Nationally Recognized Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

Our nationally recognized passenger injury attorneys strictly represent those whose lives were impacted by the negligence of cruise lines. Cruise lines have teams of lawyers who immediately investigate shipboard passenger claims with the objective of benefiting their employer. Don’t be a victim twice, initially when you suffered an injury while traveling as a passenger aboard a cruise ship and, later, by failing to hire experienced and accomplished attorneys to protect your right and hold the cruise line financially accountable for your injuries. Hire the Board Certified Admiralty and Maritime attorneys with Brais Law Firm to fight for you.

Experienced Cruise Ship Accident Lawyers Representing Injured Cruise Passengers Nationwide

With over three decades of collective trial experience, our cruise ship accident lawyer and cruise accident lawyers understand cruise ship accident claims and the defenses the cruise lines will likely assert. Having expertise in maritime law sets us apart from other firms that are familiar with bringing “land-based” claims. Maritime law has its own filing requirements and conditions which are different from other areas of law. Our cruise ship injury attorneys often write about these topics on our blog and speak about them at legal symposiums across the United States. In addition to writing and lecturing on cruise injury topics, Brais Law Firm boasts numerous reported legal decisions spanning nearly three decades setting precedent in the field of Admiralty and Maritime law.

Brais Law Firm’s main office is located 15 minutes south of the Port of Miami which is commonly known as “The Cruise Ship Capital of the World.” Most cruise lines are based in the South Florida area and their tickets often require those who suffered from cruise ship injuries to file their lawsuit in the Miami Division of the United States Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This is true even if the cruise ship never touched a Florida port. Our cruise ship accident lawyer and cruise accident lawyers are licensed to practice in the Southern District of Florida and are members of the admiralty law section of the Federal Bar Association. We are very familiar with the Federal court system which enables us to provide quality representation for our clients.

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Common Types of Cruise Ship Injuries & Accidents

Though there are limitless ways passengers could suffer an injury aboard a cruise ship, the following are some of the more common causes: A cruise ship accident or injury can occur at any point in time and just about anywhere on or off the vessel. Some of the most common accidents that passengers suffer on cruises include:

Slip and Falls

Slip and falls incidents are one of the most common causes of injuries among cruise ship passengers. Whether your accident was due to a slippery deck, spilled substance, or another factor, our attorneys will fight to hold the cruise line responsible.

Trip and Falls

A trip and fall accident on a cruise ship can lead to all types of serious injuries. When a cruise company fails to exercise reasonable care for the safety of its passengers, our attorneys are prepared to help trip and fall victims get the full compensation they deserve.

Gangway Accidents

Gangways are supposed to provide a safe means for passengers to disembark when a ship is in port. However, far too often, slippery handrails, steep inclines, improper lashing, and other dangerous conditions result in gangway accidents.

Tender Boat Accidents

In some ports of call, tender boats must be used to ferry passengers to and from land. When an operator fails to maintain the tender boat and/or follow proper boarding methods and tendering protocols, tragic accidents can occur.

Automatic Door Accidents

Accidents and injuries involving malfunctioning automatic doors are a fairly regular occurrence on cruise ships. When a cruise operator fails to properly maintain and replace this equipment and an accident occurs, our legal team knows how to build a powerful case for recovery.

Drownings & Pool Accidents

Sadly, drownings and pool accidents aboard cruise ships occur more often than we would like to think. When inadequate safety measures are to blame, our attorneys will fight to hold cruise lines fully responsible for their negligence.

Shore Excursion Accidents

Accidents and injuries that occur during shoreside excursions often involve multiple responsible parties. Our attorneys know how to investigate these cases and we will pursue all available legal remedies for our clients.

What am I owed if I am hurt on a cruise ship? Brais Law | Maritime Injury Attorney

Keith Brais

Compensation Awardable for Cruise Ship Injury & Accident Claims

A cruise ship passenger who has suffered a serious injury may be eligible to recover compensation for a wide array of damages. These damages include payment for past medical bills and medical expenses which is reasonably expected to be incurred for future treatment, loss past and future wages for time missed from work as well as compensation for pain and suffering the injury caused.

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Protecting the Rights and Restoring the Lives of Cruise Ship Injury & Accident Victims

“Protecting Rights” and “Restoring Lives” is Brais Law Firm’s mission statement. In order to do that, we spend the necessary time with our clients to understand how the accident happened and how the injury impacted their lives. We do this not only to best represent our clients in court but to establish a human connection. Our Miami cruise ship accident lawyers and staff do not mind taking the time to find out your concerns and to provide you with advice and guidance so you can feel comfortable throughout the litigation process.

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FAQ Seeking Just Compensation After a Cruise Ship Accident

How Do I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

Where Do I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

How Soon Must I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

What Compensation Can I Receive for an Accident Onboard a Cruise Ship?

Is There a Cap On Damages for Cruise Ship Accidents?

What are Some of the Most Common Grounds for Claims Against Cruise Lines?

Can I Sue the Cruise Line for an Accident During a Shore Excursion?

Can I Sue the Cruise Line if I Was Injured or Assaulted By a Passenger?

Do I Need an Attorney to File a Claim Against a Cruise Line for an Accident?

Do I Have to Pay Out-of-Pocket to Hire a Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney?

How Do I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

What you need to do to file a claim for a cruise ship accident depends on the terms you accepted when you purchased your ticket. Many tickets come with terms and conditions that require passengers to pursue arbitration for all claims against the cruise line. If your claim is subject to mandatory arbitration (and the terms and conditions are legally enforceable), you must file your claim in the appropriate arbitration forum. If your claim isn’t subject to mandatory arbitration, you will need to go to court.

In either scenario, it will be important to hire an experienced Miami cruise ship accident attorney to represent you. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement without going through the full arbitration or litigation process. However, in any case, you will need experienced legal representation to recover the financial compensation you deserve.

Where Do I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

Where you need to file your claim also depends on the terms and conditions of your cruise. For example, many cruise lines require passengers to file their claims in Miami, but some require them to file their claims in other cities. Our firm represents cruise ship passengers in claims nationwide, so a Miami cruise ship accident attorney at Brais Law Firm can help you regardless of where you need to file.

How Soon Must I File a Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident?

If you have a cruise ship accident claim, there are actually two deadlines you need to meet to preserve your legal rights. First, you must provide adequate notice to the cruise line within six months of the accident. Second, you must file your claim within a year of the accident. If you miss either of these deadlines, you may not be able to recover your accident-related losses.

What Compensation Can I Receive for an Accident Onboard a Cruise Ship?

The types of compensation available to cruise ship passengers are similar to those available to individuals who have other types of personal injury claims. If your accident was the result of the cruise line’s negligence, a cruise ship accident lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation for your:

  • Medical treatment, therapy, and medications
  • Necessary travel and other out-of-pocket expenses
  • Loss of income and benefits
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering and post-traumatic stress
  • Loss of companionship, consortium, and enjoyment of life

The amount you can recover in each of these categories depends entirely on the severity of your injuries and their impacts on your daily life. When you hire an attorney to represent you, he or she will use their experience to help you seek the total compensation you are rightfully owed.

Is There a Cap On Damages for Cruise Ship Accidents?

As long as your cruise touches a U.S. port at some point during the voyage, your claim is not subject to any cap on damages. In this scenario, damages caps are prohibited under federal admiralty law.

What are Some of the Most Common Grounds for Claims Against Cruise Lines?

There are several common grounds for claims against cruise lines. Broadly speaking, claims against cruise lines are rooted in the law of negligence. If you were injured in an accident resulting from cruise line negligence, you are entitled to just compensation. This includes common forms of negligence such as:

  • Hiring unqualified or inexperienced crew
  • Failing to conduct adequate background screenings on crew members
  • Failing to provide adequate security
  • Failing to provide adequate supervision around pools, roller coasters, and other high-risk areas
  • Inadequate cleaning or maintenance
  • Inadequate safety precautions onboard

Can I Sue the Cruise Line for an Accident During a Shore Excursion?

In some cases, it will be possible to sue the cruise line for an accident during a shore excursion. This is important because pursuing claims against excursion operators can be difficult—especially in foreign countries. If the cruise line failed to duly investigate the safety risks associated with a shore excursion it promoted to its passengers, this is one scenario in which it may be possible to file a claim against the cruise line for an excursion accident.

Can I Sue the Cruise Line if I Was Injured or Assaulted By a Passenger?

It is possible to sue the cruise line for injuries and assaults perpetrated by passengers in some cases as well. For example, if the cruise line failed to provide adequate security, if it failed to properly deal with a passenger who was a known risk to others, or if it overserved someone who was drunk, these are all scenarios in which the cruise line could be liable. If you were injured or assaulted by a passenger onboard a cruise ship under any scenario, you should speak with a Miami cruise ship accident attorney about your legal rights.

Do I Need an Attorney to File a Claim Against a Cruise Line for an Accident?

Technically, the answer to this question is “No.” There is nothing that says you have to hire an attorney to represent you. With that said, if you don’t hire an attorney, you stand virtually no chance of recovering the financial compensation you deserve.

There are a couple of reasons why. First, if you don’t hire an attorney, the cruise line isn’t likely to take your claim seriously. It will give you the run around, and it will try to push you off until you simply go away. Second, even if you get the cruise line’s attention, without adequate legal knowledge, you won’t know how to prove liability or calculate the damages you are entitled to recover.

Do I Have to Pay Out-of-Pocket to Hire a Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney?

No, you do not have to pay anything out-of-pocket to hire a Miami cruise ship accident attorney. At Brais Law Firm, we represent all of our clients on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients don’t pay anything unless we win.

Discuss Your Cruise Ship Injury Claim With Our Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a family member has been injured onboard or off a cruise ship sailing out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or anywhere else in the US, the cruise ship accident attorneys at Brais Law Firm are here to help. We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations to cruise ship accident victims and their families. Call us today at 800-499-0551 so that we can ensure that you receive the full and fair relief to which you are entitled or click contact us to complete a no-obligation form for a free evaluation of your case.

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