Cruise Ship Injuries and Accidents

Miami maritime attorneys

Today, one of the most popular vacation destinations is cruise ships. Many people across the country prefer cruise ships to traditional vacations because of the exotic destinations offered and because cruises require little planning on the part of the passenger. The passenger boards the ship with the mind-set that all their needs and vacation expectations will be met. Whether passengers are aware or not of the importance of safety aboard the ship, the cruise line has the responsibility of ensuring not only the safety of the passengers but of the crew as well. Unfortunately, when the crew is improperly trained or maintenance or security is lacking, accidents with injuries, including death, may result. When this occurs, the victim may be entitled to compensation by the cruise line for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages.

Our firm’s personal injury lawyers are well-versed and knowledgeable in the area of maritime laws and have experience litigating cases involving cruise line injuries and wrongful death. Not only do we have a thorough understanding of maritime laws and court processes, but we also understand the proper way in which cruise lines should operate. This knowledge allows us to pinpoint where the negligence occurred and aggressively pursue our client’s personal injury case.

Some of the most common cruise ship accidents for which our attorneys can offer advice and litigation services are:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Injuries from failure to provide safe ingress and egress to and from the vessel
• Injuries involving alcohol and food poisoning
• Medical malpractice or negligence of the ship’s doctor and/or medical staff
• Recreational or excursion injuries
• Assault and battery
• Sexual Assault
• Wrongful Death

Cruise lines are aware of their responsibility for passenger’s safety and the liability they assume when passengers are injured. For this reasons, the cruise line will set restrictions as to when and where claims can be filed for injuries received while either on-board the ship or on a cruise line sponsored excursion. Many times this information can be found in the fine print on the cruise ship tickets. There are applicable time limits such as the requirement that written notice of claim must be given within six (6) months of the date of accident and that suit must be filed within one (1) year of the date of accident which must be filed in a certain jurisdictions, referred to as the forum selection clause.  The notice of claim and forum selection clause language many very fro each cruise line.

Many times, cruise lines will negotiate with the victim and the victim’s attorney in an effort to reach an agreeable settlement out of court. Even though this is the case, it is still imperative for victims of cruise line injuries to contact an attorney immediately. It is vital for evidence and injuries to be documented and for witnesses to be interviewed as quickly after the accident as is possible. We believe that the victim of a cruise line injury should not shoulder the burden of medical expenses or lost wages. The cruise line has an obligation to provide safe conditions for passengers and for crew members as well. When safety is compromised due to negligence and injuries result, the cruise line should be held responsible for providing monetary compensation to the victim for damages incurred.

For a free consultation with a knowledgeable and skilled cruise line personal injury attorney contact our office by telephone or online.