WHAT IS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR A CRUISE SHIP INJURY CASE?
There are variations depending upon where the cruise departed from and where the cruise returned, but “generally” the statute of limitations for most cruise ship injury cases is one year. CAUTION: EACH CASE DEPENDS UPON ITS UNIQUE FACTS TO DETERMINE YOUR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. CONSULT A MARITIME ATTORNEY EXPERIENCED IN CRUISE SHIP INJURY CASES, TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO YOUR CASE.
Some of those variations can include:
- Does the claim involve injury for a minor?
- Does the cruise ship injury claim involve a medical malpractice claim?
- Does the injury claim involve fault on the part of a passenger on the ship?
- Does the claim involve fault on the part of an excursion company?
- Does the claim involve an independent contractor of the cruise line?
When you sign up to go on a cruise the cruise ticket contains certain terms and restrictions, and that cruise ticket is a contract between you and the cruise line. In that cruise ticket will be the specifics about what is the statute of limitations that applies to your injury case, and where any suit would have to be filed.
If you leave from a port which does not touch the United States and does not return to the United States, your forum (i.e., the mandatory location where any suit that may have to be filed) for bringing a claim may not be within the United States, and the time frame on your statute of limitations may not be 1 year. Again: CONSULT A MARITIME ATTORNEY EXPERIENCED IN CRUISE SHIP INJURY CASES TO DISCUSS THE SPECIFICS OF YOUR CASE.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO GIVE THE CRUISE LINES WRITTEN NOTICE OF YOUR INJURY CLAIM.
Also note that most cruise lines—if you are claiming an injury on or relating to a cruise ship—they require you to give the cruise line a written notice regarding certain specifics of your incident within 6 months of that incident. There is some variation on this from cruise line to cruise line, so check the specifics of the ticket (your contract) to know your obligations.
Not all attorneys who handle personal injury cases do cruise ship injury cases. In fact it is a very, very, small percentage of attorneys who handle cruise ship injury cases. While there are many attorneys in Florida who handle car accidents, falldowns, and dogbite cases, it has been estimated that the number of attorneys who handle cruise ship cases is somewhere between 50 and 100 total. Recognize that more than half of those 50 to 100 attorneys are working for the cruise lines or insurance companies—not injured cruise ship passengers.
CHOOSE A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT INJURY ATTORNEY SPECIALIST.
It is critical to your case that you choose a cruise ship injury attorney who handles cruise ship injury cases every day of the week for injured claimants. You would never allow a doctor to perform surgery on you who has not once performed such a surgery. Don’t allow a car accident or dogbite attorney to handle your important cruise ship injury accident case.
At www.888BOATLAW.com, (the law firm of Frank D. Butler, PA) we have been successfully handling cruise ship injury cases for more than 25 years. We know the unique maritime laws that apply to cruise ship injury and boating injury cases. It is what we do every day of the week. Your case will be handled by a team of specialists. We have literally successfully pursued and recovered for hundreds of claimants against the cruise lines. Trust experience. Trust the specialists. For 25 years.
CONTACT US NOW AT www.888BOATLAW.COM TO FIGHT FOR YOU.
FIGHTING CRUISE SHIP INJURY CASES THROUGHOUT ALL OF FLORIDA.
