About 30 million people traveled by cruise ship in the span of a single year. With so many people traveling the world by boat, accidents are bound to occur. You might not realize you have the opportunity to file a lawsuit on your hands. Were you recently in a cruise ship accident? Are you considering a lawsuit? It helps to know how to recognize you have a case on your hands before calling a cruise ship accident lawyer.
Here are a few tips that can help you recognize it’s time to contact an attorney. By learning how to recognize you have a case, you can fight for the compensation you deserve. Read on to discover why you shouldn’t wait to hire a lawyer for a cruise ship accident.
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1. Restrictive Laws
You should consider hiring a lawyer from gcflalaw.com after a cruise ship accident for their help navigating specific laws. There are many laws that are specific to cruise ship incidents. For example, the contract associated with your ticket indicates where you’ll need to file your lawsuit. It can also indicate the time limit you have for filing your lawsuit.
With other lawsuits, the venue is based on where the incident occurred. For a cruise ship accident, however, the laws differ. In fact, there are even laws that apply to land-based cases, but not cruise ship accidents.
What if someone dies due to another party’s negligence during a cruise? The Death on the High Seas Act could restrict the compensation you’re able to receive in a wrongful death case. If you lose a family member who traveled on a cruise, you might struggle to make your case.
When building your case, your cruise ship accident lawyer will need to consider the:
- Venue
- Timely notice
- Statute of limitations
- Athens Convention
The Athens Convention is a treaty that can cap damages associated with your lawsuit. It’s important to hire a cruise ship accident lawyer as soon as you recognize you have a case. Otherwise, the statute of limitations could lapse. You could lose your opportunity to receive compensation.
It’s also important to look for an experienced cruise ship accident lawyer. Their prior experience could give your case the advantage you need. Choosing a general lawyer, on the other hand, could hurt your lawsuit. The lawyer might not understand the restrictive laws that are involved in your case. Look for an experienced, qualified attorney who understands the unique legal issues involved.
They can use their specialized experience to build a strong legal strategy for your lawsuit.
2. Terms of Ticket Contracts
Seven-day cruise itineraries increased by 9% in the span of a single year. Despite how often people book cruise trips, not many people review their contracts. Cruise lines require passengers to enter ticket contracts before their trip. These contracts could alter your rights. After all, the contract is designed to work to the cruise line’s benefit. As a result, the contract could make it difficult for you to file a lawsuit if you’re in a cruise ship accident.
The cruise line will likely have an extensive legal team on their side. Without a lawyer, you could struggle to protect your rights. While the contract might put you at a disadvantage, your lawyer can help. Otherwise, the conditions of the contract might make it difficult for you to file the claim to begin with. Make sure to bring your contract to your cruise ship accident lawyer. They can review the specifics of your contract to ensure you have a case.
3. Fact Gathering Issues
In order to build a lawsuit, your lawyer will need to gather evidence for your case. You might struggle to gather this information on your own. Working with an experienced lawyer can streamline the process. Choosing an experienced lawyer will also ensure they know how the process works. For example, they’ll need to request certain documents during the discovery process. Your lawyer will need to know who to depose and how the cruise line’s legal process works.
It’s often easier to gather evidence for land-based lawsuits. With a cruise ship, however, the cruise line controls the scene of the accident. They can also remain in possession of evidence your lawyer needs to build your case. For example, you might struggle to gather the identities of anyone who witnessed the accident. Your lawyer will need to gather any video evidence of what happened as well.
Types of Accidents
Take the time to learn about the different types of accidents on cruises before contacting a lawyer. These incidents can involve:
- Unsecured objects
- Swimming pools
- Bacterial diseases like Legionnaires’ disease
- Alcohol consumption
- Rock climbing walls
- Allergic reactions
- Food poisoning
- Elevator accidents
There are plenty of activities you can enjoy while on a cruise ship, too. Unfortunately, some activities can cause injury or harm. If you’re hurt during an excursion, you’ll need a lawyer to review your excursion contract. Otherwise, the contract might limit or waive liability for the cruise line or excursion provider.
Have your cruise ship accident lawyer look into contracts involving:
- Diving and snorkeling
- Ziplining
- Transport vehicles
- Hiking and climbing
- Tender boats
- Parasailing
Take the time to speak with a lawyer about your situation. They might recognize that your case falls under a specific sub-category, such as:
- Onboard medical malpractice (misdiagnosis, prescription errors, failure to treat)
- Slip and fall (caused by failure to repair deck surfaces, stair railings, or lighting issues)
- Premises liability
- Fires
Your lawyer will help you make sense of what happened, as well as how to proceed with building your case.
Cruise Toward Compensation: 3 Reasons to Hire a Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
Are you considering filing a lawsuit after a cruise ship accident? Keep these reasons to hire a cruise ship accident lawyer in mind. With their help, you can build a case to receive the compensation you deserve. Otherwise, the cruise line’s contract could make it difficult for you to fight for yourself. Looking for more helpful tips and guides? Explore our latest posts today!
