Do Cruise Lines Cover Medical Bills for Injured Crew Members?
Crew members and other employees working on cruise ships are often at sea for weeks on end, and injuries and accidents sometimes occur. If you are injured while working on a cruise ship, the cruise line may be responsible for covering your medical bills. You should speak to an attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve.
When sailing is rough or the cruise line fails to make sure the vessel is safe for employees and passengers, accidents may happen. Under maritime common law, the vessel’s owner, usually the cruise line, is responsible for providing “maintenance and cure.” These include the costs of your medical treatment and possible future medical costs, depending on your injuries.
For a free, confidential case assessment, call our lawyers for injured cruise ship crew members at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind (305) 204-5369.
Will a Cruise Line Cover Medical Costs for Injured Crew Members?
If you work as a crew member on a cruise ship and become injured on the job, the cruise line may be required to cover your medical costs. If the cruise line refuses to pay for anything, contact a maritime lawyer for help.
Maintenance and Cure
Under maritime common law, the owner of a vessel is required to provide for the “maintenance and cure” of crew members and employees aboard the vessel. Maintenance refers to a crew member’s daily living needs, including food and lodging. Cure refers to treatment for injuries.
Additionally, maintenance and cure must be provided on a no-fault basis. This means that even if you are responsible for your injuries while working aboard a cruise ship, the cruise line may still be required to pay for your medical bills.
Future Medical Costs
Depending on your injuries, you may need medical care for quite some time. In cases of severe injuries, injured crew members may be facing months or even years of treatment, and they may be unable to work while they recover. In such cases, cruise lines may be required to pay for your future medical costs, as long as they relate to your cruise ship injuries.
How Can Injured Cruise Line Employees Sue for Compensation?
If the cruise line refuses to cover your medical bills after an injury, speak to an attorney as soon as possible. You may be able to sue for damages, but not under ordinary state laws.
The Jones Act
Many accidents at sea, including accidents and injuries aboard cruise ships, are covered by maritime rather than ordinary state law. As such, if you need to sue the cruise line for damages, you must do so under maritime law. More specifically, the Jones Act allows injured crew members to sue the owners of ships and vessels for their injuries, including medical costs.
Gather Evidence
To begin your case, you need evidence. Our lawyers for injured cruise ship crew members must gather evidence of the accident, including witness testimony, security camera footage, photos of the accident scene, and anything else that might be helpful. We also need evidence of your injuries and treatment costs, which may come from your medical records.
Evaluate Your Damages
Next, we need to evaluate your damages to determine what kind of compensation to claim in your lawsuit. Is your medical treatment complete, or do you expect future medical costs? Did you lose anything else in the accident, like personal belongings? Can you work, or are you unable to work because of your injuries? Knowing the answer to these questions will help us claim the compensation you deserve.
How Cruise Ship Crew Members Might Become Injured
Crew members on cruise ships may be injured in various ways. How you were injured is crucial to your case, and you should discuss it with your lawyer.
Rough Water
Cruise ships sometimes encounter rough seas or bad weather that make conditions on board somewhat dangerous. Crew members may find it harder to maintain their balance while working. They might encounter rain or high winds if they are working on the deck. Anything could go wrong, and crew members are often injured this way.
Illness
Another common hazard of working on a cruise ship is illness. Crew members and passengers are often in close quarters, and illness may spread quickly across a ship. Food poisoning is also common, as cruise ships must have all the food they need for a trip when they leave port. Sometimes food spoils and is mistakenly served to crew members, resulting in serious illness.
Falling Accidents
Unfortunately, falling accidents are not unheard of. Crew members sometimes fall over deck bannisters and land on lower levels, or they fall completely overboard. Both situations are incredibly dangerous, and you may need urgent medical care.
FAQs About Cruise Lines and Medical Expenses for Injured Crew Members
Will a Cruise Line Pay for an Injured Crew Member’s Medical Bills?
Possibly. When crew members are injured in accidents, cruise lines are generally responsible for covering medical costs. Under maritime common law, vessel owners must provide “maintenance and cure.” Maintenance covers daily living needs, while cure covers medical costs for injuries.
What if the Cruise Line Refuses to Pay for My Medical Bills After an Accident?
If the cruise line refuses to cover your medical costs, you may sue them for personal injuries, including medical bills. This may come up if the cruise line outright refuses to pay for any damages or refuses to cover the full extent of your medical bills.
How Can an Injured Crew Member Sue a Cruise Line for Their Injuries?
Since many cruise accidents fall under maritime law, you must sue under the Jones Act, not ordinary state law. This law applies specifically to crew members working on ships and vessels and allows them to take legal action against a vessel’s owners for injuries.
How Are Crew Members Often Injured on Cruise Ships?
Cruise ship accidents may include serious disasters, like collisions or even sinking accidents. However, these tend to be unusual. More common accidents include slip and falls, illnesses, and injuries caused by rowdy passengers.
What Do I Need to Prove My Claims in a Lawsuit Against a Cruise Line?
To prove your claims against the cruise line, you need evidence of the accident. This may include security camera footage, witness testimony, and medical records related to your treatment.
When Should I Contact a Lawyer About a Cruise Ship Accident?
You should call a lawyer for help as soon as possible. Even if you are still on the cruise ship, waiting to reach a port so you can return home and recover, you should try to contact an attorney for help. The sooner you call a lawyer, the more they may be able to do for your case.
Contact Our Attorneys for Injured Cruise Ship Crew Members Today
For a free, confidential case assessment, call our lawyers for injured cruise ship crew members at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind (305) 204-5369.
