Cruise ships provide an enjoyable and pleasant experience for people or families looking forward to an exotic vacation. However, pleasant moments become sour when cruise ship accidents happen, and passengers suffer injuries that can change their lives forever. Usually, when such incidents occur, cruise lines are obligated to take responsibility for the injuries suffered by the passengers, especially if it was caused by negligence. More often than not, cruise liners try to protect their reputation against such and may want to engage in a legal battle when a claim is made against them. Hence, if you’ll pursue justice following a cruise ship accident, it’s essential that you hire an experienced cruise ship injury attorney to walk you through complex admiralty laws.
What is a Cruise Ship Accident?
Cruise ship accidents refer to any mishap or disaster that happens aboard a cruise ship. They include slips and falls, contaminated food swimming pool accidents, sexual assault, physical assaults, fires, excursion accidents, and more.
When Cruise accidents occur, passengers can suffer various catastrophic injuries that can worsen due to inadequate medical care, which the lack of proper medical facilities aboard can cause. Common injuries passengers may suffer include:
- Neck, back, or shoulder injuries
- Partial or complete paralysis from spinal injuries
- Brain injuries
- Fractured or dislocated bones
- Damaged internal organs
- Internal bleeding
- Severe burns, disfigurement, or scarring from fires
- Food poisoning
- Drowning
- Emotional trauma
- Death
Why You Need a Ship Accident Lawyer
Seeking justice for Cruise ship accidents is more complex to handle than land accidents. There are always several factors to consider, such as the involvement of the cruise line in the accident, the water body where the incident occurred, the nationality of the cruise vessel, the nationality of the injured passenger, the role of the injured passenger in the accident, age of the injured passenger, statute of limitation for filing a lawsuit, etc. All these factors can lead to possible loss of claim if the injured passenger does not know how to proceed or what is necessary for a successful claim.
A ship accident lawyer can help you in the following ways:
Guide You Through Complex Admiralty Laws
While you may have no idea how maritime law works, the same isn’t true for lawyers specializing in maritime laws and ship accident injuries. With such lawyers on your side, you’re one step closer to filing a successful case.
Collect Relevant Evidence
The injured passenger holds the burden of proof in cruise ship injury claims. That means they would not only show that they were injured but also prove that the cruise line’s negligence caused the injury. A ship accident lawyer can help you collect the necessary evidence to prove your claim. They can visit and analyze the accident scene, consult with experts, interview witnesses, collect accident reports, and so on.
Protect You From The Opposing Lawyers
A negligence claim against a cruise line can taint its reputation, cost them a fortune, and cause them to lose potential passengers. With so much at stake, cruise liners hire the best of attorneys to defend them against your claim to avoid damaging their reputation and paying fortunes in reparations. Without matching legal experience and assistance on your side, chances are, their force will overpower you. That is why you need an attorney with as much as experience and expertise in admiralty law.
They Pursue Your Claim
The process of filing a claim may be unclear to you. You may have questions regarding your case if it is worth filing a claim if there are factors that can affect your claim, and how much you’re likely to receive. An experienced cruise ship accident lawyer will know how best to handle your case, from filing a claim against the cruise line to pursuing a conversation. They also know the next process involved and the steps to take in that direction that will benefit your claim. To say the least, an experienced attorney will have the right answers and best counsel regarding your case. They will also ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive due justice.
Are you involved in a cruise ship accident? Speak to a cruise ship injury attorney today and see how they can be of help to you. Remember, it is well within your right to seek justice for the injuries you suffered aboard a cruise line. To make the most out of your case, take the necessary actions and contact a lawyer while you still have time.