Miami Cruise Ship Staff and Crewmember Injury Lawyer
Working on a cruise ship comes with certain dangers. There is always a risk of slipping and falling on a wet deck or being injured while lifting, carrying, or falling overboard. Some injury risks come with many jobs, whether on a ship or on land, while others are specific to cruise ship workers. Whether you are injured while working as an entertainer, restaurant worker, crew member, or any other position on the ship, you may be entitled to sue the cruise ship and your employer for workplace injuries on board a cruise ship.
For a free legal consultation on your cruise ship injury case, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. Our Miami cruise ship crew member and seamen injury lawyers represent cruise ship workers in maritime injury lawsuits against their employers. Our maritime injury lawyers fight to get their clients the compensation they need for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. For a free legal consultation, call us today at (866) 386-1762.
Filing Lawsuits for Injuries from Working on a Cruise Ship
When you are injured while working on a cruise, you may be entitled to sue the shipowner and operator for your injuries. Most workers on ships are governed by maritime law and the tenants of the Jones Act. These laws typically make the shipowner responsible for dangers on the vessel, such as defective equipment or maintenance issues that lead to injuries. They are also typically responsible for any other issues involving workplace conditions they cause through their role as your employer.
Some of the injuries you face are unique to the conditions on a cruise ship, such as illness, slip and falls on wet decks or injuries from falling overboard. However, other injuries are related to the job you perform on the ship, whatever that may be. Restaurant workers may be susceptible to burns in the kitchens, injuries from broken glass, and slip and falls from spills. Workers involved with onboard entertainment may face risks from falling, pulling a muscle, or otherwise injuring themselves during a performance or activity. Other crew and staff may face injuries from lifting and carrying while loading or moving cargo, supplies, or other equipment.
Injuries to crew members can also involve injuries from violence or sexual assault. The ship owners are often responsible for security aboard the ship, and failing to keep staff and crew safe from violence and assault may be their fault. This is often true whether you were assaulted by another crew member or a passenger.
In any case, the ship’s owners, operators, and other staff might owe you a legal duty to keep you safe. Any breach of that duty can lead to a lawsuit where you can recover compensation for the injuries you faced. Our maritime injury lawyers can examine your case, find out whom to hold responsible, and file a claim against them.
Compensation for Injured Cruise Ship Workers
Unlike many jobs onshore, maritime injury cases do not have a workers’ compensation system. This means that the best way to get compensation for your injuries is usually to file a lawsuit against your employer or the ship owners who allowed you to be injured. When you do so, you can claim damages for any financial and physical injuries you faced because of their negligence. This typically includes damages for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
The damages you claim for lost wages can cover any wages, current and future, that you might lose because of the injury. Your injuries could require an extended recovery period, during which you might be unable to work. Even after the injuries heal, you could still face extended disabilities or weakness that prevent you from returning to work at the same capacity – or keep you from going back to work at all. As part of your lawsuit, you can claim damages for these lost wages.
The compensation for medical expenses can potentially cover all expenses related to your treatment. This can include emergency medical transportation costs, which could be expensive if you need medivac to take you to shore or transport you to another hospital. The costs of surgeries, doctor’s visits, and rehabilitation can be quite high, especially if you receive negligent care on the ship. With limited resources aboard the ship and potentially dangerous treatment in another country, you could face additional harms from medical malpractice or delays in care. Your employer may also be required to cover those damages.
Lastly, you can claim damages for the pain and suffering you face from the accident. Many serious injuries take a toll on the body as well as the mind, causing severe physical pain and discomfort, mental anguish, and emotional distress. All of these can be compensated through pain and suffering damages. These damages are not as simple to prove as medical bills or lost wages, which you can use financial records to prove. Instead, you will likely have to testify as to how the injury affected your life and your enjoyment of your life to show to the jury how bad the pain and suffering is.
Call Our Miami Lawyers for Injuries to Cruise Ship Staff and Crew
If you work on a cruise ship and faced serious injuries from your job, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind today. Our lawyers are located in Miami, Florida, the number one port for cruise ships around the world. If you were injured, you may be required to file your lawsuit under maritime law in Florida, which means working with lawyers for cruise ship spine injury, head injury, broken bones, and more that have special certifications in maritime and admiralty law. Our Miami attorneys for cruise ship worker and seamen injuries may be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you need. Call our law offices today at (866) 386-1762 for a free legal consultation.
