Queens Cruise Liability Lawyers

Representation for Injured Cruise Line Passengers

A cruise vacation that ends in injury, illness, or loss is not something any passenger should have to simply accept. After all, cruise lines have a legal duty under the law, including federal maritime law, to exercise reasonable care for the safety of everyone on board. When that duty is breached, injured passengers have the right to pursue compensation for what they have been put through.

At the Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C., we help clients in Queens understand their options after being hurt while on a cruise. The unique legal landscape of cruise liability claims can create many complications, so you should only get started with us by your side. Even if your case ends up in litigation against a cruise line corporation, we’ll be ready to stand up for you.

Let’s talk about starting an injury claim against a cruise liner or cruise ship company. Call our Queens cruise liability attorneys at (718) 340-3385 for a free consultation.

Taking On Cruise Lines with the Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C.

Cruise lines are large, well-funded corporations backed by experienced insurance companies and legal teams whose goal is to minimize what injured passengers recover, if anything at all. They count on those passengers being unfamiliar with maritime law and intimidated by the process of going up against a major corporation, too. But we’re not intimidated, and that’s why you should trust your case with us.

Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C. is known for:

• Recovering more than $30 million for injured clients throughout New York
• Having more than 15 years of courtroom experience from Attorney Seni Popat alone
• Utilizing a full in-house team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff dedicated to your case
• Offering 24/7 availability by phone, text, or video – you even get Attorney Popat’s personal cell number!

Many cruise lines include forum selection clauses in their passenger ticket contracts that require any lawsuit to be filed in a specific federal court, often in Florida or another state where the cruise line is headquartered. If such a forum selection applies to your case, we can work with trusted counsel in the relevant state, so you still benefit from our experience, insight, and resources.

When a Cruise Line May Be Liable

A cruise line's duty of care extends throughout the passenger experience, from embarkation to disembarkation, and at every point in between. When that duty is neglected, and a passenger suffers as a result, the cruise line and any associated parties may be held liable through legal action.

Situations that commonly give rise to a cruise liability claim include:

• Slip and fall accidents caused by wet decks, slippery surfaces, or poorly maintained areas of the vessel.
• Food poisoning or illness outbreaks resulting from unsafe food handling or unsanitary onboard conditions.
• Assaults or sexual assaults due to inadequate or negligent security.
• Medical negligence by shipboard medical staff who fail to diagnose or properly treat a passenger's condition.
• Injuries caused by defective equipment, unsafe facilities, or hazardous conditions on the ship.
• Accidents during boarding or disembarkation, including gangway and tender boat incidents.

If you were harmed in any of these situations, or in another incident connected to the cruise line's negligence, contact our office to discuss whether you have a viable claim.

Shore Excursion Injury Claims

Injuries that occur during shore excursions present a distinct and often complicated area of cruise liability. When a passenger is hurt during a port activity, the question of who can be held liable depends heavily on the details, particularly how the excursion was booked and who operated it.

When an excursion is sold, marketed, or endorsed by the cruise line, there is a meaningful basis for holding the cruise line responsible for injuries that occur during it, even if a third-party operator ran the activity itself. When an excursion is booked independently, the liability picture shifts a bit, but that does not mean there are no options for the injured passenger. The third-party operator, a property owner, equipment manufacturer, or another negligent party may still be accountable for your injuries, and investigation could even eventually point some liability back to the cruise line. For situations this complicated, start by putting our attorneys in charge of figuring out the who, what, when, and why questions of liability.

Rules That May Apply to Cruise Liability Cases

Unlike a standard personal injury claim, cruise liability cases are typically governed by federal maritime law, which brings rules that are stricter and more time-sensitive than most people realize.

Two particularly important cruise liability-related rules are:

1. Notice of claim deadline: Most cruise ticket contracts require passengers to formally notify the cruise line of an intent to bring a claim within a very short window, sometimes as little as six months from the date of the incident.
2. Shortened statute of limitations: Cruise lines typically impose a one-year filing deadline for lawsuits, which is significantly shorter than New York's standard three-year window for personal injury claims.

Missing either of these deadlines can permanently eliminate or terribly complicate your right to pursue compensation, regardless of how strong your case might be. These compressed timelines make it all the more important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible after a cruise-related injury. The sooner we hear from you, the more time we have to look into your situation and prepare a claim.

What You May Be Able to Recover

A successful cruise liability claim may allow you to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses, including emergency care received onboard or after returning home
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work
• Pain and suffering for the physical and emotional impact of the incident
• Out-of-pocket losses connected to the incident, including trip-related costs

The damages available in your case will depend on its specific facts and the full scope of your losses. We review every claim carefully, so we can pursue every dime and dollar in your name.

Speak With a Queens Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one was injured or harmed on a cruise ship, the window to act may be shorter than you think. The Law Office of Seni Popat, P.C. is available 24/7 by phone, text, or video, and we are ready to help you understand your rights under maritime law and take action against the parties responsible.

Call us at (718) 340-3385 for a free consultation. We have offices throughout New York for your convenience.