Cowen Edwards represents anyone that’s been hurt on a cruise line in Florida. When you walk aboard a cruise ship, whether it be Norwegian or any other cruise ship, you have certain legal protections. Our Florida cruise accident lawyers can help you explore your legal options if you get hurt. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more.
When Would You Need a Lawyer?
Norwegian is one of the most popular cruise lines in Florida for a reason. It offers a lot of different options for its passengers, from entertainment to food to activities. While this makes it a popular choice for a cruise, it also raises the possibility of accidents and injuries.
When it comes to needing a lawyer, this depends on your situation. If your injuries are minor, you probably don’t need to worry about legal action. However, the more injured you are, the more help you’ll need. Our team can be a huge help in this situation by:
- Investigating the accident
- Gathering important evidence
- Talking to witnesses
- Checking the ship’s policies and procedures for injuries
- Seeing if there has been previous incidents
Our goal is to make the legal process easier for you so you can focus on getting better. And you don’t have to pay anything upfront for our services—we work on a contingency-fee basis. Once you decide to take legal action, we’ll be there to guide you.
What’s the Claims Process After a Norwegian Cruise Accident?
Once you’ve been injured onboard a Norwegian cruise ship, it gives you the ability to file an injury claim. Typically, this involves either an insurance claim or a lawsuit so you can recover “damages.”
Both options follow similar processes, but differ in formality and timeline. An insurance claim is typically resolved out of court, offering faster access to a settlement, though it may not fully cover your losses. On the other hand, a lawsuit is more formal and time-consuming but provides a better opportunity to recover things like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income or earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property repair or replacement costs
- Loss of quality of life or companionship
- Wrongful death expenses if applicable
As with any claim, you have to file within Florida’s statute of limitations, which is two years from the date of the accident. Miss this deadline, and you won’t be able to even file your claim or recover damages.
Is Norwegian Responsible For Accidents on Their Cruise Ships?
While a cruise ship is certainly a unique setting, it fundamentally operates like any other business when it comes to the safety of you and other passengers. When you step onto a Norwegian cruise ship or take part in its activities, the company assumes responsibility for ensuring your safety and welfare.
In legal terms, this responsibility—or its failure—is termed “liability.” When Norwegian, or any other entity, neglects its duty to maintain your safety and as a result, you suffer injury in an accident, this amounts to “negligence.” This, in turn, makes the company responsible for covering your injuries and other losses.
But it depends on what happened, and so others might share some of the liability:
- Other passengers
- Equipment or product manufacturers
- Food handlers or staff
- Businesses on shore
- Port authorities or local governments
- Security personnel
While the ship’s crew and personnel shoulder this responsibility, according to Florida law, you may also bear some responsibility, a concept known as “comparative negligence.” This legal principle says that any portion of fault placed on you reduces your overall recovery of damages by the same percentage. That’s why it’s important to do what you can to protect your claim.
How Do You Protect Your Claim After a Norwegian Cruise Accident?
You obviously don’t want to get injured aboard your Norwegian cruise, yet because of the conditions and nature of things, this unfortunately can happen. While a cruise promises enjoyment and adventure, accidents can change things.
At that point, it becomes important to respond correctly to protect your health and potential claim by:
- Report the incident – Inform a crew member or individual in authority about the accident. Make sure they escalate it to their supervisor and any higher-ups to prompt appropriate action by the ship’s leadership. Also, you should call Norwegian’s customer service department to let the company know about the accident.
- Seek medical attention – Simultaneously, make sure that you get medical care. Norwegian cruise ships typically have medical facilities for this purpose. While minor injuries can be taken care of there, more severe ones may require further treatment at a hospital.
- Document the incident – Record all of the relevant details of the accident, including its time and location. If possible, take pictures or videos of any injuries, damages, and factors that led to the accident.
- Gather evidence – If thinking about filling a claim, you’ll have to start gathering supporting evidence. This may mean getting witness statements, videos, photographs, and other relevant documents. Additionally, keep this evidence and don’t repair any damaged property.
All of these steps are important to your claim, but what’s even more important is taking care of your health. So, prioritize your health and safety first, then everything else should take care of itself. It’s also helpful to be prepared for what can happen.
How Can You Get Hurt on a Norwegian Cruise?
Just because a Norwegian cruise is fun and exciting doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt. This is true even though they take you and other passengers’ safety very seriously, providing safety meetings and tutorials for what to do in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, though, accidents can still happen. Here’s a few of the most common ways you can get hurt on a cruise:
- Rough sea conditions – Unforeseeable weather might cause balance problems and injuries.
- Wet surfaces – Wet decks could result in slips and falls, particularly in areas near pools and dining spots.
- Lack of supervision – Participating in recreational activities and outings could pose hazards if supervision is lacking.
- Crew errors – Mistakes in maintenance or safety procedures by the crew might cause accidents.
- Lack of safety measures – Not having enough safety measures such as signage and handrails can increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Mechanical problems – Occasional equipment malfunctions may lead to accidents.
- Fire and electrical risks – Poor handling of fires and electrical systems can be unsafe.
- Alcohol-related problems – Excessive alcohol consumption can result in accidents and conflicts.
- Security concerns – Inadequate or negligent security measures might result in theft or safety issues.
- Foodborne illness – Improper food handling may lead to outbreaks of illnesses.
There’s any number of things that can happen to you when you go on any cruise, including one operated by Norwegian. Remember, you have legal rights, but your overall priority should be your health and safety. For all of your other needs, we’ll be there to help you.
Free Consultations For Florida Norwegian Cruise Accident Victims
You don’t book a Norwegian cruise expecting to deal with lifelong injuries or other damages. However, accidents have been known to happen on these ships. When they do, our team of Florida cruise accident lawyers at Cowen Edwards will be there to help you. We’ll explain the law and your options, then guide you through the process with a strong case. To get started, contact us today for a free consultation.
