Cruise Ship Injuries

Every year there are more than eight million people that board cruise ships in Tampa, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Palm Beach. This high volume of travelers can easily lead to cruise ship accidents and injuries, and when you are left suffering aboard a cruise ship, you can be left at a loss for what to do. The Villages Cruise Ship Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help steer you along the right legal path, regardless of the types of injuries you have sustained.

Common cruise ship accidents can include, but are not limited to:

• Slip and fall accidents or trip and fall accidents
• Water slide and swimming pool mishaps
• Medical negligence
• Sexual Assault
• Sickness from food and water impurities
• Injuries that happen while on excursions off of the cruise ship
• Ship and dock accidents
• Wrongful death

Read the Fine Print on the Back of Your Cruise Line Ticket

It is important to be aware of the fine print on your passenger ticket when you have suffered an injury on a cruise ship. There are often special provisions printed on the back of your ticket that designate the location where a cruise line can be sued. The tiny print on your cruise line ticket also indicates the time frame in which you can file a personal injury claim against a cruise line. Many times the statute of limitations for cruise ship injury claims are reduced to one year. Your cruise line pass or ticket is a contract that has valuable information available as to what steps you need to take to validate your claim.

What Do I Do If I’ve Been Injured on a Cruise?

When you suffer an injury or illness on a cruise ship or at least three miles from the shore, then the rules of International Maritime Law will likely apply to your unique situation. The best thing to do after a cruise ship accident is to speak with an experienced cruise ship attorney so that you can understand more about filing a personal injury claim as the specifics of your case will all depend on what type of incident occurred as well as where it happened.

Our Villages Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton advise doing the following:

• Report any injury, illness, or assault to the security or safety officer on board the cruise ship. Don’t be afraid to officially report what has happened to you. Once you report the specific incident, the cruise ship company should provide you with a copy of the report. If you do not get one, then request it for your personal records.
• Go and see the cruise ship infirmary or doctor for medical attention. Your health and wellness is a top priority. You will want to seek first aid and medical attention, and get copies of all of your medical records pertaining to the incident. You also want to keep track of any and all medical expenses.
• Get in touch with the appropriate authorities when necessary. If a crime occurred, then you may need help from local police or even the FBI. The authorities involved can vary based on whether the ship was at port or at sea, which we know can be a complex issue.
• Do not let the cruise ship dismiss your incident. You must be strong and not let crew members or local authorities minimize the incident. Keep track of the names and titles of anyone you speak to following the incident as these can prove useful later on. Ask for copies of every single report and take pictures of everything you can.
• Take pictures/video of your injuries and where they happened. You want to capture your injuries as they are right away as these can fade over time. On that same note, if any unsafe conditions existed on the cruise ship, take pictures or videos of those to depict them in a clear light. If your statements to the doctor or cruise ship security or safety officer are recorded, then you are entitled to a copy or you can record the conversation on your own.
• Be careful how you speak to the cruise lines. You may be asked leading questions and yoru answers could be twisted and later used against you. Don’t be shocked if the cruise line tries to assert blame on you. Be direct in your answers and give accurate information, but DO NOT accept any blame, make any excuses, or offer any sort of apology.
• Gather your own evidence and any witness information. The odds are that someone saw what happened to you, so get any witness contact information, recorded statements, and copies of any evidence like video surveillance.
• Get in touch with our Villages Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton. As we mentioned previously, the back of your cruise ticket has loads of valuable information on it. All of this fine print is to protect the cruise ship from any liability if and when an accident occurs. In order for your claim against the cruise line to be valid, it must be shown that negligence contributed to your accident/injury. Our Villages Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can review your claim and provide you with the maritime legal advice you need. Do not hesitate to call us at 352-369-5334 or contact us online.

Let Our Villages Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers Help You File a Claim

If you or someone you love was injured while on a cruise, the Cruise Ship Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can assist you with your accident claim and make sure that your rights remain protected. Cruise ship accidents can happen anytime, anywhere – walking down the hallway of the ship or exploring an exotic foreign port during an excursion – no place or area is off limits. Even if your injury takes place off of the ship there are still ways to file a claim for your accident.

Your cruise line claim may be affected by varying laws contingent upon where your cruise ship accident injury occurred. This means that your claim may be subject to certain Florida laws, Federal Maritime laws or even Foreign Port laws. The Villages Cruise Ship Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have the ability to scrutinize every aspect of your cruise line claim and apply whatever laws necessary to recover the maximum compensation that you rightfully deserve. For advice about your cruise ship accident or injury or to set up a free consultation to discuss what steps to take next, contact Whittel & Melton online or in The Villages at 352-369-5334.