Los Angeles Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

Not only is the Los Angeles cruise terminal a significant hub for major cruise lines, the city’s residents also make up a fair portion of cruise passengers. Whether you were injured on a cruise departing from Los Angeles, or you’re a Los Angeles resident who was injured on a cruise elsewhere, understanding your legal rights to recover compensation will be essential.

When cruise ship accidents happen, passengers and crew members can be left with considerable medical expenses and lost wages. Through a maritime injury claim, you may be able to access compensation for these losses, with additional compensation available in some cases. Keep reading to learn more about how a Los Angeles cruise ship accident lawyer can help you hold cruise lines accountable for accidents.

Maritime Law and Cruise Line Negligence

While Los Angeles personal injury claims are typically handled under California law, cruise ship accidents can be far more complex. These cases are governed by a network of international and federal laws known as maritime or admiralty law. 

Maritime law makes cruise companies responsible for maintaining crew and passenger safety. When cruise line negligence leads to injuries, they may be held liable under maritime law. To prove that a cruise line acted negligently, injury victims must establish the following elements of liability:

• Duty of Care – The cruise line had a legal responsibility to prevent the accident.

• Breach of Duty – The cruise line failed to meet its legal responsibility to maintain safety.

• Causation – The cruise line’s failure caused your accident.
• Injury – Your accident resulted in actual damages, such as lost income.

While these protections may sound strong and reliable, the truth is that there are many tactics that cruise companies use to avoid paying out fairly for valid injury claims. Getting help from a capable cruise ship accident attorney is essential for navigating this complicated legal process.

Restrictions on Cruise Ship Injury Claims

Unfortunately, it can be incredibly difficult to force cruise ship companies to pay injury victims fair settlements. These companies are massive, with high-powered and aggressive legal teams putting up every possible hurdle between you and fair compensation. While injured cruise ship passengers should familiarize themselves with the restrictions put in place by ticket contracts, cruise ship employees with injury claims may be facing an array of tangled legal difficulties.

Passenger Ticket Contracts

Cruise ship passenger ticket contracts are enforced by most cruise lines, with the majority of cruise operators including the following limitations on passenger injury claims:

• Forum Selection Clause – Ticket contracts usually dictate where legal action against cruise lines can be filed, with most companies requiring lawsuits to be handled in Miami federal court.
• Deadlines – Cruise lines typically require written notice of injuries within six months. Lawsuits for cruise injuries usually must be filed within one year.
• Liability Waivers – Cruise lines regularly carve out exceptions to their liability, making it incredibly hard to access relief.

Keep in mind that, to pursue compensation for cruise ship injuries, passengers will have to prove that cruise line negligence caused their accident.

Crew Member Concerns

There are two sides to the coin when it comes to crew member claims: while crew members have some additional protections under maritime law, they also face unique issues with their injury cases.

When it comes to additional protections, the Jones Act allows crew members to seek compensation for non-financial damages when cruise line negligence was to blame for their accident. Under general maritime law, cruise employees can make claims for limited compensation whether or not negligence causes their injury.

However, these added protections don’t make it easier for crew to take legal action. Due to special considerations with crew member claims, these cases are even less likely to be successful. Cases may not be held in the same venues as passenger claims, with protections in those jurisdictions being reduced. This makes it especially important to get help from a cruise ship crew member injury lawyer.

Common Injuries on Cruise Ships

From the rocking of the waves to water spray on wet decks, there are a range of unique dangers that cruise ship passengers and crew members should be aware of. Some of the most common cruise ship injuries include:

• Slip and Falls – Slip and fall accidents are very common on cruise ships, with outcomes ranging from minor annoyance to catastrophic injuries and even death.
• Swimming Pool Accident – Swimming pools are prime areas for cruise ship accidents, particularly when proper safety precautions are not maintained.
• Assaults – Cruise operators are responsible for vetting ship passengers and maintaining order. Failures in security can lead to assaults and sexual assaults.
• Falls Overboard – While less common, falls overboard can be particularly deadly. Victims often strike parts of the ship as they fall and face the risk of hypothermia, shock, and drowning once they hit the water.
• Medical Malpractice – While cruise ship medical treatment is limited, medical standards are still maintained. Medical malpractice can lead to serious injuries.
• Shore Excursion – From car accidents to water skiing injuries, shore excursion accidents may be the fault of the cruise line or a contractor.
• Crew Injuries – Crew members are at greater risk of repetitive stress injuries, with unsafe and defective equipment also contributing to hazardous working environments.
• Wrongful Death – When deadly cruise accidents occur, surviving family members may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death case.

From popular cruise lines like Disney Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to smaller local fleets, cruise companies owe passengers and crew a safe travel experience. If you suffered a cruise ship accident, you can get in touch with Louis A. Vucci P.A. to learn about your legal options.

What Compensation Is Available for Cruise Ship Injury Victims

The financial relief available through cruise injury claims can vary from that provided through personal injury cases. In most cases, compensation will be limited to economic damages, with non-economic damages only being available in specific circumstances. Types of losses covered under these categories include:

Economic Damages

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Future medical care costs
• Property damage
• Reduced earning power
• Lost financial support, funeral costs, and burial expenses in wrongful death cases

Non-Economic Damages

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma and mental anguish
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Reduced quality of life
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Lost emotional support in wrongful death claims

About the Port of Los Angeles Cruise Terminal

The Port of Los Angeles is actually located in San Pedro, California, about a 30-minute drive from the LA city center. The terminal is managed by Ports America, with cruise partners including:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruise Line
• Costa Cruise Line
• Crystal Cruises Line
• Disney Cruise Line
• Princess Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean Line

In addition to the Los Angeles cruise terminal, other major cruise line hubs in California include the Port of San Fansisco, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of San Diego. If you were injured on a California cruise ship, don’t hesitate to get legal assistance from our California cruise accident lawyer.

Which Cruise Lines Require Cases to Be Filed in Los Angeles?

While most cruise companies require maritime claims to be filed in Miami, Florida, there are a few major operators that specify Los Angeles as the venue for legal action. Specifically, both Princess Cruises and Cunard Line ticket contracts include the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles as the selected forum.

What this means is that, if you were injured on a cruise vessel operated by one of those companies, you will need services from an attorney licensed and experienced in California maritime cases. Here at Louis A. Vucci P.A., our Los Angeles cruise ship lawyer has the expertise and qualifications you need to secure compensation for cruise ship injuries in California.

Get Help From a Los Angeles Maritime Lawyer You Can Count On

To access maximum compensation for your cruise injury, there are many important steps you will need to take. From seeking immediate medical attention to gathering evidence, there are countless boxes to check off, with one of the most important being choosing an experienced attorney. Selecting the best law firm for your specific needs can have a big impact on the outcome of your case.

The team at Louis A. Vucci P.A. is committed to going above and beyond for cruise injury victims, pursuing every available avenue to access a fair settlement. We have a proven track record of standing up against cruise lines, with extensive experience in maritime cases. When you need a Los Angeles cruise ship accident lawyer you can count on to protect your legal rights to compensation, get in touch with the law office of Louis A. Vucci P.A. for guidance.