San Francisco Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
When people go on a cruise, they expect to return home with just a suntan, great memories, and perhaps some souvenirs. Unfortunately, accidents do happen on cruise ships and they can result in very serious injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to file a claim against them for compensation. Cruise ship accident claims are vastly different from other injury cases, though. It is crucial that you work with a San Francisco cruise ship accident lawyer who can provide the legal advice you need and help you obtain the full settlement you deserve.
Types of Cruise Ship Accidents
When many people think of cruise ship accidents, they may first think of a cruise ship colliding with another vessel. Although this can happen, it is quite rare. However, there are other types of accidents that are very common on cruise ships. These include:
- Sexual assault
- Slip and falls
- Overboard accidents
- Electrocutions
- Drowning and near-drowning injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Fires
- Electrocutions
- Dock accidents
- Shore excursion accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Mechanical failures
- Viral infections
- Food poisoning
Regardless of what caused your injuries, it is important to speak to an attorney who is familiar with the laws regarding cruise ship accidents so you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Read Your Ticket Carefully
Cruise ship tickets are multiple pages long and they often include very small print that many passengers do not read. The cruise lines are counting on the fact that you will not review this information, but it is critical that you do. Your cruise ship ticket will include many provisions that impact your claim. For example, most cruise ship tickets state that injured individuals have just one year to file a claim against a cruise ship line. If you fail to do this, you will likely lose your right to claim any damages at all.
Laws that Govern Cruise Ship Accidents
In other types of personal injury claims, state law typically applies. In rarer cases, federal law may also apply, such as if a truck accident was caused by a fatigued truck driver who broke the hours of service rule. In cruise ship accident claims, these laws often do not apply. This is due to many reasons.
The first is that when you are on a cruise ship, you are not necessarily in the United States. Instead, you are in the country of the ship. If the ship is flying a Bahamian flag, you are in the Bahamas. Additionally, maritime law also typically applies to cruise ship accidents and many passengers are not familiar with these laws.
Call Our Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer in San Francisco Today
If you have been hurt while on a cruise ship, you need sound legal advice. At Venardi Zurada, our San Francisco cruise ship accident lawyer can provide it and guide you through the process so you obtain the maximum damages that you are entitled to. Call us today at (833) 893-6763 or contact us online