Carnival Cruise Ship Accident & Injury Lawyer
Carnival Cruise currently operates over 20 ships out of its headquarters in Florida. These ships embark with millions of passengers each year seeking to enjoy their vacations aboard floating resorts. Unfortunately for many of these passengers, their cruise is spoiled by serious injuries, illness, missing family members, and assaults by other passengers or ship staff.
If you or someone in your family suffered serious injuries on a Carnival Cruise ship, contact Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. Our Carnival Cruise ship injury and accident attorneys represent injury victims in lawsuits against the ship and cruise line that failed to keep them safe. For more information about how to file a claim and what your case might be worth, call our experienced maritime injury lawyers today at (866) 386-1762.
Suing for Injuries on a Carnival Cruise Ship
As a guest on a cruise ship, you have a right to travel safely, and you deserve access to clean water, safe food, safe facilities, and prompt medical attention. However, many of these rights are compromised on a cruise ship because of the staff and crew’s negligence. If you suffer injuries or illness aboard a Carnival Cruise ship, you may be entitled to take the cruise line to court to seek compensation.
Some of the most common injuries on cruise ships are caused by serious negligence or intentional acts by employees aboard the ship. Foodborne illness such as norovirus is one of the most common ways people are injured on a cruise ship. In addition, illness spreading between passengers because of improper confinement and quarantine efforts is also a major cause of injury. Lastly, one of the most troublesome causes of injury on board a cruise ship is assault or sexual assault committed by a member of the ship’s crew or another passenger.
Other injuries are caused by dangerous conditions on deck, such as slip and falls, as well as injuries from falling overboard. In most cases, the ship’s crew did something wrong to allow these injuries to occur, whether it be a failure to warn passengers of dangers, a failure to keep the food or facilities clean, or negligent security on board the ship.
If you can prove that the cruise line was responsible for the issues that led to your injuries, you may be entitled to sue the cruise line for compensation. In many cases, the failures of the ship’s staff and crew can be compensated by the cruise company, who takes responsibility for its employees’ actions. Your lawyer can help you understand who will pay for the injuries in your case.
In most cases against Carnival Cruise ships, the case must be filed in Florida. These ships often make port in Miami, which means that lawsuits against the ship’s operators must be filed in Florida. The rules surrounding where to sue and how you can seek compensation in these cases are often governed by maritime law. The attorneys at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind are experienced maritime injury lawyers who may be able to help with your case.
Potential Sources of Carnival Cruise Injuries
There are multiple types of harm that can be suffered by Carnival cruise passengers. For example, the following are all potential sources of such injuries:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Passengers aboard cruise ships often suffer slip and fall accidents, which can result from wet or slippery surfaces on decks, pool areas, or dining venues. These accidents can lead to broken bones, sprains, and various other types of injuries. In many cases, victims will require immediate medical attention in order to heal properly.
Medical Malpractice
Instances of medical malpractice onboard cruise ships can lead to severe injuries or worsen existing medical conditions. For example, patients in cruise ship medical bays may suffer harm as the result of improper diagnosis, medication errors, or other forms of negligent treatment. Thankfully, those who are hurt as a result of medical malpractice on cruise ships may sue for the damages they incurred.
Recreational Activity Accidents
Passengers may also sustain injuries while participating in recreational activities offered by the cruise line such as water sports, zip-lining, or rock climbing. In many cases, these accidents result from equipment failure, inadequate safety measures, or a lack of proper instruction.
Food and Beverage Contamination
Food poisoning or allergic reactions to onboard meals can cause passengers to suffer from gastrointestinal issues, allergic reactions, or other adverse health effects. Improper food handling, contamination, or failure to disclose allergens can result in serious health complications for passengers during their cruise experience.
Assault and Battery
Unfortunately, incidents of assault or battery can occur onboard cruise ships, potentially leading to severe injuries and emotional trauma for passengers. These incidents may involve altercations between passengers, crew members, or security personnel. If you suffered an assault on your Carnival cruise, then our legal team can determine if the cruise company is to blame.
Carbon Monoxide
Lastly, malfunctioning or poorly maintained equipment such as faulty heating systems or engine exhaust leaks can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning among cruise passengers. This odorless and colorless gas can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and dizziness to loss of consciousness, posing serious health risks to individuals onboard affected ships.
What Do You Do if You Were Sexually Assaulted on a Carnival Cruise Ship?
Unfortunately, many individuals suffer sexual assaults while on board cruise ships. If you suffer such an attack, there are specific actions you may take to improve your chances of recovery and support your claim for compensation.
Report the Assault
If you experience sexual assault while on a cruise ship, it’s crucial to report the incident immediately to the ship’s security personnel or the ship’s captain. They can initiate an investigation and take appropriate action to ensure your safety and well-being.
Seek Medical Attention
After experiencing sexual assault, it’s essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have visible injuries, medical professionals can provide necessary care, conduct examinations, and document any evidence of the assault.
Gather Evidence
While it may be difficult, try to gather any evidence related to the assault. This may involve preserving clothing worn during the incident, taking photos of injuries, and documenting details of the incident in a journal. This evidence can be crucial for legal proceedings and holding the perpetrator accountable.
Contact Our Law Firm
After reporting the assault and seeking medical attention, it’s important to contact our law firm as quickly as you can. Our experienced legal team can provide guidance, support, and representation throughout the process of seeking monetary damages. We will also ensure that your rights are protected while seeking justice for the harm you have endured.
Compensation for Injuries Aboard a Carnival Cruise Liner
If you or a loved one was hurt on a cruise ship, you may have suffered damages – both physical and economic – that you deserve compensation for. Depending on how the injury occurred, where you were when you were hurt, and how your injuries were treated, you could face different levels of compensation.
The cruise line should, first and foremost, compensate you for the medical expenses related to your injury. If you were only injured because of their negligence and failure to keep you safe, it is only right that the cruise line pays for your medical bills. In many cases, the medical attention you seek will start on the ship, but you may need to be transferred to shore to get better care at a hospital. If you suffer negligent medical care aboard the ship or at the hospital they send you to, you may need additional care to treat additional injuries and issues. Moreover, you may face expensive bills for medivac and additional healthcare bills brought about by the delay in treatment. These costs should be compensated in full.
If your injuries were severe enough to keep you from work, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages as well. These damages can be used to pay you back for wages you miss during your recovery as well as ongoing issues with work. If your injuries keep you from going back to work or require you take a less-demanding job with fewer physical requirements, you may be entitled to damages for lost earning capacity as well.
The compensation you can claim does not stop at bills and economic expenses; you can also seek damages for pain and suffering in most injury cases. These damages might not be easy to prove with bills and financial records, but you can still claim them in court. Your testimony is a valuable tool in proving to the jury how much your physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional distress are worth. Your lawyer can help you prove these damages and calculate what your case should be worth.
Call Our Attorneys for Victims of Injuries on a Carnival Cruise Ship
If you faced a serious injury on a Carnival Cruise ship, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today. Our maritime injury attorneys represent victims of Carnival Cruise accidents and injuries, and we fight to get them the compensation they deserve. If you or a family member was injured on a Carnival Cruise, call our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation and learn more about what your claim might be worth. Call us today at (866) 386-1762 to set up your free consultation.
