Houston Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
Under the Shipping Act of 1984, cruise ships that enter or exit any port in the United States are considered common carriers. Common carriers are defined as operators and owners of modes of transportation that carry passengers for a fee. Common carriers owe the highest duty of care to their passengers to take the necessary safety precautions to keep individuals onboard safe. If you have been hurt, it is critical that you speak to a Houston cruise ship accidents lawyer. A lawyer will help you claim a full settlement and help you through the complex process.
Cruise Ship Accidents and the Law
The laws that govern cruise ship accidents are vastly different from those that govern other personal injury claims in Houston. Cruise ships registered in the country are also registered in other nations, such as Panama and Bermuda. Due to these international registrations, cruise ship accidents are typically governed by maritime law.
Maritime law dictates that cruise ship passengers and anyone else hurt by a cruise ship can hold owners and operators of the watercraft liable if they are hurt by an act of negligence. While this sounds straightforward, it is not. Passengers and other accident victims must prove that the cruise ship owner, operator, or staff member must have known about the hazard that caused injury.
Common Types of Accidents on Cruise Ships
A person can be hurt in a number of ways on a cruise ship. The most common of these are as follows:
- Slip and falls
- Drownings
- Collisions with objects or other ships
- Groundings
- Sexual assaults
- Fires and explosions
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
Any time the above accidents, or any other occurs, it can result in catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death.
Filing a Claim After a Cruise Ship Accident
Tickets for cruise ships are essentially a contract you enter into when you purchase it. The back of the ticket will usually contain many details about how to file a lawsuit, and where to file. It may also include details about the owner or operator’s liability in the event of an accident. If you were hurt on a cruise ship and need to file a claim, you must do so in the location in which the cruise line is based. In most cases, this is Florida. However, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruise Lines are two that are based right here in Houston.
The information about filing a claim will also state how long you have to do so. Although you typically have two years to file a claim after a car accident or slip and fall in Texas, you do not have as much time after a cruise ship accident. In most cases, you must file a claim one year after a cruise ship accident.
Our Houston Cruise Ship Accidents Lawyer Can Help with These Complex Claims
At Gilde Law Firm, our Houston cruise ship accidents lawyers have the necessary experience to hold the appropriate party accountable when they cause an accident that results in serious injuries. We want to put that experience to work for you. Call us today at 800-973-3106 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
