Going on a cruise can be a lot of fun, giving people a chance to relax and create memories with family and friends.
Unfortunately, the fun can be cut short when vacationers suffer a serious injury. While there are many reasons why injuries occur, it is often because of another’s negligence. For example, cruise ship occupants could slip and fall because a wet surface or they could get injured by a fire or elevator accident.
Cruise ship accident victims may be eligible to recover compensation for the cost of their medical care and various other damages. An important step in recovering compensation is talking to an experienced attorney. A Lafayette cruise ship accident lawyer can determine if you may have a case and help you navigate the process to protect your rights and interests.
The legal team at Galloway Jefcoat has advocated for injury victims throughout Louisiana for over 25 years. We have a proven track record of turning wrong into right and have helped our clients recover millions in compensation. John Jefcoat, a native of Lafayette Parish, has helped many personal injury victims.
Our firm offers a free initial consultation to discuss your legal options. We only get paid if we secure compensation for your injuries and damages.
Can I File a Lawsuit After a Cruise Ship Injury?
Cruise ship operators have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of the thousands of people on board, but sometimes their efforts fail. When they fail to uphold their responsibilities, a variety of accidents can occur:
- Food poisoning
- Slip-and-fall accidents, such as in high-traffic areas like restaurants, stairwells and dance floors
- Elevator and escalator accidents
- Drownings
- Swimming pool accidents
- Harassment
- Assault, including sexual assault
- Accidents when getting on or off the ship, also referred to as gangway accidents
- Collisions with other ships or vessels
- Falling object accidents
- Falling overboard
- Dangerous docking of the ship in the port
- Fires
- Pneumonia-like illness
- Injuries during recreational activities, like rock climbing, water slides and other activities endorsed by the cruise line
Victims of these accidents may have legal recourse – the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) requires cruise ship operators to have proof of their ability to pay claims that result from passenger injuries or deaths that may have occurred because of operator negligence.
However, the process for a cruise ship claim may be complicated. That is why you should contact a Lafayette cruise ship accident lawyer to determine if you may have a case. There is limited time to file a claim, so you should act quickly.
Our firm is prepared to pursue legal action against major cruise lines, like:
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Carnival Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- Celebrity Cruise Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Holland America
- Island Queen Cruises
- And more
Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of maritime laws and other regulations governing cruise ships. We have been advocating for the injured for decades, securing millions for our clients.
We know how to investigate and gather the supportive evidence we need to build a strong case. This often includes bringing in the types of experts who can determine what happened and how negligence may have been involved.
Most injury victims are unsure of what to do next, which is why contacting an experienced lawyer can be so important. Galloway Jefcoat’s Lafayette cruise ship accident lawyers can handle each step of the process, including:
- Investigating the accident
- Determine the value of your case (medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more)
- Determining the laws that may apply, including deadlines for legal action
- Filing a lawsuit if the insurance company does not offer full compensation
What About the Liability Waiver on Your Cruise Tickets?
Some passengers may think they cannot file a claim because they signed a liability waiver when they purchased their tickets. These waivers say the cruise line is not responsible for injuries that occur on the ship.
While it may seem like a waiver eliminates your legal options, state law says liability waivers are not enforceable in Louisiana. If you were injured by another’s negligence, you may have a case.
"I have used Galloway Jefcoat a few times and have always been very satisfied. Furthermore, all of the people who work there are very professional, nice, and courteous."
How Negligence Can Result in Serious Injuries on a Cruise Ship
Cruise ship operators are required to follow maritime laws, including the Jones Act, which covers offshore injuries; Death on the High Seas Act; and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These laws set a variety of regulations about navigation of the vessel, lifesaving equipment and the actions of crew members.
For example, cruise ship operators should conduct routine inspections to discover dangerous conditions and get them fixed. They need to provide enough security to prevent assault and other criminal activity that can result in injuries and property damage. Operators should also provide adequate warning about hazardous situations to reduce the risk of passenger injury.
However, there are many other parties that may bear liability for cruise ship injuries. For example, in some cases, parts manufacturers may be held liable for defective or dangerous components that result in injuries. Other passengers may be liable for assaults or falling accidents. Cruise ship maintenance companies may be partially at fault for some accidents, if poor maintenance caused a dangerous situation, like a collision with another vessel.
Here are some examples of negligence that could lead to a cruise ship injury:
- Negligent security, especially at nighttime
- Poor lighting
- Failure to fix broken stairway railings
- Poor training and supervision of crew members
- Poor food safety precautions
- Inadequate sanitation procedures to prevent the spread of diseases
- Malfunctioning equipment
- Errors with navigation that result in capsizing of vessels or crashes
- Medical negligence or malpractice when receiving treatment for injuries
- Hiring unqualified crew members
- Failing to warn passengers of hazardous situations or restrict access to areas that could be dangerous
- And more
Do Most Cruise Ships Have a Standard Procedure for When Someone Gets Hurt?
The most important step to take after getting injured during a cruise is to seek medical attention. Cruise ships are required to have the ability to provide adequate medical attention to injured passengers.
This is important for your health and to create a record of your injury. Seeking treatment right away makes it much harder to dispute that your injuries occurred due to the accident and not because of something else. Liable insurance companies often claim that an injury is not connected to an accident to try to diminish the victim’s credibility.
You should also report the incident to the appropriate authorities on the ship. Cruise lines have a protocol for how to handle accidents. Reporting the accidents helps to show this is a serious situation and makes it harder for the liable insurance company to dispute what happened.
When you report an accident, various parties may want you to sign different documents, some of which may be designed to limit your legal options for pursuing all the compensation you need. While there is limited time to take legal action, you should not rush into signing anything. You can review these documents with an experienced lawyer and discuss your next steps.
At Galloway Jefcoat, we are committed to turning wrong into right for injured victims. We take on powerful insurance companies to help level the playing field toward those injured by negligence.
Contact Our Lafayette Cruise Ship Accident Attorneys Today
Do not hesitate to reach out to our firm after a cruise ship incident. We can answer your questions, determine if you have a case and explain how we can assist you in pursuing favorable compensation. Our firm is committed to the best interests of injured victims.
Your initial consultation is entirely free and confidential. It costs nothing to hire our firm and we only receive payment for our services after we have successfully helped you obtain compensation.
Galloway Jefcoat’s office is located at 1925 Dulles Drive in Lafayette, just a 15-minute drive from the Lafayette Parish Courthouse.
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