Cruise Ship Rape or Sexual Assault Lawyer

NATIONS LEADING LAW FIRM FOR CRUISE SHIP RAPE AND SEXUAUL ASSAULTS.

Rape, sexual assaults, and other sex crimes on cruise ships happen far too often. With the rapid expansion of the cruise ship industry the number of rape and sexual assaults on cruises rise every year. Once passengers cross the gangway and board a vessel they do not realize they are giving up many basic legal protections provided under state law. Applicable laws and rules also differ greatly from land-based tort claims. The time you have to file a legal claim for a ship rape or assault is much shorter, and this is a common mistake most sexual crime victims don't realize until it's too late. A cruise ship rape or sexual assault lawyer can help victims understand their rights, navigate the complex maritime legal system, and take timely legal action.

Under general maritime law, cruise ship companies are legally responsible if they fail to provide reasonable safety and security measures and that failure caused or contributed to a rape or sexual assault. This legal standard can be difficult to prove or delineate, which is why cruise ship rape and sexual assault victims need legal assistance. These incidents are among the most serious types of cruise ship injuries, requiring experienced legal representation to pursue justice and accountability.

Cruise lines are also strictly liable for the intentional, wrongful, and criminal acts of their employees when they harm passengers such as rape or sexual assault. However, cruise line companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Norwegian, and many others manage their vessel operations in ways to make it difficult to obtain gather important evidence and obtain witness information.

Why Hire Gerson & Schwartz if You Were the Victim of Cruise Ship Rape and Sexual Assault

Until recently, cruise lines were able to avoid having to cooperate with federal authorities even local police when a serious crime would occur on their vessels. Though difficult to understand how or why part of this is because cruise lines operate in the navigable waters and therefore are not subject to the same state law protections most of us enjoy on land. Until recently these cruise line operators like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian were not even required to let the police board their vessels to conduct an police investigation. Therefore, until recently many crimes like rape and sexual assault on cruise ships would go unreported. These tactics had the practical effect of making it difficult to investigate an incident, pursue a claim and obtain basic information when a crime occurs on a vessel. The bottom line is that if you were the victim of a sexual crime you need help from an experienced cruise ship rape or sexual assault lawyer. 

Why Cruise Lines Can Be Held Liable for Sexual Assault and Negligence

Common legal theories our Florida cruise ship rape or sexual assault attorneys use to establish legal liability include:

• Negligent Hiring and Negligent Training of Ship Crew and Security Personnel
• Failing to Conduct Routine Background Checks for Sex Offenders
• Failing to Maintain or Implement a Ship Security Plan.
• Negligent Supervision During Youth Programming Activities
• Failing to Patrol or Monitor High Traffic and Common Areas
• Negligently Failing to Monitor Passenger Corridors
• Failure to Staff or Deploy a Sufficient Number of Security Guards
• Failing to Provide Adequate Crime Deterrence on Ships
• Consumption or Sale of Alcohol to Minors
• Rape and Sexual Assault by Crew Members

Some additional measures include providing video surveillance, room key access logs, storing and maintaining the video, and even keeping a rape kit along with supply of anti-viral medications to help prevent the transmission of a sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, cruise lines are required to file reports of all rape and sexual assault to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and with the Department of Homeland Security. Cruise lines are also required to maintain and report all sex crimes on a quarterly basis. These statistics are available to the general public. However, the details about the incidents are not very specific.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of sexual violence at sea, consulting a cruise ship rape or sexual assault lawyer can help you understand your rights and legal options.

Our law firm also continues to be active on a national basis supporting cruise ship crime victims. We continue to lobby the international cruise community for stricter laws, rules, and regulations in order to protect passengers and even crew members. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a rape, sexual assault, or other violent crime on a cruise ship then contact a cruise rape attorney in Florida for a free consultation. All cases will be discussed with an attorney directly. For more information on how we can help call (877) 475-2905, or us our secure online form.