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Whether you or a family member had a slip and fall while onboard, suffered food poisoning, or are injured during a shore excursion, you may have grounds for a lawsuit if you were injured on a cruise ship. A Virginia Beach cruise ship accident lawyer could help you determine whether you have a viable claim and represent your interests.

When you have an injury claim concerning a large cruise line, you likely to be dealing with an insurance company that will aggressively fight back to avoid paying your claim. While you are struggling to recover from your injuries, you may be overwhelmed and unable to deal with insurance adjustors. Access to proof may have sailed away with the ship. Fortunately, an experienced injury lawyer from Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers could handle a claim on your behalf and work toward a favorable resolution.

Cruise Ship Injuries to People from Virginia Beach

Folks in the Resort City regularly travel on cruises for fun, whether launching from Norfolk, VA or Miami, FL. Various accidents involving cruise ships can occur. For instance, mechanical problems with a ship can result in grounding, colliding with another vessel or stationary object, or sinking. Mechanical issues also may lead to fires and power loss on the ship.

Another example of a cruise ship accident is a slip and fall that occurs on the ship’s deck, gangplank, or other floorings. Slippery floors with no warning signs for guests and unaddressed spills both can result in liability for the cruise lines, if someone suffers injuries as a result of a slip and fall.

Other common cruise ship accidents that may indicate negligence are food poisoning, sewage system failure, contagious illness outbreaks, and drowning in onboard pools. Regardless of the circumstances, if the negligence of a cruise line leads to injuries, you may have a claim for damages. If you are in this position, you should consult a cruise ship accident lawyer in Virginia Beach for advice.

Understanding Negligence

Cruise lines must provide premises that are safe for their guests, much like hotel owners, restaurants, and other business owners. When they fail to maintain their ships in a reasonably safe manner, a cruise line can be liable if a dangerous condition results in injuries. If you can establish that the negligence of the cruise lines caused your injuries, you may have a valid personal injury action.

Negligence is the reasonable duty of care that individuals and businesses owe others to keep them safe from harm. When the behavior of cruise lines or their employees falls below this standard, civil liability may result if someone is injured. A cruise ship accident attorney in Virginia Beach could help develop the evidence to support a claim based on negligence.

For example, a guest or employee spills a drink on the deck, causing it to become wet and slippery. In this situation, the cruise line employees typically should find the spill and clean it up in a timely fashion. If significant time passes and the spill remains without warning signs, the cruise line might be negligent if a guest falls on the wet deck and sustains injuries.

Talk to a Virginia Beach Cruise Ship Accident Attorney

When an accident resulting in injuries happens on a cruise ship that is out to sea, maritime or admiralty law may apply, as opposed to the regular state law. The deadlines within which to bring a case are often quite short, like one year from the event. These cases can be complicated and require experienced legal representation. As a result, you should get the advice of a Virginia Beach cruise ship accident lawyer right away. Call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with our experienced attorneys.

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