Cruise vacations promise relaxation and adventure, but for some passengers, they become scenes of trauma due to sexual assault. If you’ve endured such an experience, you may wonder: Can I sue the cruise line? The answer is yes, under specific conditions. At Brais Law Firm, a nationally recognized maritime law practice, we’ve helped countless victims hold cruise lines accountable for negligence leading to sexual assaults.
Understanding Sexual Assault on Cruise Ships: A Growing Concern
Sexual assault on cruise ships is a serious issue, with hundreds of incidents reported annually, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Many more go unreported due to fear or uncertainty about legal recourse. These assaults often involve crew members, passengers, or shore excursion staff and occur in cabins, public areas, or during events involving alcohol. At Brais Law Firm, we’ve seen how cruise lines’ focus on profit over safety—through inadequate security, poor employee screening, or lax policy enforcement—creates unsafe environments. For example, we secured a $2.2 million settlement for a cruise passenger who was sexually assaulted, proving that justice is achievable with the right representation.
Maritime Law and Cruise Line Liability
Cruise ships operate under admiralty and maritime law, a unique framework of federal statutes, international treaties, and common law that differs from standard personal injury rules. Most major cruise lines, such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian, are foreign-flagged, but U.S. laws apply to incidents involving American passengers. To sue a cruise line, you must prove negligence, often tied to violations of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010 (CVSSA). For crew member assaults, we may use respondeat superior to hold the cruise line liable for employees’ actions. For passenger-on-passenger assaults, liability hinges on showing the cruise line knew or should have known of risks, like prior incidents or poor lighting. Strict deadlines apply—cruise ticket contracts often limit claims to one year, and cases must typically be filed in specific venues, like Miami’s federal court.
Steps to Take After a Sexual Assault on a Cruise
If you’ve been sexually assaulted on a cruise, taking immediate action is critical to protect your health and legal rights. Here’s what to do:
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Prioritize Safety and Health: Report the incident to ship security and request medical attention. The ship’s doctor should document injuries and preserve evidence, such as DNA samples.
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Contact Authorities: Insist on notifying U.S. authorities, as the FBI investigates serious crimes involving Americans on cruises.
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Gather Evidence: Take photos of the scene, note witness details, and save any communications with the cruise line.
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Avoid Quick Settlements: Refuse to sign waivers or accept lowball settlement offers, which cruise lines use to minimize liability.
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Consult a Maritime Attorney: Engage an experienced cruise ship sexual assault attorney to navigate maritime law’s complexities and strict deadlines.
Consulting Brais Law Firm is a vital step. Led by Keith Brais, a board-certified maritime attorney with over seven years working on ships and oil rigs, our team leverages real-world experience to expose corporate negligence. We’ve secured millions, including $19.9 million for a resort guest injury and $6.8 million for a crew member case.
Real Stories of Recovery and Justice
Our clients’ stories underscore our commitment:
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Cruise Injury Client: “As we worked with Keith, I realized the outcome would have been entirely different without him… I would say Keith is a superhero.”
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Personal Injury Client: “It wasn’t until I got Mr. Brais that I really started getting the help I needed… They stuck in there with me the whole way.”
We’ve represented clients like Hannah Smith in a catastrophic Carnival shore excursion injury and Eric Ewing, winning a jury trial against Carnival for a traumatic brain injury. Our focus on individuals, not corporations, drives our success.
Why Choose Brais Law for Your Cruise Sexual Assault Claim?
Brais Law Firm stands out for its dedication to victims:
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Exclusive Representation: We represent only individuals—never cruise lines, insurance companies, or corporations.
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Proven Results: We’ve secured multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, with a perfect 5.0 client review rating.
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Trial Experience: Our attorneys thrive in court, investing in medical and liability experts to prove life-changing injuries.
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Maritime Expertise: Keith Brais’s hands-on maritime experience gives us an edge in exposing safety failures.
A client shared, “I highly recommend Brais Law Firm. Their professionalism and expertise were top notch.” If you’ve been assaulted, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, therapy, lost wages, pain and suffering, or punitive damages.
Don’t face this alone. Contact Brais Law Firm for a free, confidential consultation at 800-499-0551. Serving all ports of call and anywhere offshore, we’re here to prioritize your safety over corporate profit and help you rebuild.
