How Do You Hold a Cruise Ship Company Liable for Injuries?

How Do You Hold a Cruise Ship Company Liable for Injuries? Cruises are often a fun way to vacation for the entire family, as cruise ships have become a mecca of amenities and activities that you may never imagine would fit on a single ship. Zip lines, rock climbing walls, water slides, and more provide hours of on-board entertainment for kids and adults alike. These activities are in addition to the many different restaurants, lounges, and clubs that may be on your cruise ship. While all of these amenities are meant to maximize your enjoyment of your cruise experience, many also come with the risk of serious injury. Cruise ships are known as “common carriers”[1] since they transport passengers in exchange for money. This means they are held to the highest standard of care when it comes to the safety of their passengers and should be held liable for any injuries that occur due to unsafe conditions or other acts of negligence. However, cruise ship cases can be complicated and different from other types of personal injury cases for several reasons. First, many cruise ship companies are registered in nearby countries and therefore most cases arising from injuries on the ships are governed by maritime or admiralty law.[2] Maritime law relates to the waters and involves an often complicated combination of United States federal laws, private international laws, and even state laws. Having an attorney handling your case who understands how to apply maritime law to cases involving cruise ship injuries is imperative to obtaining proper recovery. If you have suffered a cruise ship injury, call the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA in Clearwater for help today. Common types of cruise ship injuries Cruise ship injuries can happen in a wide variety of ways though injuries commonly occur due to the following:

• Swimming pool and hot tub accidents
• Dangerous fitness center equipment
• Slip and falls in common areas, halls, on stairs, or on decks
• Falling from one level to another due to inadequate or poorly maintained railings
• Improper training or supervision on activities such as rock climbing or surf simulators
• Physical and/or sexual assaults allowed by inadequate security
• Unqualified or untrained spa employees
• Injuries caused by ship collisions
• Falling overboard and drowning
• Unsanitary conditions in rooms
• Exposure to mold or toxic substances
• Defective furniture
• Food poisoning
• Failure to provide adequate medical care for injured or ill passengers

As you can see, there are many different ways to suffer injury on a cruise ship and the above are only some examples. No matter what type of injury you suffered, it is always worth consulting with an experienced maritime law attonrey to find out if you have a valid claim against the cruise ship. Liability waivers are common, but not always valid All cruise ships have passengers agree to a waiver[3] limiting the liability of the cruise line for injuries that occur on-board. However, most passengers have no idea that they even agreed to this because the waiver is often on the back of a ticket. By redeeming your ticket for entry onto the ship, you may be unknowingly agreeing to waive liability at least in part for cruise companies. While cruise lines may assert that these limited liability waivers are iron-clad, in many cases, they are not valid and enforceable for different reasons. Additionally, these provisions cannot waive liability in every situation and the cruise line will be held liable for certain types of injuries sustained by passengers. An experienced lawyer will be able to evaluate your situation and argue against liability waivers in any way possible. An experienced maritime law lawyer in Clearwater can help you hold a cruise company liable Anyone injured on a cruise ship should not delay in calling a maritime attorney at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA as soon as possible. These cases can be complex and often require extensive investigation and preparation to make sure that you are able to recover. We strive for the best possible results for every individual client, so please call us today at 727-451-6900 for a free consultation. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33756 727-451-6900 https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/maritime-law-attorneys/ References: [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/chapter-5/subchapter-II/part-I [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty_law [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liability_waiver