Norwegian Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer
Norwegian Cruise Lines, like many other cruise line companies, operates substantial business activities in the United States, specifically Miami, Florida. Our Norwegian cruise ship injury lawyer team has filed a number of legal claims against Norwegian vessels based on negligent acts, omissions, and preventable accidents. Many Norwegian Cruise Line vessels, like the "Norwegian Sky," "Norwegian Sun," Norwegian Spirit, and the Norwegian Jewel, are more like floating amusement parks than ships.
To maximize profits, each cruise ship contains as many passengers as possible and a passenger-to-crew member ratio that is disproportionate overall. This combination often leads to serious on-board injuries to both passengers and crew. Our experienced cruise line injury lawyers, have represented seriously injured passengers against a number of Norwegian vessels. We know the questions to ask and where to find the answers. We also won't hesitate to bring your case to trial if a fair settlement is not made.
What To Do If Injured on a Norwegian Cruise Ship
Injured passengers even practicing lawyers do not realize that the law that applies to cruise ship accident cases is complex. Federal maritime law and the law applicable to cruise ship injury cases are governed by a numerous converging legal issues that may involve United States federal law, federal statutes, general maritime law, international regulations, treaties, foreign, state, international or even foreign procedural law. Gerson & Schwartz, P.A attorneys are a strong voice for injured passengers and injury victims.
If you or a loved one are seriously injured on a Norwegian ship, don't wait. Our experienced Norwegian cruise ship injury lawyers will work quickly on your claim to help ensure the maximum amount of compensation for you and your family. Our vast resources and ample know-how make us the right choice for people injured on a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship. If you are injured on a Norwegian ship you should do the following:
- Take pictures and video of the accident scene;
- Obtain a copy of your passenger injury statement;
- Obtain a copy of the incident report;
- Request a copy of your ship board medical records;
- Get the names and phone numbers of all potential witnesses;
- Go back to the accident scene and document the condition of the area where you were injured;
- Slip, Trip and Falls: dangerous floor surfaces, lack of adequate slip resistant surfaces, and improper securing of ship equipment can lead to serious injuries.
- Rape and Sexual Assault: Most people are unaware of the lack of training, and number of qualified security personnel, including staffing and manning levels to ensure passenger safety. Unfortunately, cruise ship rapes and sexual assaults are common crimes that occur at sea. Our firm is at the forefront of combating the cruise line industry in court and in Congress for tougher passenger safety measures.
- Defective Ship Equipment: Form malfunctioning automatic sliding doors, to foreign objects on the floor, dangerous metal thresholds, to loose stairway rails, and faulty steps often cause serious injuries.
- Medical Malpractice: Despite ships are marketed as "state of the art" some on-board medical facilities are from it. Until recently, cruise ships were not even legally responsible for malpractice by cruise ships doctors. Our Norwegian injury lawyers often find that many ships are equipped with old medical machinery, like old x-ray machines and are simply not equipped to deal with serious injuries like heart attacks, strokes, and other unexpected events. Norwegian cruise ships should not have state of the art medical and safety facilities too.
What Damages Can Be Recovered After a Norwegian Cruise Ship Injury?
Damages in these cases include compensation for economic losses, such as lost wages, and non-economic losses, including emotional distress. A cruise line injury lawyer can also pursue punitive damages in cases where it can be established that there was reckless disregard for the life and safety of others, or intentional conduct that is considered willful, wanton, or outrageous.
Cruise Ship Injury Law: Legal Duties and Safety Standards
Regardless of the flag that it is waving and the country the ship is registered in, all vessels that carry U.S. residents must comply with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and other international law. SOLAS establishes rigorous standards for:
- Crew competency
- Passenger Safety
- Fire safety
- Lifesaving equipment, and
- Vessel integrity
Any shortcoming in any covered area that results in passenger injury may be the basis for a negligence lawsuit. Furthermore, under the 1984 Shipping Act, Norwegian and other cruise lines owe their passengers an enhanced duty of care to guard them against physical harm from on-board accidents, negligent crew members, and adverse weather. The owners are also obliged to safely deliver their passengers to their destinations.
Don’t Wait And Contact a Norwegian Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer
Important time limitations may apply. Most cruise ship tickets contain fine print regarding choice of law and notice of claim. Many times, the contractual provisions designates Florida federal courts as the appropriate legal forum for maritime injury cases. Furthermore, many companies include a provision that injury victims must notify the company about their claims in writing within six months, and failure to do so may result in dismissal of the case. Failure to abide by these legal requirements may result in your claim being time barred. Rely on experienced Norwegian cruise ship injry attorneys that specialize in cruise ship injury cases.
At Gerson & Schwartz, P.A., we routinely handle serious to catastrophic cruise ship injury cases. If you were injured on a Norwegian ship or another cruise line, contact us today for a free consultation.