Cruise Ship Negligence

Cruise ships have becomes a popular vacation option for many people across the country. The cruise ship lines are responsible for the safety of the passengers and crew, but increasingly over the past few years, there have been cruise ship accidents. Poor maintenance of the ship, lack of proper security and improperly trained crew and medical staff can lead to serious injury or even wrongful death aboard the cruise ship. Cruise line injury victims are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and their pain and suffering.

Florida Cruise Ship Negligence Attorneys

Lisa Levine is a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney dedicated to representing clients who have been harmed by another’s negligent behavior. She has been featured on Good Morning American and NBC News and she is also an advocate for women’s health issues.

Mark Glassman is a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney who has worked as an expert witness in malpractice cases. He specializes in personal injury and medical practice litigation. Mark Glassman also focuses a lot on wrongful death claims and injury claims caused by large companies such as cruise ship lines.

The attorneys of Levine & Glassman are fully-versed in personal injury law and can help you receive the best possible compensation for the damages suffered after being the victim of a cruise ship injury or accident.

Cruise Ship Liability for Injuries

A common carrier generally has a special duty to its passengers to see that they arrive at their destination safely and that the carrier uses the highest degree of care to protect passengers against physical harm.

Cruise ships are strictly liable for foreseeable and preventable injuries that passengers sustain due to negligence of the ships personnel or crew. Florida’s law will apply to the cruise ships that leave out of Florida.

Popular Cruise Lines in Florida

There are many different cruise ships operating throughout the United States. Some of the most popular ships that leave out of Florida include the following:

• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Lines
• Royal Caribbean International
• Sterling Casino Lines
• Sun Cruz Casino
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Cunard Lines
• Port Canaveral Cruise

The majority of these cruises sail out and back without incident, but sometimes there are some injury that occurs on cruise ships. Things from food poisoning, bed bugs, injury, assaults and other problems can occur on cruise ships. If the accidents rise to the level of negligence then it may be necessary for you to seek legal action in order to get compensated for your injuries.

What are some common injuries reported on cruise ships?

A number of incidents can occur on a cruise ship that causes injury. Some of the most common incidents that result in accident or injury include:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Pool or recreational area accidents
• Cruise medical staff negligence
• Food poisoning
• Assault or battery by crew or passengers
• Sexual assault by passengers or crew
• Wrongful death due to cruise negligence
• Cruise line-approved excursion injuries

The cruise ship has a duty of care to guard against accidents and injury. If you are injured or assaulted on a cruise ship, then it is possible that you have a claim for damages. You need to contact a Florida personal injury attorney right away if you are injured on a cruise ship.

What should you do if you are injured on a cruise ship?

There are some important steps that you can take if you are injured on a cruise ship:

• Alert the crew and ship’s physician right away
• Take down the contact information of any possible witnesses including other passengers and the crew. (names, address, phone numbers)
• Photograph the scene including anything that may have been contributed to the injury
• Photograph the injury if possible
• Obtain copies of your medical records and other documentation prior to the end of the trip
• Make a copy of the cruise’s incident report

If you are injured on a cruise ship, it is possible that the cruise line is responsible for all of your injuries suffered aboard the ship. If you sustained your injuries away from the ship, it is best to document everything that occurred. Sometimes cruise ships have video cameras set up in public areas which could have captured the accident. Also it is a requirement for cruise ships to file reports on injured passengers.

The medical care on board the cruise ship is not state of the art in most cases so it is essential to go to your own doctor or a specialist for a second opinion.

Also make sure that you keep all documents and contracts related to the cruise. Sometimes cruise ships try to limit liability by forcing you into arbitration to settle claims. Make sure you contact a Florida personal injury attorney and provide the attorney with all of your documents so that he or she can assess your claim. Even if the cruise ship attempted to limit liability, you still may have a claim.

How we can Help

Most cruise lines settle cases out of court, but if you retain experienced personal injury lawyers, we will be able to investigate your case and bring it to trial. We will be able to discover the relevant documents, interview witnesses, and document the location and conditions where the accident occurred. It is important to hire counsel right away so that you can maintain your personal injury claim.

Levine & Glassman, P.A. – Florida Cruise Ship Lawyers

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman have extensive experience at evaluating and pursuing medical negligence claims in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. Contact our firm at (954) 332-6100 or using out online contact form and one of our attorneys will evaluate your potential cruise ship personal injury case, explain the process of filing such a claim, and answer any other questions you may have.