There’s a certain thrill in being amongst the first few to enjoy a new experience, so it’s no surprise that many vacationers jump at the opportunity to be on a new cruise
Fight Cruise Ship Accidents with an Experienced Maritime Lawyer
Imagine what it takes to run a small city or town. People have to be hired to keep things cleaned. To handle the trash. To make sure that everyone has water and power. Now imagine that every single person in this town expected to be waited on hand and foot at all hours – that’s what running a large cruise ship is like.
It is important to think about it this way because no one ever expects to have anything bad happen to them on a cruise – they are there to relax and have fun – but with so many variables and moving parts, things go wrong all the time. In January of 2014 alone there were multiple reports about rampant norovirus outbreaks, fire, power loss, and even a death.
Sometimes bad things happen and there is no rhyme or reason for why. But not always. Cruise lines have a duty of care to their passengers, and if you believe that the pain and suffering you or a loved on endured on a cruise was due to the negligence of the crew, you should talk to an attorney at The Winston Law Firm.
The attorneys at the Winston Law Firm are well-respected maritime lawyers who have been helping people just like you fight back against the big cruise lines to get the compensation that they deserve for more than 65 years, collectively. They are knowledgeable about the different cruise lines, as well as the many different types of issues that passengers can experience due to negligence, and they will strive to ensure you do not get low-balled by the cruise line – even if it means taking your case to trial.
Problems Passengers Can Face While on Cruise
As mentioned above, many things can go wrong on a cruise, and many of them would never occur if the crew members and cruise lines were working harder to ensure everyone’s safety. Here are some of the most common problems that occur because of negligence.
There are, indeed, situations where injuries occur even in the absence of negligence. However, that does not mean that crew members don’t make mistakes; they do. And, when they do, it’s important to make sure that they – and the cruise line – are held responsible for their negligence.
Mark J. Leeds specializes in doing just that, and he can make sure that you are fairly compensated for your suffering if the cruise line is at fault. How do you know if they are at fault? It’s different for every case, but the general rule is that all crew members and the cruise line have a duty of care to maintain the ship in a safe manner and follow all proper procedures and guidelines.
For example, you may be the one who slipped on deck and broke your tailbone, but you might not have done that if crew members had kept the area dry or put up warning signs. Cruise lines also have to make sure that their staff members follow proper procedures when cooking and cleaning to minimize the chances of getting anyone sick.
Equipment has to be properly inspected and maintained to avoid malfunctions, and doctors have to be properly trained so that they don’t misdiagnose patients and make illnesses worse than they already are, or perform the wrong procedure due to some kind of confusion. Safety precautions need to be in place to prevent drowning and stop assaults of all kinds from occurring, including making sure that no one brings dangerous weapons on board. Cruise lines are even responsible for your safety and security on shore excursions to a certain extent, and can be held liable in some cases.
The only way to know for sure, though, is to speak to an experienced maritime lawyer like Mark J. Leeds about your situation as soon as possible. It may not seem worth it to you, but you will never know for sure unless you get the advice of an expert who understands this area of the law.
Delay and You’re Out of Luck – Contact The Law Office of Andrew Winston Today
Sometimes cruise ship passengers may not want to sue the cruise line because they don’t think what they suffered was that serious, fear going up against a big corporation, or worry about the cost of legal representation. However, you should not let these worries keep you from seeking justice – and doing it fast. Why the need for speed? Because there is a statute of limitations on these kinds of cases: almost every cruise line’s ticket/contract contains a provision shortening the standard Florida 4 year Statute of Limitations to one (1) year. This means you must file suit within one year of the date of your injury, lest you be forever time-barred from doing so. If you miss your window, you’ll be stuck paying all of your medical bills yourself.
Even if you don’t think your injuries were originally serious, you never know what kind of treatment and rehabilitation you might need continuing into the future. Sometimes problems that don’t seem serious at first can get worse as time goes by, or linger on for months or even years, costing you money as you’re forced to miss work and try to fix what’s bothering you. And even moderate problems that don’t require much medical help can still end up negatively affecting your overall quality of life.
The attorneys at the Winston Law Firm are not afraid to take on big cruise lines because they have successfully done it before and know how to fight against them. You also do not have to worry about paying a large attorney fee retainer to the Law Office of Andrew Winston, because they work on a contingency basis and won’t expect any money from you until they win you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to set up a free consultation by filling out this short online case review form or by calling us at 954-606-6606, or toll-free at 866-306-9606.