Cruise Ship Lawyer in Hialeah

Florida has seen record increases in the number of passengers leaving its ports each year. PortMiami topped 55,000 passengers in one day in 2019, making it the largest ever single-day number of Florida boaters.

Unfortunately, not all boats operate smoothly and without problems. Accidents and illnesses are now more common than ever. Slip and falls, negligent acts, and the rise of novel diseases have more and more passengers finding the cruise experience more difficult than expected.

If you were injured or got sick on a boat you might be entitled to compensation. A Hialeah cruise ship accident lawyer is here to help. From filing insurance claims to initiating lawsuits, a cruise ship injury lawyer understands what it takes to get the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

Common Accidents in Hialeah

Just like an injury sustained on land, there are numerous opportunities for injuries to occur aboard a cruise ship. With larger and larger ships come more and more chances of an accident occurring. There are some dangers that are unique to ships. Some examples include:

Slipping on a wet deck Food allergens and poisoning Objects shifting in poor weather conditions Elevator or escalator accidents Swimming pool accidents Fires Overboard incidents Infections (norovirus/coronavirus) Injuries while on an excursion Falling objects

While some accidents are unavoidable, it is the boat’s responsibility to exercise a reasonable duty of care to protect its passengers and the ship’s owner or operator may be liable for failing to do so. When these injuries occur, it may be possible to have the boating company compensate an individual for the value of the injury through a lawsuit.

Understanding the complexities of liability is complicated. A cruise ship injury lawyer with Schlacter Law can help. We have the experience needed to help weed through the issues and get you the best compensation available.

What Is Jurisdiction?

Following an accident aboard a ship, determining where to file a lawsuit is not always a simple matter. Many boat operators include language on their tickets requiring a lawsuit to be filed in a specific court. However, while this may give some guidance on where a lawsuit could be filed, these terms are not always enforceable, and an attorney would need to further investigate the proper jurisdiction.

Additionally, where to file a lawsuit may depend greatly on where the injury occurred. If for example a cruise ship passenger slips and falls in port in Hialeah before boarding the boat, a lawsuit may need to be filed in state court where the port is located. However, if a fall occurs aboard the ship while it is at sea, maritime law may apply, requiring a lawsuit to be filed in federal court under maritime law.

Furthermore, the parties involved in a lawsuit may not always be clear, making it difficult to establish who is at fault for the injury. Some of the parties involved in operating a cruise ship include:

The owner of the vessel The company that operates the vessel The company that sold the tickets The company that hires the crew onboard the vessel

One or more parties may be responsible for an accident aboard a cruise ship. In cases where it is not immediately clear who is responsible, a cruise lawyer may be necessary to help look at the circumstances that led to the accident.

Maritime law is often applied in boating accidents that occurred at sea. Maritime law is a set of complex laws that evolved from early laws established at sea hundreds of years ago. These laws are oftentimes outdated and difficult to apply to current modern-day cruise ship incidents. 

Understanding the complexities of maritime law requires a Hialeah attorney well versed in its intricacies. For these reasons, it is essential to seek the help of a Florida cruise ship lawyer. Experience litigating under maritime law is essential in successfully seeking compensation for a cruise ship accident victim.

After a Cruise Ship Accident

Following a cruise ship accident where someone was injured, it is essential to keep a record of what occurred at the time of the accident. If possible, be sure to file an accident report with a member of the cruise line’s staff and be sure to get a copy for your records.

Keeping track of the conditions prior to the incident may be the difference between getting compensation and being unable to do so. If possible, be sure to:

Photograph the accident scene Get the contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the accident Get the contact information for any staff members who were involved in the accident Get the contact information of any staff member you reported the accident to Record the weather conditions just before the accident occurred Record any obstacles or obstructions present at the time of the accident

If you were injured following an accident in Hialeah, be sure to seek medical help as soon as possible. Most cruise ships have an infirmary staffed with a medical doctor. In cases where an injury is severe, it may be necessary to remove an accident victim from the boat to seek medical assistance on land. 

Oftentimes, a cruise ship will not cover additional medical expenses for care received at a medical facility on land. When this is the case, it may be necessary to pay for this medical care out of pocket and seek compensation from the ship operator in a lawsuit. Under these situations, the help of a cruise ship accident lawyer is essential. 

Cruising continues to be one of Florida’s largest growing industries. With no sign of slowing down, more and more passengers sail the Florida seas today. Unfortunately, with the ever-increasing number of cruises and ship passengers, comes an ever-increasing number of accidents. When these accidents occur, Schlacter Law is here to help. With our years of experience helping Hialeah cruise ship passengers receive the compensation they deserve you can rest assured that our team of cruise ship attorneys have the skills needed to get the best compensation available. Call today.

By Brett Schlacter

References

Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association ↩