Are you aware that when you purchase a cruise line ticket, you are signing a contract with that cruise line? What does that mean in regards to a cruise ship accident? Here at Irwin Law Firm, we are here to provide you with our maritime attorney expertise. Located in Fort Lauderdale, we are attorneys you can rely on.
Where Do I File?
Remember that contract I mentioned earlier? Well, that contract defines almost every aspect of the relationship between the cruise line and you, the passenger. This includes where a passenger may file a personal injury claim in the event of a bodily injury. This is called the forum selection clause in your cruise contract.
There are many cruise line companies that choose Florida, specifically Miami, as the location where passenger must file a personal injury claims. This does not matter where the cruise ship corporation is registered, or where the passenger lives. It also does matter whether the accident occurred in a foreign port or even on a shore excursion in a foreign country. Nor does it matter if a non-US corporation owns the cruise ship. Any personal injury claim by a passenger against the cruise line will take place in at the court specified in the passenger contract.
Let’s take a look at an example. You are a passenger and you live in North Carolina. You book a cruise through an agency that is located in Virginia. You fly to Orlando to board the cruise ship in Barbados. There is an accident while on the shore excursion in Honduras. The cruise line can require the personal injury claim to be filed in Miami, even though you never stepped foot in Miami. Make sense? If not, a maritime attorney is a perfect resource to clear up any confusion.
Cruise Ship Accident Tickets Are Important
With all that being said… be sure to keep your ticket. This ticket is very detailed and contains a lot of information that you need. Most people will just discard it, but don’t! This information will tell you exactly where you claim needs to be filed and what is the time limit you have that until it is not longer valid. Generally, it will only be within 180 days after your injury.
Because cruise ship injury cases are not only complex but also must be brought in such a short period of time, it is essential that you hire an attorney who has the experience to bring a cruise ship injury claim and recover money for their clients. If you were injured on a cruise ship, talk to an attorney right away before your time runs out.
Contact Us Today
When it comes to a cruise ship accident, it is best to hire an experienced maritime attorney to get the job handles correctly. You need the compensation you deserve. Us at Irwin Law Firm is here to help. We are expert attorneys who handle these cases on a regular basis. Call or contact us today at our Fort Lauderdale location for a consultation.