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Injured on a Carnival Cruise Ship?

For many passengers, a few days on a Carnival cruise ship may be the trip of a lifetime. Many people are attracted to the wide range of activities available on these vessels, from jogging to rock-climbing to fast-paced water parks. Unfortunately, many of these activities are either almost completely unsupervised or they are overseen by regular crew members who may have little experience in that area. If guests are injured, the on-board medical facilities may be little more than a first aid station. The laws regarding maritime injuries are very complex, and the cruise lines add boilerplate language to the tickets. Generally, provisions about choice of law, statute of limitations, and other items that materially affect your case are buried deep in the fine print.

The seasoned professionals at Gerson & Schwartz, PA have almost 80 years of combined experience when it comes to cruise ship accidents. We are familiar with all the substantive and procedural rules in local courts, even the ones that are unwritten. Furthermore, we know the law and know how to make it work for you. We know that you are not satisfied with anything less than the best possible result under the circumstances, and neither are we.

Cruise Ship Injuries

Passengers on board a Carnival cruise ship are invitees who are on the premises at the express invitation of the owner. As such, the cruise line has a duty to inspect the premises and ensure that they are reasonably safe. Certain other laws, such as the federal Shipping Act, impose additional duties.

Many Carnival ships, such as the Carnival Magic and Sunshine, weigh well over 100,000 tons and carry up to 3,000 passengers. Given this massive size, incidents are almost inevitable. Some of the common on-board injuries include:

  • Slips: The multitude of swimming pools, water parks, and bars on most cruise ships creates ample opportunities for unseen spills, and though the ships are extremely stable, they do occasionally lurch and guests do lose their balance.

  • Falls: A fall from an upper deck to a lower deck is often serious enough to break bones and cause other severe injuries, while a fall off the ship is nearly always tragic.

  • Recreational Mishaps: When here is a sudden rush of people at a certain activity, the meager staff can be overwhelmed, and mistakes are often made.

  • Intentional Torts: If a passenger is the victim of a crime while on board, the cruise ship is responsible for damages, even if the perpetrator was another passenger.

Injury victims are normally entitled to compensation for both their economic damages, such as hospital bills, and noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering.

Cruise Ship Law

Even though most Carnival cruise ships are foreign-flagged vessels, and many on-board injuries occur in international waters, negligence lawsuits are nearly always heard in the Miami federal court, because Carnival is headquartered in the Magic City. This provision is important, because in most situations, Florida has a one-year statute of limitations in this area. Courts typically enforce these choice of law provisions, even though they may be fairly categorized as take-it-or-leave-it contracts of adhesion.

The actual time limit may be even shorter, because Carnival commonly requires injured victims to provide written notice to the company within six months. Failure to follow this procedure may result in the claim’s dismissal.

Other somewhat obscure legal provisions may apply, such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Florida’s Special Maritime Criminal Jurisdiction law.

Let Us Help You

Cruise ship injury victims must overcome significant hurdles to get the compensation they deserve. For a free consultation with zealous attorneys who are on your side, contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA. You have a limited amount of time to act.

Client Reviews

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I am a lawyer in Massachusetts. I had a case to refer against a cruise line in Florida and did my homework on which firm to represent the client. Let me take the guessing out of it for you. Call this law firm and sign up. Brandon Parrelli, Google User
★★★★★
A big shout out to Nick Gerson & Schwartz for helping me navigate my care after a fall against a major cruise ship. They took care of me all along the way and saw me through such a very hard time. I highly recommend their firm if you are looking for a firm that truly cares about you. 5 Stars all the way! Janna Wright, Google User
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Mr Nick Gerson has been extremely attentive (even on weekends!) and has been more than willing to take time to answer all my questions. His receptionist (Suzanne) and paralegal (Carla) are courteous, friendly and highly efficient in all matters. Mr Gerson's diligence lead to a very quick resolution of my case. I am more than pleased to recommend you seek him as your attorney. You will not regret you did!! G.I.B.
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Mr. Gerson and all his team gave to my case the careful and professional attention it needed from the beginning to end. Unfortunately, a year ago I was involved in a car accident on the victim side. I have appreciation for the good service that was given to me and my situation. Thanks. Cales & Mr. Hyde (Carlos Andrés García Jiménez), Google User
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Gerson & Schwartz did an excellent job with my case! Nick Gerson was my primary contact throughout the process and I was overly pleased with his level of professionalism and commitment. Thanks again to the firm for both winning my case and handling it with the upmost respect. Read the full review » Jhlechia Ervin
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Phil is the best attorney! The staff is very helpful and were always kind and understanding. Especially during a PIP claim which can be very frustrating. I am so lucky that I found Gerson & Schwartz to resolve my case, I truly believe there could have been no better outcome. Romina Frascarelli, Google User
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Excellent attorneys, they leave no stone unturned in any case and get max value. Jon Zepnick, Google User
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I hired Gerson & Schwartz, PA for a personal injury/slip and fall case. Phil Gerson, Nick Gerson, and Ed Schwartz were awesome! They were very professional, supportive, and informative through the whole process. I was amazed at how much time and effort they put into presenting my case. They fought hard for me and I am very happy with the outcome. I love these guys and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an attorney who will look out for your best interest and fight hard for what you deserve. Deb Betts, Google User