Cruise Ship Injuries
When you book a cruise, you immediately begin dreaming of warm weather and the beautiful ocean. You imagine all the relaxation and fun that you will enjoy on your cruise. You never expect for your cruise getaway to turn into an injury. The location of the cruise and the specific details around what happened can make your case complicated.
Sarasota Man Injured Aboard a Florida Cruise Ship
The incident of a Sarasota, Florida, man being injured aboard a Florida cruise ship is just one of the many examples that identify how complex a cruise accident can be. In this particular case, it was not the cruise ship itself that injured the man but instead, the onboard bungee cord.
The man was enjoying the cruise trampoline when the bungee cord snapped and he landed on the wooden deck, falling over 20 feet. The man and his legal team are claiming that the staff was undertrained and that appropriate safety precautions were not taken when installing and designing the cruise trampoline area.
Understanding Liability in a Cruise Ship Accident
Generally speaking, cruise ships fall into maritime laws because they spend much of their time on the water. It is not always easy to pinpoint the exact location of the cruise ship at the time of the accident and instead, the location of the cruise ship’s headquarters are often used to determine the laws.
This can become incredibly tricky if the cruise ship travels into international waters or especially if the ship is actually owned by an international company. This means that they are not bound by the same United States liability laws that you may be familiar with.
Types of Cruise Ship Injuries
There is always the potential of suffering an injury when aboard a cruise ship. Of course, incidents like the Sarasota man are less common, but the following are more common types of cruise ship injuries:
- Slip and fall
- Fire
- Impact with a physical object
- Seasickness from being stranded at sea
- Drowning
Although cruise ship owners cannot realistically prevent every potential danger when they are at sea, it is expected that they will ensure there are no physical dangers and that the staff is properly trained to prevent an injury from ever occurring.
Understanding Florida’s Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations can also get tricky when dealing with a cruise ship accident. The location of the ship can affect the length of time in which you have to file a claim. Additionally, although maritime laws generally allow for filing up to three years after the accident, this timeline can also be affected by the ship’s terms of agreement. The cruise ship could also require that any filings take place in a certain location, binding you to fight your case in a specific city and state. Unfortunately, many cruise goers do not pay attention to the fine print on their ticket agreement.
Navigating the Complex Cruise Ship Laws
Because of the many complexities involved with a cruise ship accident case, it is crucial that you work with a local Fort Lauderdale, Florida, lawyer that is familiar with these laws. Failing to choose the right cruise ship lawyer can not only prolong your process but could also prevent you from collecting any personal injury compensation that you deserve.
Contact a Pompano Beach Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Cruise Ship Personal Injury Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a cruise ship accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lawlor, White & Murphey represent clients injured because of a personal injury in Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Plantation, and throughout Florida. Call 954-525-2345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 43 South Pompano Parkway, #228, Pompano Beach, FL, 33069 as well as offices in Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Pembroke Pines, and Plantation.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.