How Likely Are You to Get Sexually Assaulted on a Cruise?
Cruise ship vacations might turn life-altering should a passenger be sexually assaulted aboard a vessel. Should this happen to you, our attorneys can help you get justice.
Sexual assaults happen relatively frequently on cruise ships. In 2023 alone, there were 131 reported instances of sexual assault on cruises that docked in the United States. Such reports included instances of rape as well as other forms of unwanted sexual advances and violence. Certain factors might increase the likelihood of sexual assaults on cruises. For example, negligent hiring practices might lead to a cruise hiring a crew member with a history of sexual violence, endangering passengers. Failure to provide adequate security or safety measures to passengers might also increase the chances of attacks on cruises. Regardless, if you were sexually assaulted on a cruise, you can likely file a lawsuit to hold all involved parties accountable, including the cruise ship company.
To get a free and confidential evaluation of your case from our cruise ship sexual assault lawyers, you can call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. today at (305) 204-5369.
How Frequently Do Sexual Assaults Happen on Cruises?
Unfortunately, sexual assaults happen on cruise ships at staggering rates. Fortunately, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) requires all cruise ships that dock in the United States to report instances of sexual assault to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), allowing passengers to have a clearer idea of the issue of such attacks on cruise ships.
According to the Cruise Line Incident Reports for 2023 published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were a total of 131 sexual assaults and rapes reported on cruises that docked in the United States. Generally speaking, passengers get assaulted more often than crew members do, but that does not mean crew members cannot be victims themselves. While instances of sexual assault reported to cruise ships must then be reported to the FBI under the CVSSA, this does not always happen. Cruise ship companies might distort numbers out of concern that ticket sales would otherwise decrease.
Furthermore, because cruises that do not dock in the United States do not have to report incidents to the FBI under the CVSSA, the likelihood of passengers of such vessels being sexually assaulted might differ.
Sexual assaults might include any number of unwanted sexual advances, including but not limited to rape. If you were sexually assaulted while on a cruise, you should report the incident, even though doing so may be difficult for you. This can allow you to get the immediate care and attention you need in the aftermath of such a devastating experience.
Factors that Might Increase the Likelihood of Sexual Assaults on Cruises
There are a few factors that might increase the likelihood of sexual assaults taking place on cruise ships. These include negligent hiring of employees and failure to provide adequate security measures, among others.
Negligent Hiring Practices
Cruise ships owe a duty of care to their passengers to ensure they take reasonable care when hiring employees. If a crew member has a criminal history of violence or sexual assault and is hired anyway, passengers might be in danger. Furthermore, failure to take reports of sexual assaults seriously and take the necessary action against the responsible crew member might lead to more assaults taking place.
Negligent Security
In addition to taking reasonable care when hiring crew members, cruise ships must also provide reasonable security and safety measures for passengers. For example, failure to install security cameras in areas where sexual assaults have previously occurred on cruise ships might lead to more attacks. Or, failure to provide adequate security at entrances when a ship is docked might allow assailants to get on board, putting cruise ship passengers in danger.
What to Do if You Are Sexually Assaulted on a Cruise
No one ever anticipates a sexual assault to happen, especially when enjoying a vacation on a cruise. In the unfortunate event that you were violated while on a cruise, our attorneys can help you get the justice you deserve.
Begin by reporting the assault. You can submit a complaint or report to the cruise ship so that your assault gets documented and can be properly reported to the FBI under the CVSSA. You should also report the assault to the local authorities where you are docked if you are docked at the time. You can then contact our cruise ship sexual assault lawyers to learn about your next steps, which might include suing the cruise ship company and the person who sexually assaulted you.
To confirm the jurisdiction of your case, we will refer to your passenger ticket. Often, cruise ship companies require any claims brought by passengers to be filed in a specific jurisdiction. For example, if your cruise left from Florida, but you were assaulted at sea, you might still have to bring your case in Florida if your ticket requires you to do so. Identifying the proper jurisdiction will allow us to determine the statute of limitations that applies to your claim.
After taking on your case, our lawyers will begin gathering evidence. This might require us to refer to your medical records from immediately after the assault, which is one of the many reasons why getting medical attention will be important.
When successful in your case, you can recover damages for any economic losses caused by the assault, like medical costs or lost wages, as well as your non-economic losses. Because victims of sexual assault often experience severe pain and suffering, among other emotional difficulties, recovering non-economic damages can be extremely rewarding. Your compensation might be capped, depending on the jurisdiction of your case.
Call Our Lawyers to Discuss Your Case Today
For help with your case from Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A., call our cruise ship personal injury lawyers at (305) 204-5369.
