What Should You Do After a Cruise Ship Accident?

The Nation’s Leading Cruise Ship Accident Lawyers Can Guide You Through the Claims Process and Make At-Fault Parties Pay

The cruise ship accident attorneys at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. have nearly 250 years of combined legal knowledge and experience fighting for injury victims across the world. Several of our personal injury lawyers have been named as “Best Lawyers” ® and the firm has been selected as one of the “Best Law Firms” ® in the United States by US News & World Report for almost a decade. In the years since our founding back in 1971, our 17 cruise ship and maritime accident attorneys have successfully recovered over $450 million in insurance settlements and court verdicts for injury victims in the U.S. and abroad.

Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A.. has handled more than 3,000 cases in the 50 years we have been in business, and our team is often called on as experts to appear on national news and TV programs to discuss complex personal injury claims, cruise ship accidents, and maritime laws. In fact, Charles Lipcon, the founder of our firm, has represented some of the nation’s landmark cruise ship accident claims, shaping America’s civil claim system. Our top-rated cruise ship accident lawyers are powerful legal advocates, ready to help you demand justice after suffering an injury or becoming severely ill on a cruise.

Your cruise experience should have been one to remember in all the best ways. Unfortunately, when cruise lines and crew members are negligent, passengers can suffer life-threatening and catastrophic injuries. The steps you take after being involved in an accident aboard a cruise ship could have a substantial impact on your ability to hold the liable party accountable and recover maximum compensation for your damages. Since cruise lines are for-profit and no stranger to litigation, you can expect them to do everything possible to avoid blame and financial liability.

Do not attempt to navigate the claims process on your own when our personal injury attorneys at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. are standing by, ready to help you demand justice. Read on to learn more about what you should do after a cruise ship accident and which legal options may be most suitable for your case. Contact our maritime injury law firm today to schedule a 100% free case evaluation so we can start gathering evidence and working on your claims as soon as possible.

What Do You Do If You Were Injured on a Cruise Ship?

If you are seriously injured on a cruise ship, there are steps you can take to protect your rights and begin building a compelling case against those responsible for causing your injuries. It may surprise you to learn that cruise ships and crew passengers are legally obligated to protect their guests and cruise ship passengers by installing security cameras, taking reasonably necessary safety precautions, and doing their due diligence before hiring staff members. When these cruise lines or other relevant parties fail to uphold these obligations, they can be compelled to compensate you for your losses accordingly.

Here are some of the first steps you should take immediately after a cruise ship accident:

Report the Incident

The very first step after an injury aboard a cruise ship is to report the incident to the cruise line. Make sure that a report is filed and do not hesitate to ask for a thorough investigation into how the accident or incident occurred.

Reporting your injuries is crucial. Failure to report your injury or accident could make it more difficult for you to hold the liable party accountable.

Head to the Cruise Ship’s Infirmary for a Medical Evaluation

Next, you must take care of yourself physically. It is crucial that you obtain first aid and a medical evaluation as soon as possible after the incident. You should ask to be brought to the cruise ship’s infirmary for the necessary medical treatment and care if you are still on the navigable waters. Make sure the healthcare provider treating you takes detailed notes and includes specific information about the types of injuries you are diagnosed with, the extent to which your injuries may affect your life, and any future medical treatment you may require. This medical documentation will prove useful in assessing a case against the at-fault party.

Do not be surprised if cruise ship medical providers try to intimidate you with exorbitant fees for their services. No matter what the cost, the liable party should be expected to cover these medical bills, not you. Many healthcare providers aboard cruise ships often try to deter injury victims from getting medical treatment as a way of reducing the cruise ship’s liability. If you do not seek medical treatment, the defense will likely argue that your injuries were not as severe as you claimed.

Gather Supporting Evidence

While you are still aboard the cruise ship, do what you can to gather as much supporting evidence as possible. Immediately after the accident, you should take the time to write down, in detail, everything you remember about the accident you were involved in. This might include:

• The date of the accident
• What time of day the accident occurred
• The names of any witnesses present
• Cruise ship conditions at the time of the accident
• The location of the accident
• Where security cameras are located, if applicable

However, you can also take photos of your injuries and the accident scene, take videos of any hazardous conditions aboard the ship, and jot down witness statements that can be corroborated by your cruise ship accident attorney. Be sure to ask crew members for copies of incident reports, medical bills, and a copy of any passenger injury statements you were asked to complete.

Review Your Cruise Ticket

Make sure you take a closer look at your cruise ticket. There are many terms and conditions you agree to when you purchase a cruise ticket and board the ship. Although many of these stipulations will aim to release the cruise line from liability, this is not the case in instances of gross negligence or misconduct. The cruise line ticket’s fine print may also detail how long you might have to file your cruise ship injury claims against them and where claims should be filed based on the cruise line’s jurisdiction. Most importantly, virtually all cruise lines limit the time to file any case to one year from the date of the incident, so you must act quickly to protect your rights.

Be Cautious Of Who You Speak With and What You Say

You can never be too careful after a cruise ship accident. Although everyone may be friendly and seemingly worried about your health and well-being, it is important to remember that all crew members and cruise officials are ultimately working with the cruise line. No one will look out for your best interests better than you and your cruise ship accident law firm.

Security and ship safety officers may manipulate any statement you give and passenger injury statements may ask you what you could’ve done differently to prevent the accident. Nowhere on this passenger injury statement will it ask what the cruise line should have done differently to protect you, though. The best way you can protect yourself from being taken advantage of is by keeping copies of all recorded statements and medical documentation, and by remembering that the cruise line considers you an adversary as soon as you are injured. In other words, the cruise line thinks you are going to sue them and thus will take whatever steps it can to protect the company, at your expense!.

Contact a Cruise Ship Accident Attorney for Help

One of the most important things you can do is hire a cruise ship injury lawyer for help. Your attorney can act as your advocate with investigators, negotiate with the defendant on your behalf, and ensure negligent cruise lines are brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident to determine which parties should be sued for your damages.

What is the Most Common Injury on a Cruise Ship?

There are many types of injuries possible aboard a cruise ship when negligent conditions are present. Some of the most common injuries include:

• Slip and fall injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Open wounds
• Lower extremity injuries
• Burned feet on extremely hot decks

Our Cruise Ship Accident Attorneys Hold Negligent Cruise Lines Accountable and Recover Maximum Compensation for Victims and Survivors

Every year since 2016, Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. have been named to “Best Law Firms” ® by US News & World Report, while multiple cruise ship accident lawyers with our team have been named as “Best Lawyers” ® in America. Our 200+ years of combined experience and over $450 million in financial recoveries make us uniquely equipped to stand by your side as you demand negligent cruise lines compensate you fairly for the trauma you experienced.

We are the United States’ leading litigation and maritime law firm with in-depth knowledge and experience of how cruise ship accident lawsuits and insurance claims work. We are ready to get you the answers you deserve and demand total financial compensation for your damages and suffering. If you or a loved one has endured critical or fatal injuries aboard a cruise ship, and you do not know where to turn for help, our team is here for you. Contact a dedicated cruise ship accident lawyer at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. today for a confidential and free consultation. You can reach us at 877–233–1238 to schedule your meeting with our respected personal injury law firm as soon as possible.