Did you or a loved one sustain injuries while aboard a cruise ship off the coast of San Diego, CA? You may be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced San Diego cruise ship accident lawyer at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have been committed to fighting for accident victims since we were founded back in 2010. In that time, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of injured clients like you.
Your case may involve complex state, federal, and maritime laws. You can get the legal advice you deserve by calling our law offices in San Diego, California, for a free consultation at 619) 777-5555.
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How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Cruise Ship Accident in San Diego, CA
You didn’t expect to get hurt on vacation. Unfortunately, there are many different ways to get injured aboard a cruise ship. While you may be entitled to compensation, you should expect the cruise ship to fight back. They might deny liability or even blame you for the accident.
Our San Diego injury lawyers can help. At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped countless clients recover the fair compensation they deserve over the years. In fact, we have over 43 years of experience fighting to protect accident victims’ rights.
When you hire us, you’ll have a legal team to:
- Determine the cause of your accident
- Identify all responsible parties
- Hire experts and specialists to strengthen your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance company to maximize your settlement award
- Fight for you in court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair deal
Our San Diego personal injury attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and Best of the Bar. We’d be happy to put our skills and experience to work for you. To get started, call to schedule a free consultation today.
How Common Are Cruise Ship Accidents?
About 450 major cruise ship accidents have been reported since 2005. While that may seem like a small number, not all cruise ship accidents are disastrous sinkings or groundings. A cruise ship is essentially a floating city, and there are countless ways to get hurt.
Over a three-year period, one study found that about 663 cruise ship injuries were reported to major cruise lines like Carnival, Norwegian, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean. Slips, trips, and falls caused about 45% of all injuries aboard the ships. About 31% of all injuries happened while the cruise ship passengers were on shore excursions.
Sexual assault and violence are also prevalent on cruise ships in the United States. According to some reports, 35 sexual assaults were reported aboard cruise ships in a single three-month period.
What Is My San Diego Cruise Ship Accident Case Worth?
The value of your boat accident case depends heavily on the severity of your injuries. However, many factors can be relevant in putting a dollar value on your personal injury claim.
Some of those factors include:
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Whether the injury impacts your work, education, or lifestyle
- Your pain and suffering
- The strength of your negligence case
Our lawyers often work with experts who can help us assess your case value.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Cruise Ship Accident Victims?
Compensatory damages are grouped into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
You’re entitled to reimbursement for all past and future expenses associated with the accident, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost future earning potential
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You’re also entitled to compensation for the suffering and inconvenience caused by the injury.
Examples of these non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may be available if the accident was caused by gross negligence or if the defendant’s actions were intentional.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Cruise Ship Accident in California?
Probably. California follows a pure comparative negligence law. That means every party to an accident can be held liable for their proportionate share of fault – victims included. So, if you were 20% responsible for causing your own injuries, you’re only entitled to recover 80% of your settlement or verdict.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Cruise Ship Accident Injuries
Cruise ships can be dangerous if the cruise line doesn’t take steps to keep passengers and crew safe.
Our lawyers are here to help you fight for fair compensation for all of your injuries, including:
- Sprains, strains, and soft tissue damage
- Cuts and puncture wounds
- Nerve damage
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Crushing injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If your relaxing vacation has left you struggling with painful injuries, don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice today. We’ll evaluate your case for free, so there’s no risk in learning more.
What Causes Most Cruise Ship Accidents in San Diego, California?
Most injuries reported on cruise ships are caused by slip and fall accidents. Like any other property owner, cruise ship owners have a duty to maintain the ship in a reasonably safe condition.
Slips, trips, and falls often happen because of:
- Slick surfaces and puddles
- Inadequate lighting in hallways and staircases
- Missing or damaged guardrails or handrails
- Damaged staircases
- Missing floor mats
- Loose carpets or rugs
- Loose electrical cables and wires
- Debris and other obstacles in walkways
- Uneven surfaces
- Failure to install adequate warning signs
While slip and falls are the leading cause of cruise ship accidents, there are many different ways to get hurt on board.
At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of cruise ship accident cases, including those involving:
- Food poisoning
- Assault and sexual assault
- Negligent security
- Bed bugs
- Swimming pool accidents and drownings
- Medical malpractice while visiting the cruise ship’s infirmary
- Fires and explosions
- Recreational accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Unsanitary conditions and virus transmission
- Car accidents that occur on onshore excursions
- Equipment malfunctions
- Falls overboard
- Running aground
- Collisions with other objects or vessels
- Failure to properly train and supervise ship crew members
The cruise line may be financially responsible for your injuries. If you were hurt, call our experienced lawyers in San Diego today. We’re here to help you find out what caused your accident and whether you’re entitled to compensation.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Cruise Ship Accident in California?
Accidents involving cruise ships can be complicated. It’s possible that state, federal, and even maritime laws may impact the outcome. If you were injured as a crew member, the Jones Act may impact your case. Still, most cruise ship accidents happen because someone was negligent.
To recover damages, you’ll have to prove:
- Someone owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of that duty caused your accident
- You were injured or sustained damages
A cruise line is a business like any other. Under California premises liability laws, business owners have a legal duty to make sure their premises are reasonably safe for passengers and crew members.
The scope of that duty includes a responsibility to:
- Fix any known hazards aboard the vessel
- Provide adequate warnings about unsafe conditions that can’t be fixed immediately
- Conduct regular inspections to identify hazardous conditions
- Provide adequate security to prevent reasonably foreseeable criminal activity
- Maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition
Cruise ships aren’t liable for every injury that happens onboard. They’re only liable when they’re negligent; it’s not always easy to prove negligence.
Our San Diego cruise ship accident attorneys at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help. We’ll interview witnesses, locate surveillance videos and do everything we can to locate the strong evidence you need to prove your case. We’re ready to get started today, so call our law firm to schedule your free case evaluation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Cruise Ship Accident in California?
The statute of limitations in California gives most accident victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, that deadline only applies if the accident happened in the state of California. Different deadlines will apply if the accident happens on the open sea.
Most major cruise lines impose their own deadline. You accept the cruise line’s terms and conditions when you board the ship. For example, if you’re injured aboard a Princess cruise ship, you only have six months to notify the cruise line about your injuries and one year to file a lawsuit for damages.
Contact a San Diego Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You boarded the cruise ship expecting to have a good time and ended up injured. If the accident was someone else’s fault, you deserve to be compensated. A San Diego cruise ship accident lawyer at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and options. Just call to schedule your free consultation today.
Our personal injury law firm in San Diego, CA also provides:
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- Boating Accident Lawyers in San Diego, CA
- Burn Injury Attorney in San Diego, California
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Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in San Diego, CA
Mission Personal Injury Lawyers
2515 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA (92108)
(619) 777-5555
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