Cruise Ship Assault & Injury Lawyers
Cruise ships are meant to be places of relaxation and fun, not the location of your worst nightmare. Should you be assaulted while on a cruise ship, our lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve.
Unfortunately, passengers of cruise ships are vulnerable to various crimes and other activities, including assaults. This past year, there were over 100 reported sexual assaults on cruises that embarked or disembarked in the United States. There were also several instances of physical assaults reported. These incidents might cause various injuries, such as broken bones, head injuries, and more. Victims of assaults might experience emotional distress and mental anguish, entitling them to non-economic damages. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you might be able to sue the individual assailant and the cruise line itself for compensation. To help you do this, our lawyers will bring your claim within the statute of limitations and aim to gather evidence that proves liability for your damages.
For a free evaluation of your case from the cruise ship assault and injury lawyers of Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A., call us now at (305) 204-5369.
Recent Cruise Ship Assault and Injury Statistics
Passengers of cruise ships are vulnerable to injury, whether due to negligent or intentional wrongful acts. Regarding serious injuries due to assault, cruise ships are required to report such information to law enforcement.
Any ship that docks in the U.S. must report certain accidents and injuries to the FBI under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). According to information published by the Department of Transportation, there were 131 sexual assaults on cruise ships in 2023. During that same year, there were 22 assaults with serious bodily injury reported on cruises, many of which were committed by passengers and not crew members. That does not mean, however, that crew members do not sexually or physically assault passengers. Cruise ship companies that do not adequately background check employees or take reports of sexual assaults committed by employees seriously might be liable for damages incurred by victims.
Assaults might include physical altercations between passengers or crew members, as well as unwanted and violent sexual advances, like rape. Do not reduce the significance of your experience by believing that your recent assault on board does not need to be reported to the cruise ship.
Despite being required to report accidents and injuries to the FBI under the CVSSA, not all cruise ship companies do this. This could mean that assaults of various kinds happen more frequently on cruise ships than the public believes.
Common Injuries Caused by Assaults on Cruise Ships
Assaults often cause serious injuries to victims. The added danger cruise ships present might increase the likelihood of victims sustaining life-altering injuries during assaults.
Physical assaults might lead to broken bones, contusions, internal injuries, head injuries, and more. If a victim is pushed overboard, they might be even more seriously injured and could possibly drown. Injuries caused by an assault might require medical attention and care, which are costs that are compensable in a lawsuit.
Sexual assaults can leave physical and emotional injuries behind. While victims may need treatment for physical injuries sustained during an assault, they might also require help from mental health professionals to work through the mental anguish they have experienced from being violated. In all likelihood, you can recover compensation for such non-economic damages caused by a sexual assault, even if your physical injuries are not necessarily severe.
Liability for Cruise Ship Assaults and Injuries
Because cruise ship companies owe duties of care to their passengers, they might be liable for damages caused by physical and sexual assaults.
If a crew member assaulted you, their employer, the cruise ship, could be held responsible because of vicarious liability. This might also be the case if another passenger assaulted you because the cruise ship company failed to provide adequate safety measures. For example, under the CVSSA, cruise ships must maintain surveillance systems to deter assaults and other acts. Overserving a passenger’s alcohol might also make a crew member and cruise ship liable for damages caused by an assault.
Of course, the individual person who assaulted you can also be sued for damages. Our attorneys will identify all parties whose negligent or intentional wrongful act contributed to your recent assault on a cruise ship. Suing the cruise ship company might enable you to recover greater damages, such as punitive damages.
Filing a Cruise Ship Assault and Injury Lawsuit
Victims of intentional assaults deserve compensation, just as victims of negligence do. To get the damages you are entitled to, you must file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations for your case.
This can vary on a case-by-case basis. Because many cruise ships leave from Florida, that tends to be the jurisdiction for many injury cases involving cruise ships. In that case, Florida’s statute of limitations might apply to you, meaning you would have two years to file your lawsuit.
Before filing your complaint with the court, our cruise ship assault and injury lawyers will gather evidence that is capable of proving that it is more likely than not that the defendant is liable for your damages. Depending on the available evidence in your case, that might include photos, security camera footage, eyewitness statements, incident reports, and your medical records.
In your complaint, we will provide the necessary information regarding the circumstances of the assault, the parties involved, and your desired compensation. You may have to request punitive damages in your claim petition to recover them. If your case goes to court, the jury will award damages based on the evidence we can provide. Because of this, we will keep and organize all documents and records relating to your financial and emotional losses.
Call Our Injury Lawyers About an Assault on a Cruise Ship
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (305) 204-5369 to have our cruise ship assault and injury lawyers review your case for free.
