Cruise Ship Accident Settlements | Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers

To understand your possible cruise ship accident settlement amount, you must first document your range of current and future recoverable damages. This includes both your economic and non-economic expenses and losses. When you decide to hold the cruise line company accountable, your attorney can help you catalog your recoverable damages.

Working with a Fort Lauderdale cruise ship accident lawyer will help you navigate the claims process, seek fair compensation, and focus on healing while they manage your case. Filing a claim based on injuries suffered on a cruise ship is a complex and challenging process. Working with an attorney experienced in handling cruise ship injury cases will make the process easier for you.

Real-Life Examples of Cruise Ship Accident Settlement Amounts

When passengers who get hurt onboard a cruise ship allege injuries, the cruise company’s insurance carrier is generally quick to want to settle the case. However, they do not want to pay any more than necessary. This often results in low offers and low payouts for victims who are not sure of the potential settlement value of their case.

Some recent cruise ship settlements and verdicts that law firms managing accident cases have secured for their clients include:

$5.5 million for a 14-year-old boy who suffered a head injury in a stairway
$2.4 million for severe injuries resulting from a stair railing accident on a cruise ship
$2 million for a medical negligence claim against Norwegian Cruise Line after medical staff failed to treat a heart attack
$1.2 million for a herniated disc suffered in a cruise ship fall
$550,000 for a diabetic man who required a below-the-knee amputation after receiving negligent care from the ship’s medical staff
$410,000 for a man who suffered a broken ankle after slipping on a wet floor
$100,000 for a woman on her honeymoon who required knee surgery after slipping on the wet deck of the ship

It is important to understand that you cannot judge how much your case might be worth based on these verdicts and settlements. Instead, you should use this as support for why it is a good idea to hire an attorney to manage your case and help you hold the cruise line liable.

When you hire a cruise ship accident attorney to manage your case, they will investigate what happened, including your medical bills and expenses. This, paired with evidence to show the circumstances that led to your injuries, the severity of your condition, and your prognosis, will support their settlement negotiations with the cruise company.

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What Types of Accidents and Injuries Support Cruise Ship Lawsuit Settlements?

Cruise ship passengers suffer injuries aboard every day. When those injuries are serious enough to warrant additional medical attention, follow-up treatment, or transfer off the ship, it might be worth considering whether negligence could have played a role. The costs of significant injuries at sea often compound quickly.

Some common negligence accidents that occur on cruises include:

Fall Accidents: A study published in International Maritime Health found that 45 percent of injuries on the ship and 69 percent on excursions occurred in falls. Wet decks, spills, trip hazards, dark stairways, and other fall hazards are common on many cruise ships.
Elevator and Escalator Incidents: Elevator and escalator use is common on huge commercial cruise ships, with their massive stacks of decks. However, they are also a common cause of injuries. Escalator falls and injuries related to malfunctioning elevators are the most common. Some of these injuries can be serious or deadly.
Pool Injuries: Most cruise ships have several pools and spas for passengers to enjoy. However, injuries can occur. This could range from drownings to broken necks and head injuries to heat exhaustion from spending too long in an overheated hot tub.
Recreational Injuries: Modern cruises usually offer many opportunities to participate in recreational activities or try something new. Some of these activities come with a real risk of danger. One common example is Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider surfing simulator.
Injuries on Excursions: Cruises offer passengers a chance to visit beaches and participate in excursions as a part of their itinerary. The cruise line may still be liable if an injury occurs while off the boat.

Who Is Liable for My Cruise Ship Accident Damages?

Under the Shipping Act of 1984, cruise ships are common carriers. As such, the companies who own cruise ships owe each passenger a duty of care to provide a safe environment free from hazards that could cause injuries.

When an injury occurs, the injured passenger may hold the cruise company liable for their injuries and related costs. This is especially important for those who suffered serious physical injuries that required a ship diversion, port referral, or helicopter evacuation. All these circumstances can lead to much higher than usual treatment costs.

Other recoverable damages include medical care, lost income, out-of-pocket costs, and pain and suffering.

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Why Are Cruise Ship Accident Claims More Complex Than Similar Injury Cases?

Getting hurt in your everyday life and while on a cruise are much different. The cases work differently, and different rules apply. This is primarily because of the ticket contract.

Before you disembarked, you agreed to the terms of the company’s cruise ticket contract. This contract sets the rules for any claim or lawsuit that can occur. This usually includes:

When you must file
Where you must file
How soon you must notify the company
How long you have to officially file a complaint

These terms and conditions are generally written by attorneys to protect the cruise line company. This likely means you only have a short time to act and must do so in the cruise line’s home jurisdiction. This is frequently in Florida, often Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Fla. Stat. § 95.11, you should have up to two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, the ticket contract could require you to notify them much earlier. It is a good idea to consult a cruise ship injury lawyer familiar with these cases as soon as possible to ensure you can recover the compensation you deserve.

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