St. Petersburg Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

Did you or someone you love sustain injuries aboard a cruise ship off the coast of St. Petersburg, FL?  You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. An experienced St. Petersburg cruise ship accident lawyer at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys can help you fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience representing clients in complex personal injury matters such as St. Petersburg boating accidents, St. Petersburg maritime accidents, catastrophic injuries brain injuries, and more, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients.

Cruise ship cases can involve complex maritime laws with short deadlines. That means it’s important to take legal action quickly. Contact our law office in St. Petersburg, Florida, or give us a call at (727) 933-0015 to schedule your free consultation today.

Why Should I Hire Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys To Protect My Rights After a Cruise Ship Accident in St. Petersburg?

Why Should I Hire Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys To Protect My Rights After a Cruise Ship Accident in St. Petersburg?

The process for recovering compensation after a cruise accident is complicated. Cruise lines may be registered in the U.S. or with a foreign country. Your cruise ticket itself can contain terms that limit your right to take legal action. It’s important to have an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney on your team.

At Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys, we have the skills and experience to help you maximize your settlement or verdict. In addition to recovering millions for our clients over the years, we have been recognized among the “Top 40 under 40” in Personal Injury law for 2020 and by America’s Top Attorneys in 2020.

Hiring us gives you access to a lawyer who can:

  • Investigate to determine the cause of your accident
  • Gather evidence to establish liability
  • Hire experts to establish causation and prove the value of your damages
  • Handle all paperwork and negotiations with the insurance companies

The clock is already ticking if you were injured aboard a cruise. Call our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers to get the legal advice you deserve today.

How Common Are Cruise Ship Accidents in Florida?

The cruise industry is expected to generate over $25 billion in revenue by the end of 2023. Millions of passengers boarded cruise ships in 2022, even before the industry fully recovered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those passengers don’t expect to leave the ship with injuries.

Fortunately, major cruise ship disasters are relatively rare. Over an eleven-year period, 448 major cruise ship accidents were reported. Those major accidents involve running aground, sinkings, and other severe accidents.

Most cruise ship accidents aren’t widespread disasters. There are countless ways to sustain injuries aboard a cruise ship. Thousands of cruise passengers are injured due to food poisoning and slip and fall accidents each year. Unfortunately, sexual assault is also a problem aboard cruises.

While these events aren’t classified as disasters, that doesn’t mean they can’t create severe hardships for the victims. If you were injured on a cruise, our lawyers are here to help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable. Call for your free case review to learn more about your legal options.

How Much Compensation Can I Recover For My Cruise Ship Accident Injuries?

All injury cases are unique, yet they share some common elements. When we’re calculating your case value, we first calculate our economic losses, like medical bills and lost income. Then we move on to calculating your more difficult-to-value pain, suffering, and distress.

Some of the factors that are relevant in calculating your personal injury claim include:

  • The nature of your injuries
  • The strength of the evidence establishing liability in your case
  • The cost of your medical treatment
  • Your lost income and whether the injury impacts your future capacity to earn a living
  • Your future medical needs
  • Lifestyle changes made necessary by the injury

Never underestimate the impact that an injury can have on your life. If the insurance company is pushing you to accept a settlement deal, you don’t have to accept blindly. Our lawyers are here to help you understand the fair value of your personal injury case.

When you’re ready to learn more, contact our personal injury law firm in St. Petersburg for a free case evaluation.

What Types of Damages Can an Injured Cruise Ship Accident Victim Recover?

The money you recover by filing a personal injury claim can help cover the cost of medical care, make up for lost wages, and compensate for the suffering you have endured.

In legal terms, you can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages. 

Depending on your injuries and losses, those damages may include:

The insurance company will want to see evidence about the types of damages you have suffered. Our boat accident lawyers can evaluate and document the damages you have sustained because of your accident. Just give us a call to get started building your case today.

Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for a Cruise Ship Accident in Florida?

If Florida state law applies in your case, you can recover compensation as long as you aren’t over 50% to blame for the accident. Florida follows a modified comparative fault law with a 51% bar to financial recovery. Blame is allocated between all parties involved in the accident. If you share 50% or less blame, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of fault.

We Will Fight To Recover Fair Compensation for All of Your Cruise Ship Accident Injuries

Depending on the nature of your accident, you could suffer injuries that range from mild to severe and life-threatening.

At Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys, we often represent clients who have suffered:

Do not hesitate to reach out for legal advice after sustaining injuries aboard a cruise line. Our St. Petersburg cruise ship accident attorneys will do everything we can to help you recover fair compensation.

We Represent Clients in All Types of Cruise Ship Accidents in St. Petersburg, Florida

A cruise ship is a type of floating city. With restaurants, bars, lodging, and recreational activities, there are countless ways to get hurt.

Our lawyers at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys often represent clients in cases involving:

  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Ship sinking
  • Collisions with fixed objects and other vessels
  • Medical malpractice while visiting the ship infirmary
  • Accidents during shore excursions
  • Bed bugs
  • Food poisoning
  • Swimming pool accidents
  • Recreational accidents
  • Amusement park accidents
  • Poisonings
  • Assault or sexual assault by a passenger or crew member
  • Fires and explosions
  • Negligent operation of the vessel
  • Failure to properly train or supervise crew
  • Negligent security
  • Falls overboard
  • Failure to provide adequate warning about dangerous conditions on the ship

The cruise company may be financially responsible for your damages. It’s also possible that third parties could share the blame. Our St. Petersburg boat accident attorneys can help you identify all responsible parties so you can rest assured you’re getting the fair compensation you need.

How Do I Prove Negligence if I Was Injured in a Cruise Ship Accident in Florida? 

Cruise lines have a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for passengers and crew members. They must maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition and conduct regular inspections to identify unsafe conditions onboard. 

To recover damages, the injured party must prove negligence. That means showing that:

  • The at-fault party owed you a legal duty of care
  • A breach of duty occurred
  • The breach caused your accident
  • You sustained damages

It’s important to take steps to preserve evidence after an accident. If you can, take photos or video of the accident scene. Gather the names of witnesses to the accident so that we can obtain statements later. Contact our lawyers to get help gathering and evaluating the evidence in your case.

How Long Do I Have To File a Cruise Ship Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

In Florida, most accident victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (as of March 24, 2023 — before that date, the Florida statute of limitations was four years, meaning if your accident occurred before 3/24/23, you may have four years to act). However, that statute of limitations typically only applies when accidents happen on land.

It’s possible that federal or maritime laws may apply in your case. Different deadlines will apply if that’s the case. Cruise lines also impose their own terms and conditions, which you agree to when you board the ship. Those conditions typically contain a much shorter deadline for taking action after an accident.

The bottom line is that you should consult an attorney sooner rather than later if you were injured on a cruise ship.

Contact a St. Petersburg Cruise Ship Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation

You boarded the cruise ship expecting to enjoy a peaceful vacation. If you were injured, an experienced St. Petersburg cruise ship accident lawyer can help you get justice. Call Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys to learn more about how a lawyer can help today.

Visit Our Personal Injury Office in St. Petersburg, FL

Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys
700 7th Ave N Suite B St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 933-0015

We are available 24/7 to take your call; contact us today.

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