Cruise ships are a good value for travel and entertainment enjoyed by many people each year. However many of those who take voyages on these vessels are unaware of the potential dangers and their rights. Cruise ship accidents are common, dangerous and can lead to extensive injuries. The corners cut in providing this relatively inexpensive travel are not fully realized until there is an injury, that injury many times caused by either the vessel’s safety not being up to the standards we expect in the United States (they are not subject to many of our laws), or enhanced by their medical personnel whose standards of care also are not up to the standards we expect in the United States. It is important to have a qualified attorney who deals with these types of injuries and understands them in the context of the admiralty or maritime law that controls them. Peter M. Commette, P.A. understands the handling of cruise ship accidents.

Cruise ships are a good value for travel and entertainment enjoyed by many people each year. However many of those who take voyages on these vessels are unaware of the potential dangers and their rights. Cruise ship accidents are common, dangerous and can lead to extensive injuries. The corners cut in providing this relatively inexpensive travel are not fully realized until there is an injury, that injury many times caused by either the vessel’s safety not being up to the standards we expect in the United States (they are not subject to many of our laws), or enhanced by their medical personnel whose standards of care also are not up to the standards we expect in the United States. It is important to have a qualified attorney who deals with these types of injuries and understands them in the context of the admiralty or maritime law that controls them. Peter M. Commette, P.A. understands the handling of cruise ship accidents.

Peter M. Commette, P.A. has successfully represented clients and has provided millions of dollars in compensation for its clients. Let Mr. Commette’s experience, knowledge and resources obtain a proper settlement for you.

Receive Compensation for Your Injuries – Cruise Ship Accident Injury Claims

Tragedy aboard a cruise ship can be a truly frightening, isolating and disheartening experience, especially since your rights can often be confusing and far from clear-cut. The cruise ship accident professionals at Peter M. Commette, P.A. know your rights and will help you make sense of the circumstances causing your injuries, including damages from a slip or trip and fall, or damages from sexual assault, battery or rape at the hands of ship personnel or because of inadequate security. We will not rest until we feel that we have maximized your compensation for the damages caused you.

Cruise Ships can be Dangerous

It is important to understand that the cruise company is not always looking out for your best interests. Although they have become wildly popular over the past few years, the cruise ship industry’s success often has masked problems with poor sanitation, lack of proper security and safety precautions, unregulated hiring practices and poor maintenance and management. Several high profile lawsuits have brought to light many of these issues, including the infamous case where a young US woman was raped by a ship officer claiming that he mistook the woman’s comments and body language to indicate what he believed in his country would be an invitation; they were not. While increased attention to the cruise industry has helping bring more public awareness to the dangers involved in cruises, lax international laws and confusing industry fine print on passenger tickets has left many injured victims without legal recourse.

Keep Yourself Safe

If you will be embarking on a cruise vacation soon, keep in mind that accidents can and do happen, and that carefully researching the cruise and crew you will be sailing with can greatly improve your safety and enjoyment. In particular, look for consumer reviews on the cruises you are considering to see what other passenger experiences have experienced, and be sure to investigate the credentials of the medical crew on staff. You will not want to add medical malpractice to your already traumatic injury experience, but given some of the medical personnel who have been hired, shipboard medical malpractice is a distinct possibility.

Common Cruise Ship Injuries Types of Injuries on Board Cruise Vessels

Cruise ship accidents can come in many different forms. Most common are those involving some degree of personal injury. This can include slip and fall’s on cruise ships, food poisoning, traumatic brain injuries or other related issues. It is important that you understand who is liable. Common injuries include:

• Slip and Fall – Trip and Fall Injuries
• Violent Crimes
• Assault and battery on board Cruise Ship Clubs, Bars, and Discos
• Sexual Assaults by crew members and other Passengers
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Food Poisoning and other food borne illness
• Infections due to unsanitary conditions
• Broken Boned and Ligament tears
• Child Injuries
• Injuries sustained during participation in on-ship or on-shore excursions or activities
• Injuries sustained during on-board emergencies (including fire, collisions, explosions, or abandonment

Some of the Largest Cruise Line Companies in the world include those in the cruise ship industry, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian, MSC Cruises, Cunard Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, and Princess Cruises.  If you have suffered any of the above injuries on board a major cruise line contact Peter M. Commette, P.A.

What To Do If You are Injured

Read the fine print on your passenger ticket since it describes the contract between you and the cruise ship company. It should include information about where and when allowable lawsuits can be brought. Often, cruise ship accidents only can be prosecuted in the State of the port from which the cruise embarked on another specified in the cruise ticket. Additionally, there often is a time limit for the prosecution of these cases, which can include a time limit for the actual initial reporting of the accident, both being surprisingly short, and both, to the surprise of a non-admiralty or non-maritime attorney, being binding and overriding State law.

To find out if you have a good case and to protect your rights in an area of the law where legal traps lie for the unwary, or for any other information/questions contact Peter M. Commette, P.A.