California, with its beautiful coastline, is a popular tourist destination for millions of travelers each year. As a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm with offices in Long Beach and San Diego, we represent injury victims who are injured while on a cruise ship vacation. Cruise ship owners have the responsibility to make certain there are no dangerous conditions which can result in injury to a passenger or a crew member. Our cruise ship lawyers handle passenger and crew member injuries caused by cruise ship negligence or a dangerous condition on the ship or at the port.
We have extensive knowledge of regarding maritime law for cruise ships, shipboard operations, and shipboard procedures. We obtain compensation for a client’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. We have handled cruise ship injuries including cruise ship crash, slip and falls, food poisoning, cruise ship sickness, staircase and ramp injuries, fires, collisions, pool injuries, missing passengers, and assaults by crew members including sexual assaults or rape.
Time Limit To File A Cruise Ship Injury Claim
Most cruise ship contracts between passenger and cruise ship companies require that the injured passenger file a claim or some written notice within six months of the date of injury or else the claim is permanently barred. There are some limited exceptions where a passenger has up to one year to make a personal injury claim. Some cruise ship contracts state that the injured passenger must provide written notification of the claim to the cruise ship corporation within six months of the injury or accident.
Where To Bring A Cruise Ship Injury Claim
Cruise ships are very successful in limiting available jurisdiction for bringing a cruise ship claim. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity require an injury claim be brought only in Dade County, Florida Federal Court. Carnival Cruise, on the other hand, requires a lawsuit be filed in Federal District Court for the Southern District Florida. Princess Cruise Line typically requires a lawsuit be filed in Los Angeles, California. We are experts on cruise ship law and contractual obligations between the passenger and cruise line. It is a complicated contract. The ticket stipulates claim notification limits.
Common Cruise Ship Liability Limitations
- Limitation on loss or theft of jewelry or personal effects is usually limited by the ship contract to cover only $50 to $100 for reimbursement.
- There is also no ability to bring an emotional distress claim in a cruise ship passenger case. Every contract between a cruise ship and its passenger removes any claims for emotional distress.
- Cruise ships are not responsible for a cruise ship doctor’s mistakes or negligence. The Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court have held that cruise ships are not responsible for a ship doctor’s mistakes, negligence or malpractice.
- Another limitation that you must realize is that cruise ships may not be responsible for injuries caused by/during activities onshore, even if the injury caused by the negligence of an independent contractor or someone which the ship booked for a shore-side activity on your behalf.
How We Handle A Cruise Line Lawsuit
The first thing we do is obtain the contract which came with the passenger ticket. Before we file a lawsuit, we will notify the cruise ship line because all tickets require prior notice to the cruise line. Usually, this must occur within six months of the incident. Many tickets, however, have a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims.
We will develop an extensive factual record of the injury and research all circumstances surrounding the injury. We have our client describe the ship and the area where the incident occurred. We find out how the ship and decks were laid out, type of flooring used, etc. We find out if any cleaning machines or crew members were near the accident site. We will also determine if the client reported the accident if a response was made and if there’s a record of the report.
To successfully pursue a cruise ship injury lawsuit, we will need to obtain any available photos of the dangerous condition. Oftentimes, pictures have been captured by our client or a fellow traveler, family member, etc. We have even located photos on photo-sharing websites such as Flickr and Photobucket.
Cruise Ship Companies We Have Investigated
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Celebrity Cruise Lines
- Costa Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Norwegian Cruise Lines
- Regent – Seven Seas Cruises
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
- Silver Sea Cruise Line
- Princess Cruise Line
How Do I Make A Cruise Line Injury Claim?
The Cruise Ship Attorneys of Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers handle all types of cruise line lawsuit claims on a contingency fee basis. Again, we are experts in determining where and when claims are to be filed. If you or a loved one suffered a cruise ship injury or cruise ship illness, immediately contact us for a free confidential case evaluation. You can complete the “Do I have A Case?” form on this page, call us at 1-800-718-4658, or use the live chat feature. We will provide you with a cruise ship lawsuit evaluation on the spot.
