Despite having such good coverage, cruise ship companies are notorious for shrinking away from paying medical expenses related to passenger injuries. If you experience a cruise ship slip and fall, then you might have to jump through some hoops to ensure you get fair compensation. You’ll also need to do a lot of work to determine if the cruise ship was negligent and if they’re even liable for your injuries at all.

Are you not sure where to get started? Get all the details about cruise ship accidents and slip and fall claims below.

If you suffered a cruise ship slip and fall, where the accident occurred might seem obvious to you. Despite that, it's important to determine exactly where the cruise ship was when the incident happened. It makes a big difference whether your accident occurred at-sea or while the boat was docked.

If the cruise ship was docked at a port in the US, then different laws apply than if the incident happened while the ship was sailing in the ocean. After all, most cruise ships do travel internationally. If your accident happened while the ship was at sea, then maritime laws will come into play. Jurisdiction is complicated, so it may be best to hire an attorney if you aren't sure whether your accident happened on international land, at-sea, or before leaving port in the US.

2. Was the Cruise Ship Negligent?

Clearly, cruise ship jurisdiction is complicated. This distinction is very important, though, because the laws that dictate liability could make the difference between fair compensation and none at all.

In most cruise ship slip and fall accidents, the incident happens while at-sea. Maritime laws dictate that a cruise company will only be liable for a victim’s losses if the ship’s operator knew (or should have reasonably known) about the unsafe condition that led to your fall.

Negligence happens when the cruise ship operator knew about the unsafe condition and failed to act. If a court determines that the cruise ship or its employees were negligent, then they’ll be held liable for your losses. Making this determination is often a challenge, though.

3. Reading Your Cruise Ship Ticket’s Fine Print

When you purchased your cruise ship ticket, did you realize that you agreed to adhere to the terms and conditions of the ticket contract? Cruise ship companies have the authority to reduce your legal rights when it comes to accidents on cruise ships. In many cases, the cruise ship requires victims to notify them immediately after the accident, then notify them in writing, and to pursue a case within a certain time frame or forfeit their right to legal redress.

You'll want to go through and read through the ticket contract to ensure you can seek out a claim. Some cruise ship companies detail where you can seek out a claim. Most of these claims get heard at the Federal Court in Miami.

It's also a good idea to hire a lawyer as soon as possible if you're planning on filing a slip and fall claim. An attorney will recognize your time constraints, and they'll also help you fulfill any cruise ship notification requirements, as well.

So, Who is Liable For a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Accident in Florida?

Have you already asked yourself the tough questions above? Have you read and reread your cruise ship ticket contract's fine print? If so, then you should have a better idea of whether you can seek out legal recourse for your cruise ship slip and fall. A slip and fall claim is complex enough when it happens on land, but being on a cruise ship only complicates matters further.

If you still have questions about your cruise ship accident, then it's a good idea to discuss your situation with an experienced lawyer. Here at LawChamps, we can help you find a qualified lawyer in your area. Head over to our lawyer search section to find a lawyer now.

This article is intended to convey generally useful information only and does not constitute legal advice. Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author, not LawChamps.