Can I Sue Royal Caribbean for an Accident?

You can sue Royal Caribbean for an accident that occurred during a cruise. However, you must prove the injuries you sustained resulted from negligence by the cruise line. A Florida cruise ship accident lawyer can help you prove negligence, clarify your rights, build a compelling case for financial recovery, and deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

Recovering from your cruise ship injuries can take time and attention. While you focus on getting well, your attorney will build your case. They can help you recover damages, understand relevant timelines, and negotiate a monetary settlement. Most offer a free case review and will accept your case at no upfront cost. With legal guidance, you can avoid having your injury claim undervalued or underpaid.

Recover Economic and Noneconomic Damages for a Royal Caribbean Accident

You can recover economic damages after a negligence-based accident. They are typically easy to assess and document with bills and written estimates. Economic damages usually include: 

• Current and future medical bills
• Current and future loss of income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Treatment-related travel expenses
• Property damage or destruction

Noneconomic damages are also recoverable, but these intangible losses could be hard to assess and document alone. They typically include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Disability and disfigurement
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental and emotional anguish

If a loved one did not survive a Royal Caribbean cruise accident, your lawyer will request wrongful death damages for your family. They will clarify who can file this legal action and who can recover financial damages.

File Your Cruise Ship Accident Lawsuit Within the Allotted Time

The personal injury or wrongful death statute of limitations is generally two years, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11. The filing deadline is mandatory but hard to comply with since the timeline can change based on several factors.

The best way to avoid misunderstanding or misinterpreting the statute of limitations is to let a lawyer handle it for you. They can help you understand its specific application to your case and avoid a potentially costly delay in filing your lawsuit. 

Personal Injury Lawyers Represent Clients Injured in the Following Accidents

Slipping and falling in a pool area is a commonly reported cruise ship injury. Accidental falls can also occur in crowded places, on observation decks, and while boarding or deboarding the ship.

Other frequently reported cruise ship injuries involve:

• Food poisoning and other foodborne illnesses
• Physical assault and other criminal acts
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Fires and other electrical hazards
• Bedbug bites and infestations
• Shore excursion accidents

Track and document your injuries and their costs. Even if Royal Caribbean doesn’t charge you for treating your injuries, you want to request your medical records to strengthen and support your claim.

Your Lawyer Will Compile Evidence that Supports Your Right to Compensation

Once you deboard the ship and start recovering at home, evidence can be challenging to access. However, your lawyer will request all medical and other records the cruise company could have that pertain to your case. 

Additional evidence they will collect might include the following:

• Bills for ongoing medical care
• Proof of your lost income
• Medical records until you recover
• Photos and videos of your injuries
• Ship and accident scene photos
• Accident witness statements
• Expert consultant testimony

Your legal team will not burden you with evidence collection. Instead, your lawyer will collect, sort, and organize your case file and submit it to the cruise line’s representative. 

Your Lawyer Will Prove the Legal Elements of Negligence

To sue Royal Caribbean for damages, you must prove their negligence. Proving the elements of negligence can be challenging on your own, but your lawyer has experience establishing that:

• Royal Caribbean International owed you a duty of care.
• The cruise line breached its obligation.
• Its actions caused your accident.
• The accident had substantial financial consequences.

A comprehensive evidence file will prove your claim and could lead it toward a settlement rather than a potentially lengthy trial.

The Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Your Royal Caribbean Accident Claim

Rather than take on a massive cruise liner and its insurance and legal representatives alone, consider letting a law firm experienced in this area of maritime law represent you. A cruise ship accident lawyer can:

• Handle all communication with the insurance company.
• Obtain, submit, and complete insurance claim forms.
• Compile bills and invoices to establish your economic damages.
• Prove the at-fault party’s negligence and financial liability.
• Clarify complex legal terminology and insurance jargon.
• Answer any of your legal questions and concerns.
• Provide ongoing updates on the progress of your case.
• Negotiate a favorable monetary settlement on your behalf.

Your case is unlikely to go to trial, but your lawyer will represent you in court if it does and help you keep fighting for the compensation you need and deserve. 

Contingency Fees Mean You Get Legal Service and Support Right from the Start

When a personal injury lawyer accepts your case on contingency, they agree to cover all the costs of preparing your lawsuit without requiring you to pay anything upfront or out of pocket. The firm will cover the costs of:

• Court filing fees
• Expert witnesses
• Discovery costs 
• Deposition costs
• Mediation costs
• Obtaining evidence
• Investigation costs

 You will only compensate your lawyer if they win your case. Otherwise, there is no cost to you, meaning you risk nothing to pursue your claim.

Get Your Free Cruise Ship Accident Consultation Today

If you were hurt while on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you could sue the company for monetary compensation. The cruise ship accident lawyers at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers will handle your claim from start to finish and fight hard to obtain the best possible financial recovery. 

Please find out how much your case is worth and how hard our client-focused team will go to bat for you. Contact our consultation team today to get started.