Yes. Cruise ship companies are liable for what happens to guests aboard their ships. They can be legally responsible for allowing victims to be physically or sexually assaulted. Victims can seek financial support to help with recovery.
Cruise ship businesses may be responsible for what happened aboard a cruise ship, but they can also afford corporate lawyers who are trained to limit what victims receive. They may act to try to shield the cruise line from all blame. This is why a skilled Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship sexual assault lawyer can be of great benefit to victims. It’s a protection for the case, and it may be the best way to make sure victims receive every benefit available.
Sexual Assault Injury Cases Aboard Cruises
Cruises are supposed to provide fun and safe trips in the sun and on the water. The keyword is “safe,” and sometimes cruise lines let this detail slip in the pursuit of profits.
Passengers can end up the victims of assault when cruise lines don’t focus on safety. They may cut corners to boost profits, or fail on background checks, letting someone underqualified or even with a criminal record on board.
These and other mistakes can leave cruise companies fully responsible for sexual assault incidents at sea.
- Inadequate security
- Malfunctioning door locks and security cameras
- The hiring of employees with questionable pasts
- Allowing guests on board with questionable pasts
- A failure to monitor bars for signs of someone trying to spike drinks
- Failure to monitor drunk passengers
- Allowing passengers to unknowingly enter unsafe places while at ports of call
The victims of sexual assault and rape on cruise ships should never have to face the consequences alone. The physical and emotional scars will be difficult to face. Yet, victims can also be confronted by financial difficulties, trying to pay for medical bills and counseling fees. They may also be unable to return to work and find they’ve lost several paychecks.
A lawyer can offer compassionate representation and take on cruise lines while giving victims further time to focus on healing. A lawyer can also often secure much more in compensation than victims can secure by filing a claim themselves.
When Can I File a Sexual Assault Lawsuit?
A sexual assault personal injury lawsuit can be filed at any time as long as the victim is ready. This is a civil claim and doesn’t depend on the results of a criminal trial. A lawsuit can be filed, even if a suspect hasn’t been in court yet. You can file a civil lawsuit even if a suspect is never identified.
The claim is directed at the cruise line for its negligence in keeping you safe. Your lawyer would seek justice on your behalf. In many cases, the cruise line would offer a settlement. This settlement check would need to cover your medical costs and counseling fees for as long as necessary. Your physical pain and emotional trauma should also be factored in.
If the offer covered these things to your satisfaction, you would accept it, and a trial wouldn’t be necessary. If the check wouldn’t be enough for what you’ve been through, your lawyer will have a case backed with evidence at the ready to take the cruise line before a judge and jury. At any point before the trial, a settlement can be reached. Large corporations often work harder on a fair settlement to avoid the cost of going to court and the bad publicity for their business.
Dedicated Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Sexual Assault Lawyers
At Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers, we go to work to earn justice for clients while causing as little disruption to victims and their families as possible. We want to make sure the victims of a criminal act have everything they require to begin to recover physically, emotionally, and financially.
We offer a free and confidential consultation to anyone who’s been assaulted while on a cruise out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale or any other port in Florida.
