Cruise Line Passenger Claims

Ship Accidents Attorney, Maritime Personal Injury Lawyers

WE ARE CALIFORNIA CRUISE LINE PASSENGER LAWYERS.

As California cruise ship lawyers we handle injuries arising from cruise ship accidents departing from California and from Ports throughout the country. The cruise ship industry is one of the healthiest parts of the holiday market for newlyweds, singles and families. Over a million people annually take a cruise.

Unfortunately, shipboard accident injuries happen. We see cruise ship cases such as slip and falls, injuries during activities which occur off the ship during an offshore stop or even on the ship including fires, collisions, assaults by crew members, sexual battery or rape. We have reviewed many salmonella food poisoning claims related to cruise ship dining.

We are experts in analyzing the contract between the passenger and the cruise liner. It is a complicated contract which is one sided for the cruise ship line.

If you are considering a cruise line passenger claim it is extremely important for you to consider the following:

A. Time to file a Claim
Most cruise ship contracts between passenger and cruise ship require that the injured passenger must file a claim of some written notice within six months of the date of injury or maximum one year to file a claim or else the claim is permanently barred. Some cruise ship contracts include that the injured passenger must notify the cruise ship in writing of the claim within six months of the injury or accident.

B. Place to bring cruise ship claim
Cruise ships are very successful in limiting where a cruise ship claim can be brought. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity require an injury claim be brought only in Dade County (Miami) Federal Court. Carnival Cruise lines in its contract requires a lawsuit be filed Federal District Court the Southern District Florida - Miami. Other cities which cruise lines limit the ability of a passenger to bring an injury claim are Seattle and Los Angeles. Remember, if you were injured on a Carnival cruise ship leaving Los Angeles, the claim must be brought in Miami, Florida. Our Cruise Ship Legal Teams have handled many such Florida claims against Carnival.

C. No Liability for Ships Doctor
Cruise ships are not responsible for a cruise ship doctor’s mistakes or negligence. It has been held again and again by courts including the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court that cruise ships are not responsible for ship doctors’ mistakes, negligence or malpractice.

D. CRUISE SHIPS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SHORELINE OR SHORESIDE TRIPS OR ACTIVITIES.
Another limitation that you must realize is that cruise ships are not responsible for injuries caused on activities on shore even if it was caused by the negligence of an independent contractor or someone which the ship booked for a shoreside activity on your behalf.

E. OTHER CRUISE SHIP LIMITATIONS
Limitation on jewelry or other personal effects: The ship contract limits to $50 to $100 any claim for lost or stolen jewelry or other valuables.

No ability to bring an emotional distress claim in a cruise ship passenger case. Every contract between a cruise ship and its passenger removes any claims for emotional distress.

Nadrich & Cohen is handles cruise ship passenger claims on a contingency basis. We are experts in determining which claims can succeed in either Florida, California or Washington. Remember, if we file a claim for you in either Miami, Seattle or Los Angeles, you or your loved one will have to make at least one trip to that city.

If you or a loved one was injured in a cruise ship passenger claim please contact a Nadrich & Cohen client intake representative for a no charge, confidential evaluation. We will immediately inform you if you have a valid claim or you can complete the free case review on the right.