Cruise Ship Safety
Because cruise ships cross jurisdiction boundaries, their operation and safety measures are subject to a host of legal restrictions. Cruise liners take great care in preventing
cruise ship accidents and attempt to maximize
cruise ship safety.
An Intricate Legal Web
If you sustain an injury due to an accident or intentional tort on your cruise ship, you’ll need professional legal counsel just to determine which laws apply. Most of the big lines are registered in countries other than the United States and are governed by the maritime rules there, as well as applicable U.S. laws and other international treaties.
Unfortunately, the maze of legal regulations and multiple responsible parties can make it more difficult to recover the damages you deserve.
A personal injury lawsuit resulting from a physical assault may let you name both the individual and several cruise ship management entities in the claim.
Even a simple charge of negligence may involve the company that owns the cruise line, the company that charters your ship, the operators of the particular cruise, and the ticket seller, who may or may not be affiliated with any of these parties. While these complicate the issue, they also share in the blame when accidents, injuries or illnesses happen at sea.
You’ll have to jump through plenty of legal hoops in order to make your case, but you do have a right to compensation if you’re hurt on a cruise ship vacation.
Cruise ship travelers who are injured can sue for:
- Expenses, including hospital, doctor and emergency medical transport
- Wages that you lost due to delays in quarantine, hospital care or disability
- Pain from physical trauma, as evaluated by expert medical testimony
- Suffering from mental trauma, if applicable
- Court fees and miscellaneous legal costs
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