The Port of Brownsville and South Texas Maritime Workers

The Port of Brownsville is one of the largest deep-water seaports in the United States and one of the country's most significant free trade zones. Located at the southernmost tip of Texas along the Rio Grande, the port handles millions of tons of cargo each year and employs thousands of workers in maritime, shipping, and industrial operations.

Workers at the Port of Brownsville face serious injury risks every day — from loading and unloading cargo to working aboard vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. When a maritime worker is injured on the job, the path to compensation depends on exactly where and how the injury occurred, and what type of work the employee was performing.

At Anderson Alexander PLLC, our maritime injury attorneys serve injured workers throughout South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, and the coastal region. If you were hurt on the water or at the port, you may have more legal options than you realize.

Who Qualifies for Jones Act Protection?

The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that provides special protections to seamen — workers who spend a significant portion of their time aboard a vessel in navigation. If you qualify as a seaman under the Jones Act, you are entitled to file a negligence claim against your employer and pursue remedies that go well beyond standard workers' compensation.

Jones Act seamen may be entitled to:

To qualify as a Jones Act seaman, you generally must spend at least 30% of your work time aboard a vessel or fleet of vessels in navigation. This can include tugboat operators, crew members on supply vessels, offshore support workers, and others who regularly work on ships or barges in the Gulf.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA)

Not all port and waterfront workers qualify as Jones Act seamen. Longshoremen, dock workers, crane operators, ship repairers, and other harbor workers who don't spend the majority of their time aboard a vessel may instead be covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA).

The LHWCA is a federal workers' compensation program that provides benefits including:

LHWCA benefits are often more generous than Texas state workers' compensation, and navigating the federal claims process requires an attorney with specific maritime law experience. If your employer disputes your claim or tries to minimize your injury, having legal representation makes a significant difference in the outcome.

Common Injuries at the Port of Brownsville

Maritime and port work involves heavy machinery, large vessels, and hazardous cargo — all in an environment where conditions change rapidly. Common injuries we see at ports like Brownsville include crush injuries from loading equipment and cranes, falls from elevated platforms or vessel decks, injuries from defective or improperly maintained equipment, dock accidents involving forklifts and other industrial vehicles, chemical or cargo spills causing burns or respiratory injuries, and repetitive motion injuries from long-term manual labor.

These injuries can be severe and life-altering. Maritime and port workers often sustain spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, and serious orthopedic damage. The financial impact — lost wages, medical bills, and long-term disability — can be devastating for the worker and their family.

Why Anderson Alexander Serves the Rio Grande Valley

Anderson Alexander PLLC is headquartered in Corpus Christi and serves maritime and personal injury clients throughout South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley, Cameron County, and the Brownsville area. Our attorneys — Austin Anderson and Clif Alexander — are both rated by Super Lawyers, placing them among the top 5% of attorneys in Texas.

We understand the federal maritime statutes that apply to injured workers in Brownsville and along the Texas Gulf Coast. We handle Jones Act claims, LHWCA claims, general maritime negligence, and offshore injury cases — and we never charge a fee unless we win.

If you work at the Port of Brownsville or in the surrounding maritime industry and have been injured on the job, contact us today for a free consultation. We'll evaluate your situation, explain your rights under federal and state maritime law, and help you pursue the maximum compensation available.

Free Consultation — No Fee Unless We Win

Anderson Alexander PLLC101 N Shoreline Blvd Suite 420, Corpus Christi TX 78401Attorneys: Austin Anderson + Clif Alexander — Super Lawyers ratedWebsite: a2xlaw.com · No fee unless we win

To speak with a Brownsville maritime attorney about your Jones Act or LHWCA claim, call (361) 452-1279 or visit our contact page to schedule your free consultation.