Can you sue a cruise line?
Can you sue a cruise line? Yes, if you were the victim of an injury or medical negligence or a rape or sexual assault either aboard a cruise ship or on an excursion set up by the cruise line, you may be able to sue the cruise line. The cruise line is responsible to maintain and operate its ship in a reasonably safe manner and to use ordinary care for the safety of its passengers. The cruise line can be held legally liable for negligent and intentional acts and omissions of its employees and contractors. For example, if a bar tender on the cruise ship serves alcohol to a minor causing the minor fall overboard, get sexually assaulted, or injure themselves, the cruise line can be held responsible for that employees’ negligence. Another example is if a crew member like a cabin attendant rapes or assaults a guest. Cruise lines can be held strictly liable for the intentional acts of their employees.  It is very common to see a crew member improperly mop a floor forgetting to put put a wet floor sign down, or failing to inspect for wet or sticky floors from dropped items or to assist a guest off a steep or moving gang plank, or failing to maintain a deck or stairwell in a safe condition leading to a negligence action against the cruise line. There are many things that can happen on a cruise that victims never expect to happen to them. But when it happens to you, call (305) 741- LAWS (5297). We hs ave been handling Cruise Ship Injury cases and maritime cases for over 20 years throughout Florida and Federal Court in Miami Southern District of Florida, where cruise lines are headquartered.
Several major cruise lines are based in Miami, or sail from Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral to the Caribbean islands which are the common ports of call for Carnival Cruises, NCL ( Norwegian Cruise Line ), RCL ( Royal Caribbean Cruises), Princess Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, Holland America, Seabourn Cruise Line, Azamara Cruises, Oceana Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and more. Hundreds of thousands of passengers set sail for vacations on a cruise ship. Unfortunately, bad things can happen when passengers are on vacation on these ships. Passengers suffer injuries aboard the cruise ship or while enjoying one of the many excursions they offer.
Slip and fall injuries are the most common complaint we come across from passengers, in particular on outdoor decks.  Mr. Perkins has conducted extensive discovery and obtained Federal Court orders pertaining to the materials used on the decking of ships and the number of prior falls on thereon.
The cruise lines owe a “duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of its passengers.†See, Hall vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Limited, 888 So. 2d 654 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004), 2004 A.M.C. 1913; citing Kermarec v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, 358 U.S. 625, 79 S. Ct. 406, 3 L. Ed. 2d 550 (1959); The Moses Taylor, 4 Wall. 411, 71 U.S. 411, 18 L. Ed. 397 (1866); Carlisle v. Ulysses Line Ltd., 475 So. 2d 248 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985).
The cruise lines also owe a “duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstancesâ€. See, Harnesk vs. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc, 1992 AMC 1472, 1991 WL 329584 (S. D. Fla. 1991). The cruise line’s “duty is to warn of dangers known to the carrier in places where the passenger is invited to, or may reasonably be expected to visit.†See, Carlisle vs. Ulysses Line Limited, S.A., 475 So. 2d 248 (Fla. 3d DCA 1985).  The cruise line has a duty to provide safe ingress and egress to and from the ship.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an incident aboard a cruise, ship or stemming from a cruise contact Perkins Law Offices at perkins@PerkinsLawOffices.com of call for a free confidential case review at 305 741-LAWS (5297).
