Experiencing a journey on a yacht can be life-changing whether you are a passenger or a crewmember. But, if that journey included a sexual assault, you could be entitled to considerable compensation. Whether the sexual assault happened atop Florida waters or in international seas, the experienced maritime injury attorneys at Brais Law know what laws to apply to your claim to support a favorable outcome.
When you board a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, the laws of Florida apply to any and all actions that take place on the yacht, so long as it is atop the waters of the state of Florida. Once the yacht leaves Florida borders and enters the ocean and international waters, U.S. maritime law will begin to apply. Under both Florida law and U.S. maritime law, sexual assault is illegal. The perpetrator of the sexual assault could be subject to criminal charges, and the victim could be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit.
When someone harms another by engaging in an illegal activity, the perpetrator of the crime can be subject to criminal charges for the crime, and can also be liable for civil damages to the victim. If you were the victim of a sexual assault on a yacht, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the party that engaged in the sexual assault. If the perpetrator was a crewmember, or if the assault happened because of poor security, it is possible that the ship owner will also be liable for your damages.
The sooner you connect with a Fort Lauderdale yacht sexual assault lawyer at Brais Law, the sooner your case will be handled. Your initial case review is free. During your first visit, we’ll determine if your case is a fit with our firm. If we are able to help, we’ll discuss options on how to get started and explain that we only get paid if we win.
Once we are on the case, we immediately begin gathering evidence in support of your position. This ensures that witness statements and other evidence are not lost over time, in turn weakening your case. The at-fault parties and their insurance companies will often try to escape liability or pay you as little as possible, which we will not allow. We determine the full extent of your injuries and related costs, both in the short- and long-term, then negotiate with the opposing parties and insurance companies to achieve the highest possible settlement on your behalf.
Our experienced maritime injury lawyers are available to discuss your case by calling us at (305) 416-2901 or visiting our site to schedule your free initial consultation.