Your family might be able to recover compensation to pay for medical care and lost wages for a loved one that was severely hurt on a shore excursion. However, you may be limited in the amount of time and the location of where you can file a claim. Seeking the legal help of a Miami shore excursion injury attorney as soon as possible may prove critical to your ability to recover damages. Call Wolfson & Leon today at (305) 285-1115 for a free, no-obligation analysis of your case and legal options.
Whether it is the chance to tour the local sights, hike through mountainous terrain, or snorkel in the crystal blue ocean, adding a shore excursion is often the highlight of a cruise. Whether you are seeking the adventure of a zipline or rock climbing or prefer the serenity of walking through the local town, shore excursions are a great way to experience the local culture.
Many passengers may not realize that hazards are present during a shore excursion. Untrained staff, equipment malfunctions, or missing safety gear can quickly turn a snorkeling, ziplining, or rock-climbing activity into a dangerous activity. Even if you choose the serenity of a guided tour through the city, you could be gravely hurt if you were involved in a car accident or were the subject of criminal activity.
What if You Are Hurt on a Shore ExcursionWhen you get injured on a shore excursion, it is essential to document as much information as possible about the accident. Most likely, you won't be able to preserve the scene once you leave, so it can help your case to take videos or pictures of where the accident happened and the injuries you sustained. Take down the names of passengers, cruise ship workers, or anyone else who witnessed the accident. When possible, write down what you can remember and a timeline of events.
You should seek immediate medical help if you are severely hurt. Passengers unable to find quality care ashore may need to return to the ship for treatment.
Who Is Liable in a Shore Excursion Accident?Determining who is liable for a shore excursion accident can be tricky. Since passengers typically book excursions through the cruise line, they may not realize that third-party companies often run these activities. These independent companies may contract with the cruise line to offer their services. If you were badly hurt on a shore excursion, you might be able to recover compensation directly from the company.
If you were gravely injured on a shore excursion that you booked through the cruise line, you might wonder if they have any liability. Cruise lines often include wording on your passenger ticket to absolve them of liability if you get hurt on a shore excursion. Additionally, you may have signed a liability waiver to participate in the outing.
Yet if the cruise line was aware of any known dangers at the port of call and failed to tell you, they could be found liable for your injuries, despite the ticket disclaimer and signed waiver.
Filing a Claim When Injured on a Shore ExcursionOne of the most challenging aspects, when you get hurt on a shore excursion is knowing where to file your claim. Can you file a lawsuit in the United States, or do you file in the country where you were injured? Sometimes, your ticket or liability waiver may specify the jurisdiction where you must file your claim.
Passengers must consider how quickly and where they must file a claim when hurt on a cruise ship. To best protect your right to compensation, seeking the help of an attorney who is experienced in maritime law is critical.
Call a Miami Shore Excursion Accident LawyerPassengers severely hurt on a cruise ship excursion may need extensive medical care and recovery. A severe injury can impact your family's finances if you cannot return to work. Since many excursion injuries happen in other countries and at the hands of a company that may be independent of the cruise line, it adds to the legal complexities of your case.
The Miami cruise ship injury attorneys at Wolfson & Leon are dedicated to getting justice for passengers badly hurt on shore excursions or other cruise ship accidents. We help injured passengers navigate through the complexities associated with maritime laws, passenger tickets, and liability waivers. You might recover compensation if you were badly hurt on a cruise ship shore excursion. Find out more by calling the Miami cruise ship injury lawyers at Wolfson & Leon today at (305) 285-1115.