Almost 270 people had their dreams turned into a nightmare in a fraction of a second when the 286-foot cruise ship Saint Laurent struck a wall in a river lock in the Saint Lawrence Seaway in northern New York. The ship, which was full of tourists, was headed from Montreal to Toronto when it slammed into an approach wall bumper and started taking on water, injuring 19 passengers and 3 crew members, according to the official report of the U.S. Coast Guard. Our team of Miami personal injury attorneys sincerely hope that the passengers and crew members make a speedy recovery after this awful incident.Each year, numerous cruise ship passengers face similar incidents ranging from minor slips, trips, or falls, to life-threatening injuries leading to permanent disability and loss of employment. However, what most passengers do not understand is that if their injury was potentially caused by the negligence of the cruise ship crew or a defect of the ship itself, they should speak to a lawyer who has experience handling a cruise ship injury claim. Why is experience so important with these claims? Because cruise ships often employ teams of defense lawyers and adjusters who focus solely on reducing or denying injury claims. Furthermore, cruise ships attempt to shield themselves from liability by slipping in legalese on the back of cruise ship tickets.
Below are three big reasons why you need to retain an experienced cruise ship injury lawyer.
- Knowledge of the Boating Industry and How these Claims Work is Invaluable
A big reason why you should hire a cruise ship accident lawyer is having someone on your side advocating for your interests. Maritime laws can be complicated, and without expert guidance it is very easy to get lost in the minutia. For example, it is not known by most people that on-board accident recovery claims can have a limitation period of just one year, which means if more than a year passes between the injury and filing of the claim, the case may be thrown out. In addition to maritime law, there are a variety of state laws on the subject that can be confusing for a “land-based attorney” with little or no cruise ship accident experience. Limited knowledge by an attorney unfamiliar with these types of cases can jeopardize your ability to pursue restitution for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Focus on Recovery, Not Haggling with a Cruise Ship Claims Adjuster
If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a cruise ship, you are likely taking time out of your day to visit doctors and physical therapists. You may have missed a significant amount of time from work and need to catch up on important projects. You should focus on getting your life in order, not haggling with an adjuster assigned by a big cruise ship company. These adjusters spend their entire day trying to reduce or deny claims. They are not your friend. Let a cruise ship lawyer deal with the adjuster so you can focus on getting back to 100 percent.
- Retaining an Experienced Cruise Ship Lawyer is a Low Risk, High Reward Decision
Our Miami cruise ship injury law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless and until you get a financial recovery, either through settlement or verdict. You do not have to worry about hourly costs or big retainer fees. You get advice and representation by experienced cruise ship injury attorneys at a low risk to you, with the prospect of a large reward in the future, depending on the facts of your potential case.
The cruise ship injury lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA are licensed to practice law in all Florida state and federal courts. We are affiliated with other lawyers in virtually all jurisdictions where we are not admitted to practice. Our Florida law offices are located in the heart of Miami, Florida close to the port of Miami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Our attorneys have 80 years of collective experience handling personal injury claims, maritime accidents, and wrongful death cases. Contact us today at for a consultation at 1-877-475-2905.