If you were injured as a crew member on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, you will want to find the best crew injury lawyer in Miami that you can find. The personal injury lawyers at Wolfson & Leon have helped injured people since 1963 – nearly 60 years. Take advantage of their experience and call them today for your free consultation at 305-285-1115.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Norwegian Cruise Lines has a fleet of 17 cruise ships that bring passengers to exciting destinations worldwide. The chance to travel the globe to such places as the Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Alaska, Northern Europe, and New Zealand entices many people to join the crew of a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.
Crew members often work seven days a week. Even with breaks, the long hours leave cruise ship workers tired. Crew members may be overworked if the cruise line is short-staffed or if they hire workers without adequate training. Worker fatigue and lack of training can lead to accidents. Slips and falls, heavy lifting, and equipment failures may result in severe injuries to crew members.
You could be out of work for an extended period when you are badly hurt while working on a Norwegian cruise ship. You may need extensive medical treatment and future care. You should speak with a Miami crew member injury attorney to learn what legal rights are to compensation you may have.
Norwegian Cruise Line Crew Member InjuriesNorwegian Cruise Lines has over 33,000 employees. The idea of meeting new people and traveling the world motivates many to join the crew of a cruise ship. However, most don’t expect the grueling long hours they will be put in. Like most other cruise lines, employees who work for Norwegian Cruise Line must sign an employment agreement, which typically ranges from four to nine months. When under contract, crew members work seven days a week throughout their contract.
Many employment contracts have an arbitration clause. Employees agree to use a third-party arbitrator to resolve disputes by signing the agreement. In arbitration, both sides typically present their case in a hearing, and the arbitrator decides the outcome. In an arbitration, the decision reached is usually final.
While arbitration may seem like an easier way to resolve a legal matter, it can put the employee at a disadvantage as they may be waiving their right to file a claim in court or have their case presented to a jury. The cruise line may have some involvement in selecting the arbitrator, which can put the employee at a further disadvantage.
Why Call a Norwegian Cruise Line Accident Lawyer?Injured cruise ship workers cannot file a worker's compensation claim for damages. Rather, crew members need to consider the protections under maritime law and any stipulations in their employment agreement. You should speak with a Norwegian Cruise Line accident lawyer to determine your rights and your next course of action.
Under maritime law, an injured crew member who can prove their employer was negligent and they were harmed as a result may recover damages under the Jones Act. If the injured cruise ship worker can prove the vessel was unseaworthy, they may be eligible to recover damages through the Doctrine of Unseaworthiness.
Should your employment agreement require arbitration to settle disputes, a skilled Miami maritime law attorney helps you build your case to defend your rights.
If you were badly hurt while working on a Norwegian cruise ship and want to evaluate your options for compensation, you should reach out to an attorney specializing in cruise ship accidents and maritime law. You can find out more when you call the Miami maritime lawyers at Wolfson & Leon today.
Miami Crew Accident and Injury LawyersAt Wolfson & Leon, our team of Miami cruise ship injury attorneys has defended the rights of employees and passengers who were hurt on cruise ships and shore excursions. If you or a family member was severely injured on a cruise ship, you could call Wolfson & Leon for your free, no-obligation consultation.
Our Miami maritime lawyers will review the legal merits of your case at no charge. You can ask questions and determine what legal options you may have to recover damages. Don’t delay – call 305-285-1115 today.