Jacksonville Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

Going on a cruise is a great way to get some rest and relaxation, see exotic places, and enjoy the all-inclusive luxury that cruise liners offer. The types of packages that cruise ships offer are appealing to vacationers of all ages, and the on-board activities range from bungee jumping to yoga. Whether you are looking for fun for your whole family, or if you and your partner just need a 10-day reset while enjoying the sun and the ocean, a cruise might be appealing. However, there is a dark side to the cruise industry, and anyone who has been injured as a cruise passenger knows this story all too well: cruise companies providing inadequate medical care, convincing passengers to sign waivers under duress, and otherwise engaging in some unethical or legally-muddy behavior in order to protect their own financial interests and reputation over the health of an injured passenger. If you have been injured on a cruise ship, working with an experienced cruise ship attorney in Jacksonville can be one of the most important steps that you take as you try to move forward from your accident. Read more below about cruise ship accidents, and contact the team at Fasig | Brooks as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation about your case. After suffering from any type of injury, trying to take on the complicated process of an insurance claim or understanding your legal options can be overwhelming – hiring a Jacksonville boat accident lawyer gives you the time you need to care for yourself.

Why Someone Might Need a Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

After an accident on a cruise ship, you can be certain that the cruise company will be happy to give you plenty of guidance on the steps that they think you should take, such as signing paperwork that they provide, filing an insurance claim on your own, and settling the entire issue as quickly as possible. These are not the best steps for you to take. The following are just a few reasons why you might need or would benefit from the support of a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer, and whether your own situation is covered below or not, contact us now so that we can discuss it in specific detail during our initial consultation.

Get Advice Early About What to Do

After your injury, likely while still on the cruise ship, the cruise liner administrators may begin to give you advice and suggestions about what you should do, such as sign a waiver or non-disclosure agreement (which you should NEVER do, under any circumstances without first consulting an attorney), provide a statement about your own contributory negligence, or otherwise take actions that will have a negative impact on your case in the long run. Contact a lawyer while you are still on the cruise ship, before doing much more than getting treated by the on-ship physician, in order to get advice on the way to handle the coming hours and days.

Minimize Stress to Maximize Recovery

Trying to understand where to go with your case at the same time that you are trying to recover from your injuries can be extremely overwhelming. In fact, stress is found to have a significant negative impact on physical recovery from injuries, so the sooner you are partnered with an experienced Jacksonville cruise ship accident attorney, the sooner you will be able to prioritize your own recovery. The award-winning team at Fasig | Brooks approaches each case with compassion for our clients, and we are proud to support you through your recovery by taking on your legal concerns.

Move Forward With Confidence

The cruise ship company and their insurance company will have many suggestions about the “right” steps to take after your accident, and they will highlight the benefits of resolving this quickly so that you can move on with your life. While it would be ideal if you could settle the case quickly AND walk away with the money you truly deserve, this is not their motivation: they benefit from moving quickly, especially as you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed about your financial situation which can lead to making quick decisions about a settlement. Your attorney will be able to lay out all of your options and give you the confidence that you need to move forward with the best option for YOU.

Fight for the Money You Deserve

When you are working with an insurance company through an injury claim, you will have a claims adjuster who spends up to a month—or more—investigating your case. During this investigation, their primary focus will be how they can save the insurance company as much money as possible, NOT to identify all of the damages that you have suffered so that they can give you a fair offer. There are many damages that insurance companies will overlook, but your attorney will be able to counter their initial offer with their own calculations that they have done during their own investigation into your injuries.

What to Do If You Have a Potential Cruise Ship Accident Case

The steps you take after a cruise ship injury can have a significant impact on your ability to recover compensation. Cruise lines often begin investigating incidents immediately, and they may ask you to provide statements or sign documents before you understand the full extent of your injuries. It is important that you avoid signing anything without talking to a lawyer first. If you believe the cruise line, a crew member, or another party caused your injury, seek medical treatment as soon as possible. It is also vital that you report the incident to ship personnel right away. If you are physically able, take photographs of the hazard, your injuries, and the surrounding area. You will also want to take down the contact information of any witnesses who were present. It is also a good idea to avoid accepting a quick settlement before speaking with an attorney. Cruise ship companies often have legal teams working to minimize their financial exposure from the moment an accident occurs. An experienced cruise ship accident lawyer in Jacksonville can help you develop a strong case for compensation and weigh any settlement offers as they come through.

Common Types of Cruise Ship Accidents

Our Jacksonville lawyer has handled a variety of cases involving an injury on a cruise ship. Some common examples include the following:

Passenger Injuries

Passenger injury claims are among the most common cruise ship lawsuits. These cases often involve slip and falls, swimming pool accidents, excursion injuries, or a host of other hazards throughout the vessel. Cruise operators have a duty to exercise reasonable care for passenger safety, and these companies are liable if they fail to do so.

Medical Malpractice

Cruise ships typically have onboard medical facilities, but mistakes can still occur. A doctor or nurse may misdiagnose a serious condition or fail to recognize a medical emergency until it is too late. If you are injured by negligent medical care on a cruise ship, you may be entitled to damages.

Assault

Unfortunately, physical assaults and sexual assaults can occur aboard cruise ships. These incidents may involve other passengers or crew members. While the person who committed the assault may be directly responsible, the cruise line can also face liability if its negligence contributed to the attack or failed to protect passengers from foreseeable dangers.

Security Failures

Cruise lines also have a duty to take reasonable steps to maintain a safe environment for passengers. Inadequate safety features or a failure to address a known threat could lead to a viable claim from negligence by a victim.

Crew Member Claims

Not every cruise ship injury involves a passenger. Crew members may suffer injuries because of unsafe working conditions or other acts of negligence. Depending on the circumstances, injured crew members could have different avenues for seeking compensation compared to passengers.

Forum Selection Clauses

Many cruise tickets contain forum selection clauses that require lawsuits to be filed in a specific court, regardless of where the passenger lives or where the injury occurred. Major cruise lines frequently require claims to be filed in federal court in Miami, even if the cruise departed from Jacksonville or another Florida port. These contractual provisions can significantly affect where your case proceeds and which deadlines apply, as they are designed to place the suits in venues that will be favorable to the company. Our attorneys can review your case and determine if a selection clause is enforceable.

Why Choose Fasig | Brooks?

The law firm that you decide to work with is an important decision and one that you will be aware of each time you interact with your cruise ship accident lawyer through the duration of your work together. It is all too common to work with a law firm where each time you call you speak with a different attorney, which always feels like you are just one of many cases that the firm is trying to juggle – not the case with Fasig | Brooks. When you are working with our firm, you are a top priority, and each time you contact our firm you will know that to be true. In addition to the level of care that you get as a client of our firm, we have a history of winning cases against cruise ship companies, commercial insurance companies, and a range of other personal injury cases where we fought to get our clients the money that they deserve. Our top priority is the health of our clients—physically, mentally, and financially—and your case will be no different. We are confident that you will know why choosing Fasig | Brooks is a good idea after our initial consultation, so contact us as soon as possible and let’s discuss your situation and how we can help you move forward with your life.