Beaumont

Port of Beaumont

The Port of Beaumont is one of the largest and most navigated ports in the United States. The Port ranks in the top 5 ports for cargo ships, military vessels, and other water vessel traffic. This expansive port imports commerce from over 20 countries.

The port’s immense size and high traffic levels have created numerous employment opportunities for maritime workers. These workers include ship repairmen, cargo workers, shipping warehouse workers, crew members, and various other essential maritime employees.

The maritime industry is a high-risk work environment due to heavy machinery, equipment, and numerous other hazards. Negligence in the workplace further increases the prevalence of these incidents. Many maritime injuries are a result of an employer’s failure to maintain a safe work environment
Injured maritime workers are protected under maritime law and entitled to rights exclusively for workers. Workers who are injured at the Port of Beaumont are entitled to seek compensation from their employers.

These laws are complex and specific to each case and unique circumstances. Choose a maritime personal injury lawyer who is experienced, knowledgeable, and will fight for your legal rights. Willie D. Powells III is proud to help workers who are injured at the Port of Beaumont get maximum compensation for their injuries.

About the Port of Beaumont

Jobs in the maritime industry are a predominant source of revenue for the city of Beaumont, Texas, and United States commerce. The Port of Beaumont is located approximately 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and provides cargo ships with a channel for both the import and export of goods.

Port of Beaumont Cargo Imports and Exports Include:

Forest Products
Iron
Grain
Gravel
Gasoline
Oil

Military Equipment
Sand
Steel
Stone
Vehicles
Wind Turbine Components

Established in 1949, The Port of Beaumont continues to thrive as the fourth most navigated port in the United States.

The extensive size of the Port of Beaumont and high traffic levels allows numerous water vessel operations to be performed onsite. There is an industry cargo terminal available for storing bulk cargo. Maritime workers and ship operations can also utilize the port’s water vessel repair services.

Roll-On/Roll-Off Dock
94 Acres of Open Storage
Nearly 600,000 Sq. Ft. Covered Storage
A 3.5 Million Bushek Capacity Grain Elevator

The Port of Beaumont also has the largest mobile crane that can be utilized in this region of the Gulf of Mexico.

Accidents at the Port of Beaumont

Maritime workers at the Port of Beaumont are at risk of accidental injuries due to a strenuous and demanding work environment. There are numerous incidents that could result in debilitating injuries, including falls, equipment failure, and catastrophic injuries.

A study conducted by a prominent university revealed that fires and grounding are the most common type of port accidents that occur.

Unintentionally grounding can be caused by several natural and circumstantial factors. The size and age of the water vessel contribute to the likelihood of unintentional grounding. External factors including the water current, waves, tides, and other weather conditions also play a significant role.

Grounding incidents could result in hazardous chemical spills, falls, and overboard accidents. Ship grounding also leaves many ships unseaworthy and in need of repairs. This puts crew members in danger of being potentially stranded at sea and/or victims of piracy.

Maritime workers face the ongoing threat of fires and explosions due to the hazardous chemicals onboard. Flammable vapors can ignite and lead to serious burns, smoke inhalation, and/or death.

In August of 2022, a cargo ship inbound via the Port of Beaumont collided with an outbound carrier. The crew members of the inbound ship reported that the vessel’s engine alarm sounded and automatically shut down. The loss of power caused the ship operator to lose the ability to steer the vessel.

Both ships sustained damages but, fortunately no one was injured as a result of the accident.

Dock workers are at risk of suffering from numerous injury-causing accidents due to their strenuous workloads and highly dangerous work environments. Maritime dock workers’ injuries are often a result of slips and falls, injuries caused by heavy machinery, and/or cargo loads.

Dock workers are protected under maritime law through The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation. This act was developed to protect maritime workers who work outside the ship but contribute to overall operations.

There are numerous potential factors involved when a seaport injury occurs. These accidents are generally a result of human error, environmental, and circumstantial elements.

The majority of these causes are a result of some form of negligence on behalf of your employer. Examples of employer negligence include poor worksite conditions, inadequate training, and failure to enforce workplace safety standards.

Legal Rights for Beaumont Maritime Workers

Beaumont Port maritime workers are legally entitled to several types of protection that are unique to the workforce. These provisions, governed by maritime law, entitle workers and their families to several forms of compensation.

Maritime Acts Include:

The Jones Act
The Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act
The Death on the High Seas Act

These acts allow maritime workers to seek compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

Which act applies specifically to your injuries will depend on the unique circumstances in your case.

All maritime workers have the legal right to sue their employer for damages in the event that they are injured or fall ill. This includes crew members, offshore workers, barge workers, dock workers, ship repairmen, and any other individual who contributes directly to ship operations.

Injured and ill maritime workers have the right medical care until they reach a point of maximum medical improvement. Employers are required to continue to provide compensation until the worker achieves this state of wellness.

Crew members who are injured at sea are entitled to receive maintenance and cure. Eligibility for this compensation is automatically awarded, with no regard to liability. Maintenance and cure pertain to an injured worker’s room and board, food expenses, medical care, and cost of daily living expenses.

Employers are required to provide these coverages until the ill or injured worker reaches their maximum medical recovery.

The majority of maritime workers deaths at sea could have been prevented if employers complied with safety regulations. Failure to enforce legally mandatory safety standards is grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Eligible surviving relatives are given the right to sue for compensation under The Death on the High Seas Act.

Contact a Texas Maritime Lawyer for Help

Contact a Texas maritime lawyer immediately for help if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident at the Port of Beaumont. Willie D. Powells III will work hard to gather evidence that will prove your employer is liable for your injuries. He will work diligently to assess your case, determine which acts are relevant, and file the appropriate claim.

Fight for Injured Maritime Workers’ Rights

Willie D. Powells is proud to fight for hardworking Texans who were injured at the Port of Beaumont and at ports throughout Texas.

Texas Ports Served:

Port of Beaumont
Port of Corpus Christi
Port of Freeport

Port of Galveston
Port of Houston
Port of Port Arthur

Reach out to Willie D. Powells III today if you or a loved one has been injured at any port along the Gulf Coast. Willie D. Powells III is a compassionate and dedicated personal injury lawyer who fights hard to get his clients the compensation they deserve. Call 281-881-2457 today for a free case review.