Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer Blog
Embarking on a cruise ship vacation, to most, is a great experience accompanied with relaxation and exploration. Nevertheless, catastrophic and often fatal accidents can and do occur on cruise ships. For instance, recently a ten-year-old girl drowned in a swimming pool on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Said ship had to sail immediately to a nearby port in Florida. This incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon when the ship’s medical team responded to an emergency call from the pool deck that a ten-year-old female guest was reported unresponsive. Of course, the medical team administered quick CPR and proper emergency care. After countless efforts, the guest could not be revived.
In all, if you or a loved one is injured on a cruise ship, it is important that you hire an experienced maritime attorney. The relevant law governing your case may be complex. In fact, there are special laws both federal and international that govern injury and death lawsuits that take place at sea. Additionally, statutes of limitations are much shorter, sometimes only six months from the date of incident. If your accident occurred on navigable waters, either near the United States or near a foreign shore, this presents complex legal issues and admiralty, maritime, and even foreign laws may apply to your particular case.
Our Miami, Florida maritime lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA have plentiful experience filing claims against all the major cruise lines. Our attorneys are skilled at representing passengers and crew members who suffer serious and catastrophic injuries. If you are injured, we will fight to enforce your legal rights. We also will not hesitate to bring your case to trial if a fair settlement offer is not made.
Cruise Ship Accidents
Primarily, it is important that you act quickly if you or a loved one incurs an injury on a cruise ship. It is also important to understand that when you first buy your ticket for the cruise that you are actually entering into a contract with the cruise line. This is a written contract that indicates how long you have to file a lawsuit against the cruise line if you are injured during the trip. This particular time limit may be as short as six months to one year. Thus, it is important that you retain an attorney as soon as possible to start working on your case.
When you or a loved one is injured, there are a number of helpful tips to keep in mind. First of all, you should immediately contact the ship safety or security officer to report the incident. Not only that, but you should also provide that entity with written notice that you intend to file a claim against the cruise line. It is also important that you get the name and contact information of anyone that assisted you at the scene of the accident.
From here, very important, you should get the name and contact information of any witnesses at the scene of the incident. A report should also be made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) if you were a victim of a serious crime. Take photos of the accident scene. Cruise lines are notorious for destroying evidence and this will help safeguard your evidence. Lastly, you should get medical help as soon as possible on the ship. Once the ship is ported, you should then seek medical attention off the ship as well.
Hire an Experienced Attorney
Due to the several complexities in these cases, it is critical to contact an experienced maritime lawyer if you or a loved one are injured at sea. Our Miami, Florida maritime Lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz PA are highly experienced and know what to do. Our attorneys are skilled at representing passengers and crew members who suffer serious and catastrophic injuries. We are are licensed to practice law in all Florida state and federal courts. We are affiliated with other lawyers in nearly all jurisdictions across the United States where we are not admitted to practice law. Our Florida law offices are conveniently located in the heart of Miami, Florida near the port of Miami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Contact us today for a consultation!