Several cruise ships operated by major operators dock in the Port of Galveston and other areas near Pasadena and the Houston metro area, traveling from Texas to ports in Florida, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, not every traveler on board these massive vessels will have a completely safe and carefree tip, and injuries stemming from the negligence of cruise ship employees, operators, and owners are actually more common than many people might expect.
On top of that, getting paid fairly for injuries you sustained aboard a cruise ship can be a uniquely complicated process, since, as a seasoned maritime injury attorney can explain, the laws of multiple states and countries may play a role in a single case. Put simply, this is not a situation you want to try handling without assistance from a skilled Pasadena cruise ship accident lawyer who knows how to pursue claims like yours.
Modern cruise ships are worth hundred of millions of dollars and generate billions of dollars in yearly revenue for corporations, and that means those corporations have plenty of money to dedicate towards contesting personal injury claims filed against them.
Even someone who has clear grounds to file suit under premises liability law—for example, because they slipped and fell on an unmarked spill in a public area while on board—may find themselves blocked by a waiver they signed which seemingly absolves the cruise ship of any liability for the accident. There are also confusing notice requirements, shorter filing periods, and other rules designed to keep people from enforcing their legal rights.
In some situations, there may even be questions about which state has jurisdiction over a claim: where the ship departed from and returned to during the trip, the port where the ship is registered, or even a mix of federal laws designed to govern accidents in international waters. Put simply, these are uniquely complex cases and working closely with a Pasadena cruise ship accident attorney will be vital in taking legal action over an accident.
Regardless of the issues mentioned above, a comprehensive lawsuit against a cruise ship company can seek restitution for both economic and non-economic consequences of an injury. Importantly, it is possible to include both past and future forms of harm in a claim like this, including:
If applicable, a cruise ship accident lawyer in Pasadena could help family members of someone who suffered a wrongful death aboard a cruise ship seek restitution for their own losses.
You deserve to be protected from avoidable accidents and injuries whenever you set foot on someone else’s property, including boats and ships. In practice, though, lawsuits over injuries that happen on cruise ships are immensely complicated under the best of circumstances. Unrepresented plaintiffs will have very little chance of convincing a multi-billion-dollar cruise ship operator to pay the compensation they deserve.
Fortunately, you have assistance available from a Pasadena cruise ship accident lawyer from the team at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris. Call today to learn more and schedule a free consultation.
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