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Port Everglades Crew Injury Lawyer
Injured crew members should contact Wolfson & Leon for a free legal consultation. Our team of Miami maritime injury lawyers listens to your side and reviews your claim for legal merit. We can answer questions and talk through possible legal remedies. Learn how Wolfson & Leon may be able to help when you have been hurt while working on a cruise ship when you call 305-285-1115 today.
Port Everglades Crew Member InjuryWith over four million passengers passing through each year, Port Everglades is one of the busiest ports in the world. This busy port is popular with passengers as it is close to the airport, beaches, restaurants, and shopping.
Crew members can get hurt in various ways on a cruise ship. Common worker accidents may be caused by:
- Malfunctioning or defective equipment
- Lifting, pushing, or pulling heavy objects
- Working too many hours
- Poor sanitation standards
- Wet floors and walkways
- Not having the right equipment
- Inadequate training
- Dangerous surroundings
- Sudden navigational movements
- Mechanical failures
- Improper food handling
Many crew members work in specific areas of the ship and may be hurt due to the nature of their job. A kitchen worker could slip and fall on a wet floor or be burned on a hot stove. An entertainer may fall off a stage, or a housekeeper could hurt their back lifting furniture or moving heavy objects as they clean.
Under maritime laws, cruise lines must provide injured crew members with prompt and adequate medical care on the ship. Yet, that is not always the case. Inexperienced or overworked medical personnel may do nothing more than try to treat the pain you are feeling. Doctors may miss the severity of your injuries or may be unwilling to call for more tests, such as X-rays or MRIs.
Can I File a Worker’s Compensation Claim if I Was Hurt While Working on a Cruise Ship?Worker's compensation laws typically do not cover cruise ship workers. Instead, the injured crew member usually files a lawsuit against their employer or the ship owner to recover damages. If you are injured when working on a cruise ship, you may be entitled to maintenance and cure benefits under the Jones Act.
- Maintenance benefits are the wages your employer pays if you can’t work. The payments should continue until you have recovered from your injuries and can safely return to work. If your cruise ship injuries are so extensive that you can't return to work, you may be entitled to disability benefits.
- Cure benefits are the amounts paid for medical care and other related expenses.
For the Jones Act to apply, a crew member must qualify as a “seaman.” To be considered a “seaman,” a crew member must contribute to the function or the mission of the vessel, the nature and duration of their work prove that they are a member of the crew, and they spend at least 30% of their time working while the ship is in navigation.
Why Call a Port Everglades Crew Accident Law Firm?The laws that protect crew members injured on cruise ships can be complex. Since cruise ship workers often sign employment agreements with cruise lines, where you can file a legal claim may be limited. When you have been severely injured while working on a cruise ship, you should seek help from a personal injury lawyer specializing in maritime law cases to protect your rights.
At Wolfson & Leon, we invite injured crew members to contact us to learn more about their rights. We review your claim for its legal merits and can answer any questions you have about your accident. Our Miami cruise ship accident attorneys discuss what legal remedies may be available to you to recover damages to pay for your medical bills and replace lost wages. Your consultation is free and confidential. Injured crew members can seek help today by calling 305-285-1115.
