Cruises may be a time of relaxation, but these are unfortunately not always as peaceful as one would assume. While leaving the real world behind can be rejuvenating, it can be problematic should an accident or incident occur. Legal issues can become murky for citizens who become victimized while onboard a cruise ship—and should an injury be sustained, it is important to keep in mind that a claim will not be as straightforward as a regular injury claim.
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The laws that apply to cruises are referred to as maritime law and are complex; it is not recommended for the average personal injury attorney to attempt to handle these cases. Instead, you need a cruise ship accident lawyer that works with these laws on a regular basis and who knows the nuances. For example, it is important to keep in mind that cruise lines will often include statutes on their tickets that will affect the way in which claims can be brought against the cruise liner. For example, they will shorten the time in which you have to file or they will specify the only area in which a case can be brought in a forum selection clause; typically, this is in Miami, Florida.
At Arnold & Itkin, we pride ourselves on being powerful advocates for the rights of our clients. We are highly-experienced with maritime law and have the know-how necessary to help both passengers and crewmembers who were involved in a cruise ship accident. If you've been hurt, please give us a call at (888) 346-5024.
Just a few reasons you should not hesitate to call:
At Arnold & Itkin, we are well-versed in cruise ship injury claims and will do everything that we can to help represent those who have suffered on these vessels. In many situations, we are there to help passengers who have sustained serious injuries while aboard a cruise. From helping protect those victimized in a slip and fall, to those who were injured while participating in a shore excursion, we have the legal knowledge that you need to protect your rights.
Other incidents that we can help passengers file a claim about include:
Should the unthinkable happen and the ship become involved in an accident, we can take the time to investigate the cause of the wreck and fight for a passenger's deserved rights. Beyond this, we are able to protect the rights of crew members who were working aboard the cruise. In many cases, these seamen are covered under the Jones Act and deserve to have their legal rights protected in the same way as any other offshore worker. This could be in relation to a claim of unseaworthiness or negligence--it could also involve defective or dangerous equipment. Regardless of the exact cause, we are here to handle complex cruise ship work injury claims. Call today to learn more!
If you have lost someone you love to a fatal cruise ship accident, you may feel as if all you have are questions with no answers. What happened? Could this have been prevented? Is anyone going to be held responsible? At Arnold & Itkin, our cruise ship death attorneys want you to know you’re not alone.
We have handled countless fatal maritime accident lawsuits, including a case that resulted in the largest known settlement for a wrongful death offshore. From the sinking of the El Faro to tragic oil rig explosions, we have come alongside families as they grieved the loss of their loved one. If you would like assistance in pursuing justice on behalf of your loved one, we encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible. We offer completely free case reviews where we can discuss what happened and how we can help. Call or fill out our online form today.
More than 20 million people take cruise ship excursions every year. However, due to the high number of things that people can do on a cruise, there are also a lot of different ways that people can get hurt.
Here are some of the most common injuries that travelers face at the hands of cruise liner negligence.
Slip & Fall Accidents
Slips and falls occur on cruise ships all the time. An employee may fail to clean up a spilled drink or put down a “wet floor sign.” A cruise ship may hit rough seas, and the captain may fail to tell passengers about the impending waves. Any number of unannounced hazards can lead to a passenger slipping and falling on their cruise. While some falls can lead to simple cuts and bruises, others will end in broken bones or worse. When a fall isn’t a customer’s fault, there is no reason why the passenger should have to pay for their injury. For this reason, cruise ship travelers injured in a slip or fall accident should contact an experienced maritime law attorney.
Medical Malpractice
One of the great things about cruise ships is that they often carry a doctor or nurse onboard. When a passenger is injured, they can visit the doctor onboard for any simple fixes they may need. Unfortunately, just like hospital workers, cruise ship doctors can make mistakes. A cruise ship doctor can misdiagnose the seriousness of an injury, resulting in delayed treatment for a time-sensitive wound. Cuts, burns, breaks, and other injuries can be difficult to fully treat when a cruise ship does not have the correct tools for the job. For this reason, cruise ship doctors may create makeshift materials that are not the best medical practice. Unfortunately, makeshift remedies can do more harm than good. If a cruise ship doctor made your injury worse through his actions, you should reach out to a practicing offshore attorney who can walk you through your options.
Excursion Accidents
Hiking through the jungle, riding Sea-Doos and Jet Skis over ocean waves, parasailing high above the sea—a passenger can purchase each of these adventures while on a cruise ship. While these activities are exhilarating, they can also end in injury. A broken Sea-Doo motor, a bad strap on a parachute, poor instructions from a tour guide can all cause a person harm. When a tour or excursion guide fails to check equipment or gives poor guidance that ends in injury, the cruise ship company may be found liable in an injury claim. These guides typically work directly for the cruise ship company or they are affiliate partners with the company. This connection means the company can be found responsible for passenger injury—even when the incident occurs off the boat.
In January of 2011, the Costa Concordia ran aground after hitting submerged rocks off the coast of the Isola del Giglio; there were over 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members at the time of the accident. The incident caused the boat to heavily list, which affected not only the passengers' ability to move throughout the boat, but also the crew members' ability to lower the rescue vessels. In fact, many passengers were forced to shimmy down the side of the boat using ropes and many swam ashore in freezing temperatures to escape the sinking cruise ship.
As of January 16, 2011 there were six official deaths and were around a dozen people who had not been accounted for. The captain of the ship was arrested and jailed on suspicion of manslaughter, abandoning ship, and causing a shipwreck. Many, including the chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere, have blamed the shipwreck on the "human error" made by the captain who made an unauthorized detour to take the ship closer to the island's coastline. Many are claiming this could be the largest maritime insurance loss in recordable history.
If you or a loved one has been injured while aboard a cruise, no matter whether you were a passenger or a crew member, then it is highly encouraged that you get the involvement of a maritime attorney from Arnold & Itkin as soon as possible. We have been successful in recovering billions of dollars, and we are prepared to go the distance in our fight for you. From our offices in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we help clients nationwide, including passengers and workers from Galveston, Beaumont, and all of South Texas. We are proud to have won cases for clients from all 50 states, and we're ready to fight for you. You can be confident knowing we will stop at nothing as we fight to help our clients seek maximum recovery. Call (888) 346-5024 to learn more!
To schedule your initial case evaluation, contact a cruise ship accident lawyer from our firm!
Arnold & Itkin represented nearly a third of the crewmembers injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Because maritime law is so complex and so complicated, it is crucial that you work with an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of how it works and who has proven themselves in similar cases before.
