston is one of the busiest in the country, which means dockworkers regularly interact with large vessels, powerful machinery, and unpredictable cargo operations.
When safety rules are ignored or shortcuts are taken, longshoremen face serious danger. Calderon Law Firm represents workers injured in a wide range of maritime and dockside accidents.
We handle cases involving:
- Falling containers or unsecured cargo
- Forklift, crane, or straddle carrier accidents
- Defective machinery or poorly maintained equipment
- Vessel equipment failures
- Inadequate lighting or unsafe walking surfaces
- Improper loading or stacking of cargo
- Malfunctioning gangways or ladders
- Fires, explosions, or chemical exposure
- Shipboard hazards such as slippery decks
- Crane boom collapses or hoist failures
Longshoremen often suffer injuries such as:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushed limbs
- Severe fractures
- Herniated discs
- Lacerations, burns, and nerve damage
- Shoulder, knee, and joint injuries
- Chronic pain from repetitive strain
These injuries can require extensive treatment, from surgery and rehabilitation to long-term physical therapy. Calderon Law Firm works with medical experts and maritime professionals to assess the full scope of your injuries, ensuring your compensation reflects both immediate and long-term needs.
Protecting Longshore Workers From Employer and Insurance Company Pressure
After an injury, longshoremen often face pressure from employers, insurance carriers, and port supervisors.
Some workers are asked to fill out reports quickly, provide statements they don't fully understand, or return to work before they're medically ready. Insurance companies may also attempt to delay or deny benefits under LHWCA or downplay the severity of the injury.
Calderon Law Firm shields workers from these tactics by taking control of communication and protecting your legal rights from day one. We help you:
- Report the injury properly
- Avoid harmful recorded statements
- Document unsafe conditions
- Seek appropriate medical care
- Challenge disputes about your ability to work
- Appeal denied or reduced benefits
- Pursue additional claims if a vessel's negligence played a role
Longshoremen are often misled about their rights. Employers may suggest you cannot seek additional compensation, or that LHWCA benefits are all you're entitled to. This is not always true. In many cases, vessel owners can be held responsible under Section 905(b) of LHWCA for unsafe shipboard conditions.
We ensure you receive the medical treatment, wage replacement, and legal protections you deserve-without pressure or intimidation from your employer.
Fighting for Long-Term Financial Security After a Serious Port Injury
Longshore injuries can lead to substantial financial consequences. Many dockworkers rely on physical strength, mobility, and endurance to perform their jobs.
A single injury can drastically limit earning capacity or require a complete career shift. Calderon Law Firm fights to secure compensation that reflects not just your immediate expenses, but also the long-term realities of your injury.
Compensation may include:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Surgical procedures and specialist care
- Medical equipment or assistive devices
- Lost wage benefits under LHWCA
- Compensation for permanent impairment
- Disability benefits for long-term injuries
- Future wage loss based on reduced work capacity
- Vocational retraining
- Pain and suffering through third-party claims
- Loss of quality of life
Longshore workers expose themselves to dangerous environments every day, and when negligence causes injury, they deserve justice. Our firm ensures no cost, hardship, or long-term consequence is overlooked.
A Legal Strategy Focused on Evidence, Safety Violations, and Accountability
Every longshoreman injury case begins with evidence-reporting procedures, port policies, vessel documentation, and witness statements. Calderon Law Firm builds a strong legal strategy by examining how the accident occurred and identifying every party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.
Our investigation may include:
- Reviewing port and terminal safety protocols
- Examining vessel maintenance logs
- Collecting statements from dockworkers and crew
- Inspecting equipment used during the accident
- Analyzing cargo handling procedures
- Identifying regulatory violations under OSHA or maritime safety standards
- Working with maritime engineers and reconstruction experts
The goal is simple: uncover the truth, expose negligence, and build the strongest possible case for compensation. Longshore work is difficult and dangerous enough. You shouldn't have to carry the burden of an accident that never should have happened.
Understanding LHWCA: Rights and Benefits for Longshore Workers
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) provides federal protection for longshoremen and maritime workers injured on docks, wharves, piers, terminals, and shipyards.
Unlike traditional state workers' compensation, LHWCA offers broader benefits and addresses the unique hazards of maritime work. Understanding your rights under this system is essential to securing proper medical care and financial support.
Under LHWCA, injured longshore workers are entitled to:
- Medical treatment from a doctor of their choosing
- Payment for all reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Disability benefits while unable to work
- Compensation for permanent impairments
- Vocational rehabilitation services if they cannot return to their previous job
Eligibility applies to workers injured while performing maritime duties, including loading, unloading, repairing, or building a vessel. However, employers and insurance carriers often attempt to dispute claims, minimize injuries, or terminate benefits too early.
Calderon Law Firm ensures your LHWCA rights are protected by helping you:
- File your claim properly
- Challenge benefit denials or reductions
- Obtain independent medical evaluations
- Document your injury, treatment, and long-term limitations
- Appeal unfavorable decisions
Some longshoremen may also be eligible for additional compensation through third-party lawsuits-especially when a vessel owner's negligence contributed to the injury. LHWCA does not prevent you from pursuing these claims.
We ensure that your case accounts for every available benefit, every responsible party, and every long-term financial need. With the right representation, you can secure the medical treatment and income support necessary for a full and stable recovery.
How Vessel Negligence Creates Liability Under Section 905(b)
Longshoremen who are injured because of a vessel's negligence may pursue additional compensation under Section 905(b) of the LHWCA.
This is especially important because third-party vessel claims often provide significantly greater financial recovery than basic LHWCA benefits.
A vessel may be liable for negligence when it:
- Fails to maintain safe walking surfaces
- Leaves equipment unsecured or defective
- Allows improperly stacked cargo
- Fails to warn workers about hidden hazards
- Provides unsafe ladders, gangways, or access points
- Operates cranes, lifts, or booms unsafely
- Fails to correct hazards they knew-or should have known-existed
- Deploys poorly trained crew members
- Violates maritime safety regulations
Many longshore injuries occur due to failures by the vessel and its crew. For example:
- A container shift caused by improper securing
- An oily deck causing a slip and fall
- Malfunctioning shipboard equipment
- Falling cargo from a vessel crane
- Unsafe lighting or visibility issues on deck
These hazards are preventable, and vessel owners are responsible for ensuring a safe working environment for longshoremen.
Calderon Law Firm builds strong Section 905(b) claims by gathering vessel logs, maintenance records, crew statements, loading plans, CCTV footage, and other technical evidence.
We work with maritime experts to determine exactly how negligence allowed the injury to occur. When a vessel plays any role in the accident, we aggressively pursue full compensation on your behalf.
Common Types of Longshore Injuries and Their Long-Term Impact
Longshoremen face daily risks due to heavy machinery, unstable cargo, uneven surfaces, and constant interaction with vessels. Because of the nature of the work, injuries are often severe and require extensive rehabilitation.
Common longshore injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries from falling objects or collisions
- Spinal injuries from crush accidents or falls
- Herniated discs and back trauma from lifting heavy cargo
- Broken bones and fractures
- Shoulder and knee injuries from repetitive strain
- Crush injuries from container movement or machinery
- Amputations due to equipment malfunctions
- Burns from fires or chemical leaks
- Lacerations, punctures, and deep cuts
- Nerve damage from impact or entrapment
The long-term consequences can be life-changing. Some longshoremen are unable to return to full-duty work, while others face permanent physical limitations that reduce their earning capacity. Others require surgeries, physical therapy, mobility aids, or long-term pain management.
Mental health impacts are also common. Chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances can follow serious maritime accidents. Workers may struggle with the emotional impact of being unable to perform physically demanding jobs they've relied on for years.
Calderon Law Firm understands these challenges and ensures that your case reflects both the physical and psychological consequences of your injury. We work with medical and vocational experts to document the full scope of your harm and pursue appropriate compensation.
Compensation Longshoremen May Recover Through Claims and Third-Party Lawsuits
Longshoremen may be entitled to compensation from multiple sources, depending on how the accident occurred. LHWCA provides a base level of coverage for medical needs and disability, but third-party lawsuits-including claims against negligent vessel owners-often provide the most substantial financial recovery.
Compensation may include:
- All necessary medical treatment
- Surgery, rehabilitation, and medications
- Lost wage benefits under LHWCA
- Permanent partial or total disability benefits
- Future wage loss
- Loss of earning capacity
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering (through third-party claims)
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Third-party claims can significantly increase your recovery, especially in cases involving severe injuries or long-term disability. Unlike LHWCA benefits, third-party lawsuits allow compensation for pain and suffering, which can be substantial for longshoremen dealing with permanent injuries or chronic pain.
Calderon Law Firm calculates the full value of your claim by working with medical professionals, economists, life-care planners, and maritime experts. We ensure no damage-economic or emotional-is overlooked.
What to Do After a Longshoreman Injury in Houston
If you are injured as a longshoreman, the steps you take immediately after the accident can make a major difference in the strength of your legal claim. Maritime employers and insurers often move quickly to protect their interests, not yours.
Here's what to do to protect yourself:
- Report the injury immediately
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible
- Document your symptoms, pain, and physical limitations
- Take photos of the accident scene if safe to do so
- Collect names of witnesses, coworkers, or crew members
- Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance companies
- Do not sign any documents without legal review
- Keep copies of all medical records and expenses
- Contact a longshoreman injury lawyer right away
Employers or insurers may try to pressure you into statements that limit your benefits or deny your right to pursue third-party claims. Early representation prevents these tactics and strengthens your case from the beginning.
Calderon Law Firm takes over communication with all parties, gathers evidence, and positions your case for the strongest possible outcome. You focus on recovery-we handle the rest.
Give Us a Call Today
Longshore work is demanding, dangerous, and essential to Houston's maritime economy. When negligence on the docks, at terminals, or aboard vessels causes injury, you deserve justice, protection, and financial support. Calderon Law Firm stands with longshoremen and dockworkers throughout the Gulf Coast, helping them navigate LHWCA claims and pursue additional compensation when vessel negligence is involved.
If you were injured while loading, unloading, or working near a vessel at the Port of Houston, give us a call today at (346) 999-5673 to speak with a Houston longshoreman lawyer who will fight for your health, your income, and your future.