Fort Lauderdale Maritime, Cruise Ship Injury and Admiralty Lawyers

Accidents and injuries on cruise ships, pleasure boats and watercrafts are all too common occurrences. In Florida alone, there were 657 reported recreation boating and watercraft accidents in 2008. This doesn’t include the numerous accidents, injuries and assaults that happened on cruise ships as a result of negligence on the part of the ship’s crew, poor maintenance, food-borne illnesses, injuries on excursions or lack of security.

The legal rights of passengers injured on cruise ships fall under the jurisdiction of Admiralty law (or maritime law) which is the distinct body of law governing navigation and shipping on domestic and international waterways. To further complicate matters, the cruise ship industry has restricted when and where you can place a claim. These restrictions are listed in the fine print of the cruise ticket. For example, many tickets make a stipulation that you must notify the cruise line within a specific time frame from regarding the accident. The ticket may also have a provision that requires you to file your claim within one year of the time of the occurrence and require that it be made in a certain state.

Cruise ship accidents that happen in a foreign country can create complex legal situations that often favor the cruise line over the passengers. Additionally, if someone is involved in a wrongful death while on a cruise ship, the “Death on the High Seas Act” is applied, and this involves yet a different set of laws than maritime or Florida state laws.

Because of these complexities, it is important to have representation from an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in Admiralty law and crusie ship injuries. While few attorneys are experienced in this practice of law, Lawlor Winston attorney Morris S. Finkel has concentrated on maritime litigation for over 40 years. Morris and the attorneys at Lawlor Winston understands American and international maritime law and are knowledgeable in litigation strategies and techniques to help if you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a recreational or cruise ship accident.

Please contact us via email or call our offices at (877) 258-7894 if you have any questions or want to discuss your situation. Hiring an attorney with an in-depth, hands-on knowledge of admiralty and maritime law is critical. If you think you have a potential case, we are here to provide a complimentary consultation.