If you have ever been injured on a cruise ship, you know that it can be difficult to handle your injury case without help. It is important that you act quickly, and that you contact an experienced cruise ship accident attorney to protect your rights.
You should also make sure that you get proper medical attention and treatment for any injuries or illness that you may have suffered while aboard a cruise. In many cases, you will have to be transported from the ship to a hospital for specialized care.
Once you have received medical attention, it is important to keep a record of what happened. This is especially true if you need to file a claim for compensation from the cruise line.
A skilled Tampa cruise ship accident attorney can help you determine whether you have a viable claim against the cruise line. He or she can work to ensure that you receive the full compensation you deserve.
The first step is to report the incident to a cruise ship medical staff. You will be asked to fill out an accident report, and you may be required to provide your medical records as evidence for your claim.
You can also ask to have the report reviewed by an independent doctor. This will help to ensure that the report is complete and accurate.
If you are unable to get a copy of the report, be sure to have the doctor send it to the cruise line so that you can be compensated for any costs associated with the injury.
Depending on where you are traveling, you may have to follow special procedures to get your claim filed in the appropriate forum. This can be difficult if you are not familiar with the local laws and courts in the country where your injury occurred.
A cruise line will generally include a “forum selection clause” in your ticket. This clause is a legal contract between you and the cruise line that will limit where you can pursue your claim. It can include a statute of limitations or require you to file your lawsuit within a certain time period, usually a few months.
In addition, the law is not clear on what happens when crew members cause injury to passengers or guests. Some crew members are employees of the cruise line, while others are independent contractors.
If a crew member is responsible for an injury or illness, they can be held liable for the injuries and losses that you suffer. This liability can be determined by a number of factors, including the jurisdiction where the incident occurred and recent developments in case law.
You should also gather witness information and photographs that document the location of your injuries and your cabin. In addition, you should get the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.
Despite the best efforts of cruise ship medical staff, you may have to go through a long and drawn-out process to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. This is because the insurance company for the cruise line has to defend themselves against your claims. As a result, it can be extremely difficult to win your case.
