A Guide to Navigating a Cruise Ship Personal Injury Claim

 
Due to the unique nature of these situations, not everyone injured on a cruise ship knows how to navigate the personal injury claim process. The following information may prove helpful as you get started.

Steps to Take When You’re Injured On a Cruise Ship

Accessing medical care is, of course, the first action to take after being injured. However, after receiving treatment for your injuries, consider taking these additional steps:

1. Hire an Attorney

After being injured on a cruise ship, one of the first things you should do is start researching highly regarded national maritime & cruise ship accident attorneys. An experienced attorney can fight for your rights, negotiate on your behalf, and free up your time for you to focus on your recovery.

2. Report the Incident

When you’re in a position to do so, report the incident to cruise staff or security. Request an official written report of what happened and keep a copy for your records.

3. Document Everything

Should you decide to file a personal injury claim, you’ll need evidence to support your claim. Document everything, including photos and videos of the scene, your injuries, and any hazards present at the scene. If there were witnesses to your accident, obtain their names and contact information. Finally, don’t forget to save your cruise ship ticket as it contains important terms and conditions that may prove pivotal to your case.

How to Strengthen Your Cruise Ship Personal Injury Claim

You can go a long way toward strengthening your cruise ship personal injury claim by hiring an attorney and documenting everything that happened to you. However, there are additional actions you can take once you’re on dry land.

Keep a Personal Log

If you want to be adequately compensated for all costs relating to your cruise ship injury, keep meticulous records. Save all receipts and invoices for healthcare and associated costs you’ve had to cover, alongside travel costs to get to and from appointments. It’s also a good idea to write down the symptoms you have and the treatment you’ve received for them.

Don’t Discuss Your Case

You don’t have to keep your personal injury claim a secret, but refrain from talking about it to too many people. In particular, avoid writing about it online just in case anything you say can be used against you.

File Before the Deadline

It can take time to gather all the information and records you need to put together a strong case. However, don’t leave it too long to file your personal injury claim. Maritime law has strict statutes of limitation and you may be required to file within one to three years, depending on the area.