Can You File a Lawsuit Against Island Queen Cruises & Tours if You Were Injured?
Island Queen Cruises & Tours operates throughout Miami, running party boat trips, tours of seaside mansions, and other sightseeing tours of Miami. This cruise company operates more locally than many cruise companies and does not have as many overnight accommodations as other cruise companies, but even during shorter tours, a ship can suffer accidents and other serious problems that cause devastating injuries.
If you or a loved one was injured on an Island Queen cruise ship or tour boat, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering you face from the accident. For help with your case, call the attorneys for injuries and accidents on an Island Queen cruise ship at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today at (866) 386-1762. We offer free legal consultations on new injury cases.
Accidents and Injuries on Island Queen Cruise Tours
Island Queen offers private cruises and tours as well as other boating and watercraft tours around Miami. These tours could include a night on a party yacht or a day trip around the area. In any case, the cruise line and the crew of the vessel you are on have certain obligations and duties they owe you as a passenger. If they fail to uphold some of these duties, you could be seriously injured.
Party boats and cruise ships with bars on them have certain obligations to their passengers. Just like bars on land, the bartenders and waitstaff should never overserve a guest to the point that they cannot safely get around and keep their wits about them. This is how many injuries from falling down – or falling overboard – occur. Moreover, many people become the victim of crime after being overserved, either because their state makes them unable to defend themselves or paints them as a target.
Boat tours and cruises might involve excursions and activities that have some inherent risks. Things like parasailing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing could cause serious injuries if the boat’s pilot does not properly maneuver the vessel or the staff responsible for hooking up the rider fail to properly attach safety gear.
Boats and yachts also run the risk of having accidents with other vessels. These accidents could throw people to the ground or cause them serious injuries during the crash. If a fire breaks out on board a boat, the passengers could face serious injury from burns or smoke inhalation, or even death.
To the extent that Island Queen offers longer cruises on larger ships, the injuries might be different. Slip and fall injuries from wet decks, negligent security leading to crime victimization on board, sexual assault by staff or other passengers, food poisoning from meals, and other issues can all result in negligence and serious injuries.
Suing Island Queen Cruises & Tours for Injuries
If you or a loved one was injured on an Island Queen cruise or tour, you might be entitled to sue the company for those injuries. As mentioned, cruise ships owe their passengers many legal obligations and duties. If the crew fails to properly upkeep the vessel, fails to pilot the boat properly, or causes accidents and fires through other negligent acts or omissions, they may be legally responsible for any resulting harms or injuries.
The most common harms that come from a boat accident are injuries resulting in medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages. If you fall and hit your head on deck because there were no handrails or you were injured in a fire on a tour boat, you could face substantial medical expenses, long-term injuries, ongoing medical care, time away from work, rehabilitation, and serious pain and suffering. These costs can be claimed in a lawsuit against the cruise company.
Many of these damages can be proved by producing bills and financial statements that show the costs you incurred. Other costs and damages can be projected into the future, such as the ongoing cost of medical care and future lost earning capacity because of the injury. You may also claim damages for intangible harms like physical pain and mental suffering, but these are typically proved by your testimony about how the injury affected you.
Companies that operate boats and ships often have strong legal teams that work to shut down claims like these. The legal team or the cruise company’s insurance company may work to reduce and limit liability with terms on passenger tickets or other legal tactics. Ultimately, if you were injured and are considering filing a lawsuit, the cruise company may attempt to settle your case quickly instead of allowing it to go to court.
A settlement can sometimes help you get all the compensation you need without taking your case to trial. However, many settlement offers – especially early offers – are too low to cover the damages you faced. In these cases, it is vital to work with a cruise ship accident lawyer to ensure that you do not receive a settlement that covers only part of the damages you face. Always review your case with a lawyer so you can know what the claim is worth and how to maximize the damages you receive for your injuries.
Call Our Island Queen Cruise and Tour Injury Lawyers for a Free Legal Consultation
After being injured on an Island Queen cruise or tour, you should speak with one of the attorneys for injuries and accidents on an Island Queen cruise ship. The maritime and boating injury lawyers at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. may be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you need for your injuries. We can help prevent low settlements and make sure that you understand what your claim is worth and how to maximize the compensation you receive through a lawsuit against the negligent cruise line. For help with your case, call our lawyers today at (866) 386-1762 to set up a free legal consultation.
