Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer
Cruise lines market relaxation, but injuries on board happen more often than passengers expect. Because most major cruise lines require injury lawsuits to be filed in federal court in South Florida, where you file matters as much as what happened. Muggeo & Associates has an office at 160 SE 9th Street in Fort Lauderdale, near Port Everglades, and represents passengers from across the country.
Common Cruise Ship Injuries
- Slip and fall injuries on wet decks, stairs, and pool areas
- Inadequate or negligent medical care from the ship’s medical staff
- Assaults and inadequate security
- Shore excursion accidents
- Tender, gangway, and embarkation injuries
- Food poisoning and illness outbreaks
- Falling objects, elevator, and door injuries
Your Ticket Contract Controls Key Deadlines
Your passenger ticket is a contract, and it almost always shortens the time to bring a claim. Federal law allows cruise lines to require written notice of an injury claim within as little as six months and a lawsuit within as little as one year of the injury. Many tickets use these minimums. Missing either deadline can bar your claim entirely.
Where Cruise Injury Cases Are Filed
Most cruise tickets contain a forum selection clause requiring lawsuits to be filed in a specific court, frequently the federal court in Miami. Courts generally enforce these clauses. Our Fort Lauderdale office allows us to handle these cases where they must be filed.
What the Passenger Must Prove
Cruise injury claims are governed by federal maritime law. Cruise lines owe passengers a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances. In many cases, particularly slip-and-fall claims, the passenger must show the cruise line knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. Evidence such as ship incident reports, CCTV footage, and cleaning logs is controlled by the cruise line, so prompt action is important.
Shore Excursions
Excursions sold by the cruise line are often run by independent local operators. Whether the cruise line is responsible depends on how the excursion was marketed, what the cruise line knew about the operator, and the terms of your ticket. These claims are fact-specific and benefit from early investigation.
What to Do If You Are Hurt on a Cruise
- Report the injury to the ship and request a copy of the incident report.
- Visit the ship’s medical center and keep copies of all records and bills.
- Photograph the scene and your injuries, and get names and cabin numbers of witnesses.
- Keep your ticket, boarding documents, and receipts.
- Do not sign releases or give detailed statements without advice.
- Contact a lawyer quickly so notice deadlines are met.
Read our Cruise Ship Injury FAQ or learn more about our travel and resort litigation practice.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
Call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or send us a message. Offices in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Salem, MA.
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Laws and deadlines change and depend on the facts of each case. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.