Cruise Ship Fires: Who is Liable for Passenger Injuries?
The injuries passengers might sustain when fires break out on cruise ships, from displaced fractures to disfiguring burns, can be very expensive to treat, which makes determining liability for such injuries very important.
For passenger injuries sustained on board, the cruise ship company may be liable. The cruise can be liable for failing to prevent the fire, failure to warn passengers about the fire, and other breaches of the duty of care it owes passengers to keep them safe. You may only have one year to hold a cruise ship liable for injuries you sustained during an onboard fire, so don’t delay your compensation claim.
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (305) 204-5369 for a free case review from our cruise ship injury lawyers.
Who is Liable for Passenger Injuries from Cruise Ship Fires?
Passenger injuries from cruise ship fires range from fractures and contusions from falls to permanently disfiguring burn injuries. Any injury may be compensable, and passengers need to know who is ultimately liable for the damages they incur.
Most likely, the cruise ship is liable for the injuries you sustained during an onboard fire.
Cruise ship companies and vessel owners owe their passengers a duty of care. Part of that duty includes observing fire safety standards, providing working and accessible fire suppression equipment, training the crew on what to do in case of a fire, and immediately warning passengers if a fire breaks out. When failure to execute that duty of care causes a fire and injuries, the cruise ship is liable for those injuries.
The cruise can also be held liable for an individual crew member’s acts of negligence while working.
How to Hold Cruise Ships Liable for Passenger Injuries
Let us help you hold a cruise ship liable for the injuries you sustained during an onboard fire, and start building your case with our lawyers as soon as possible.
Document Your Injuries
Immediately document any injuries you sustain on a cruise ship. Whether you sustain serious burns because a large fire breaks out on the ship or suffer slip and fall injuries during a chaotic evacuation, seek the appropriate medical care. You can even photograph your injuries immediately after and as you heal.
Never delay treatment, as this can make it harder to prove exactly when, where, and how you were injured.
Stay Committed to Your Care
Stay committed to your physical recovery even after returning home from suffering injuries during a cruise ship fire. Attending all doctor appointments means you keep building medical evidence. Not only can we rely on your medical records, but we may also have doctors testify as medical experts to strengthen your case.
Burns and other serious injuries from fires can require several surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, and specialists’ attention.
Start Your Case Right Away
Don’t delay bringing a compensation claim for injuries sustained during a cruise ship fire. For maritime injury claims, there is an additional notice of claim requirement that doesn’t exist for general personal injury lawsuits. Passengers must send notice within six months of an injury, or they forfeit their right to compensation. Within another six months, victims must file their cruise ship injury lawsuits, as there is a one-year statute of limitations for maritime injury claims.
Know the Sum of Your Damages
To seek full liability for the injuries you sustained during a cruise ship fire, you must know the true value of your case. In addition to emergency and ongoing medical costs, you can be compensated for any missed wages if you can’t return to work and any related economic damages.
Non-economic damages can be just as great for victims of cruise ship fires. Scars from burns can be permanent and cause ongoing emotional distress. If you suffered painful or disfiguring injuries because of a cruise ship’s negligence, that could substantially increase the value of your claim.
FAQs About Liability for Cruise Ship Fires and Passenger Injuries
How Long Do Passengers Have to Hold Cruise Ships Liable for Fires?
For maritime injury claims, the statute of limitations is only one year. You may also be required to send notice of your case within six months of the incident. Failing to meet this additional requirement compromises your ability to file a lawsuit and obtain any compensation.
What Makes Cruise Ships Liable for Onboard Fires?
The cruise ship company is liable if its breach of duty caused a fire onboard that ultimately injured a passenger. It can also be liable for injuries resulting from a failure to warn passengers of a fire.
What Economic Damages Can Passengers Get After Cruise Ship Fires?
Passengers injured during cruise ship fires may sue for all economic damages. Medical damages may be the most consequential, as burn injuries can require lengthy treatment, reconstructive surgery, and physical therapy.
What Non-Economic Damages Can Passengers Get After Cruise Ship Fires?
Burn injuries also cause a high degree of pain and suffering, both physical and emotional. Maritime law doesn’t cap non-economic damages in injury claims, and our cruise ship injury lawyers can use that fact to get a big settlement on your behalf.
What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Liability for a Cruise Ship Fire?
Our lawyers may use the following as evidence to prove liability for a cruise ship fire and the injuries it caused you:
- Maintenance reports
- Notice of a fire hazard
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Medical records
Do You Need a Lawyer to Hold a Cruise Ship Liable for a Fire?
Maritime law is complex, so you should have an experienced maritime injury lawyer represent you in a compensation claim for a cruise ship fire. Without a lawyer, plaintiffs might not build cases strong enough to get good settlements or outcomes in court.
Get Compensation for Cruise Ship Accident Injuries
Call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (305) 204-5369 to a free case discussion with our Miami cruise ship injury lawyers.
