The Debilitating Issues of Cruise Liner Injuries

Cruises suggest fun and romance, but all too often injuries do take place on cruise liners. The reasons could be many, such as food poisoning, a broken bit of equipment, or even a slip and fall injury on a wet deck. On cruise ships, the most common forms of injuries are:

Slip and fall accidents Fire accidents Injuries because of improper maintenance Broken bones Sexual assault or physical battery by a cruise employee Food poisoning Medical malpractice by an on-board doctor Assault by some other passenger General negligence Disappearance at sea Wrongful death Special Cases

Any of the foregoing incidents at sea are subject to special laws which apply to cruise ships. If the ship is at sea, it is governed by special maritime or admiralty laws. Another dimension is that many cruise ships fly foreign flags in which case the laws of another country might apply. Cruise ship injuries and liability arising from them are difficult to determine without the expertise of a personal injury lawyer with experience in maritime law.

Timing and Geography

While the statute of limitations applies in most cases of injury lawsuits in most states, in the case of cruise ship injury this is particularly limited. In some cases it is as little as a year from the date of injury, despite the fact that the victim might still be under post-accident treatment. Normally, however, the limitation in maritime cases is three years. Cruise lines frequently insert a special provision on the passenger ticket limiting the time to file a lawsuit to one year from the accident. Also, they can designate on the ticket in which geographic location such action will have to be filed.

Do Not Hesitate

Any injury which takes place on board a cruise liner should be well documented and reported to the appropriate authorities on the ship, and as soon as possible to the liner owner or operator, and the travel agent who issued the ticket. To succeed, the victim must be able to substantiate the facts of the claim supported by appropriate eye witness testimony.

www.carolinawebpros.com, www.taylorkinglaw.com