Port of Juneau/Alaskan Cruise Ship Accidents and Injury Lawyer

Alaska is a popular choice for people hoping to take a cruise, especially in the Alaska cruise season from May to September. Popular cruise destinations include Glacier Bay National Park, the Northwest Passage, the Alaskan Arctic, and the Inside Passage. Ports of call include the capital city of Juneau and the Port of Skagway, with its Gold Rush history.

A cruise is a great way to spend some vacation time, especially considering the range of delicious food and top-notch entertainment available on board, as well as the ability to explore so many fascinating places from one comfortable home base. However, the fun of going on a cruise can be ruined if you get hurt in an accident. When your injury was caused by the vessel owners’ negligence, it’s time to contact a cruise ship accident lawyer who can help you pursue compensation.

Louis A. Vucci P.A. is a cruise ship accident lawyer in Alaska with a long history of taking on cruise lines and winning compensation. We handle both passenger and crew member claims for personal injury and wrongful death. We proudly represent injured seamen and maritime workers filing suit against their employers under the Jones Act.

For a free initial consultation with a maritime injury lawyer in Alaska, contact Louis A. Vucci P.A. today at (555) 555-5555.

Navigating Cruise Ship Personal Injury Claims in Alaska

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury on a cruise departing from Alaska, it’s critical to know your rights and the steps to protect yourself. Louis A. Vucci P.A. specializes in representing injured cruise ship passengers and crew members, helping them understand maritime law and seek the compensation they deserve.

What Injured Alaska Cruise Ship Passengers and Crew Members Need to Know

If you’ve been injured on a cruise departing from Alaska, it’s important to understand your rights and the steps you need to take to protect yourself. Here are the key things you need to know:

1) Your Cruise Ticket: The Fine Print Matters

When you receive your cruise ticket, be sure to review the fine print carefully. The ticket outlines important legal details, including a one-year deadline for filing injury claims against the cruise line. Missing this deadline can prevent you from seeking compensation, so understanding these terms is critical. Cruisecritic’s article on cruise ticket fine print mentions several items you are likely to see, including:

• Port fees may change after you have paid for the cruise, and you will be charged for the difference.

• If you disembark at the wrong port, you may be charged a penalty.

• There are rules limiting what you can carry in your checked bags.

• There are limits on the cruise line’s liability.

• You may not be able to travel with an infant under six months or after the 24^th week of pregnancy.

Some of the rules listed in the fine print can affect your rights in a personal injury lawsuit. However, the Passenger Bill of Rights adopted by the Cruise Lines International Association does entitle you to certain rights on a cruise, including:

• The right to a full-time professional emergency medical team on board

• The right to a crew with emergency and evacuation training

• The right to an emergency power source on the cruise ship

You should always confirm that your cruise line is bound by the CLIA’s Passenger Bill of Rights.

2) Timing Is Critical

Acting quickly after an injury is essential. Report the incident immediately, seek medical care—whether onboard or after disembarking—and consult a lawyer as soon as possible. Prompt action helps meet legal deadlines and that evidence, like medical records and witness statements, is preserved for your case. You must remember two things after an accident on a cruise ship: document everything and keep it all for your lawyer. Take photographs of your injuries and of the spot where the accident happened. Request an incident report from the crew. Request copies of your medical reports. A cruise ship injury lawyer will find all this information helpful when preparing your case.

3) Legal Jurisdiction: Not Always U.S. Laws

Although your cruise departs from Alaska, the ship’s registration may dictate that foreign laws apply. Most cruise ships are registered in countries like the Bahamas or Panama, which means legal issues might be governed by those nations’ laws. Understanding which laws apply to your case can be difficult, but a knowledgeable Alaska-based maritime lawyer can guide you through the process.

Why do cruise lines so often register their ships in other countries? The reality is that different countries have different laws, and the cruise lines are trying to take advantage of the fact that some countries are less favorable to passengers and crew members than United States law is. They register their ships under a “flag of convenience” to apply laws that favor their interests in the event of a lawsuit stemming from an onboard incident. A skilled maritime lawyer will be familiar with this trick and will know how to work with the laws of other countries while pursuing compensation for your injuries.

Where Do I File a Cruise Ship Injury Claim for an Accident that Occurred in Alaska?

If you’ve been injured on a cruise, it’s important that you know where to file your claim. Many cruise lines—such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian—require that injury claims be filed in Miami, Florida, as outlined in the cruise ticket contract. This provision, known as a “forum selection clause,” mandates that specific courts handle cases involving these lines. Some other lines, such as Princess Cruises, directs claims to California, while Holland America directs theirs to Washington State.

When an accident happens on the high seas, maritime law generally governs any subsequent injury claim. In that case, you may need to file your case in federal court rather than state court. Your contract with the cruise line may require you to file where the cruise line is headquartered, which may not be anywhere near Alaska. Everything depends on the circumstances of your injury, including where it happened. Don’t try to figure out jurisdiction on your own, as this is a complicated matter. A maritime personal injury lawyer can help.

It’s important to understand where you must file your claim and to act quickly, as most cruise lines enforce a one-year statute of limitations. Consulting with an experienced cruise ship injury lawyer can help you file your claim in the correct jurisdiction.

Alaska Ports: Key Information for Cruise Ship Injury Claims

Alaska has several ports that serve the cruise line industry, and each port has its own mix of terminals and cruise lines:

• The Port of Juneau serves cruise ships from multiple docks, including South Franklin Street Dock, AJ Dock, Franklin Dock, and Steamship Wharf. Cruise lines stopping at the Port of Juneau include Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Celebrity, and Disney.

• The Port of Seward’s Terminal 1, also known as the Seward Cruise Terminal, is an embarkation or disembarkation point for Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity cruise lines.

• The Port of Anchorage has no dedicated cruise terminal but handles transfers from Holland America and Princess.

• The Port of Whitter’s Terminal 1, also known as the Whittier Cruise Terminal, handles visits from Princess and Holland America.

• The Port of Ketchikan is a stopping point for Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity at Berths 1 through 4.

• The Port of Skagway has three terminals: Broadway Dock, Ore Dock, and Railroad Dock, which serve Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Disney.

• The Port of Sitka’s Old Sitka Dock serves Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity.

• Port of Haines serves Holland America, Princess, and smaller cruise lines from the Haines Cruise Dock.

If you were injured while boarding or disembarking at a terminal or in the immediate vicinity of a terminal, then this can affect who is liable in your personal injury claim. An Alaska personal injury attorney can help resolve who is liable for your injuries.

Injuries and the Law: Understanding Negligence and Your Right to Compensation

Laws obligate cruise lines to maintain safe environments for passengers and crew. Negligence occurs when they fail in this duty, such as by not maintaining equipment or addressing hazards onboard. For example, poor maintenance of key systems like diesel generators can result in preventable accidents. In cases where negligence causes injury, those affected have the right to seek compensation. An Alaska-based cruise ship injury lawyer can help prove negligence and secure damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Maritime law defines negligence on cruise ships. According to the United States Supreme Court, the cruise line must exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances of each case.”

Typical examples of negligence at sea include:

• Poor maintenance of the ship

• Inadequate safety training for the crew

• Not enough safety equipment on board the ship

• Cutting corners on safety to keep profits high

• Navigating recklessly

• Incompetent decisions by the people in charge of the ship

FAQs

What Should I Do After a Cruise Ship Accident in Alaska?

Take these steps after a cruise ship accident in Alaska:

• Get medical care immediately. Your cruise ship is required to have a medical professional onboard according to the CLIA’s Passenger Bill of Rights.

• Tell staff about your accident and request a written copy of their incident report. Make sure it includes the time, location, and details of the accident.

• Photograph your injuries, the location of the accident, and anything else that might be important. For instance, if you were hurt in a slip-and-fall accident on a wet staircase, get a photograph showing that the staircase was wet.

• Ask any witnesses for their contact information.

• Contact a cruise ship accident attorney immediately.

• If the cruise line asks you to sign anything, don’t agree without the advice of an attorney.

• Don’t say anything that could sound like you’re admitting fault.

How Long Do I Have to Sue After a Cruise Ship Accident in Alaska?

You have one year to file a lawsuit against the cruise line after a cruise ship accident.

Maritime laws in Alaska include the Uniform Statute of Limitations for Marine Torts, which gives you up to three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, you cannot buy a cruise line ticket without agreeing to a one-year time limit, so you will only have one year. Your attorneys will need some time to investigate the accident and conduct negotiations, so don’t wait. Schedule a free consultation with a cruise ship accident lawyer in Alaska immediately.

What Types of Injuries Can I Claim for a Cruise Ship Accident in Alaska?

What types of injuries typically occur on a cruise ship? Common injuries include:

• Broken bones from slip and fall accidents

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries

• Accidental burns

• Drowning

Many different types of accidents can occur on a cruise ship, including:

• Slip and fall accidents on the gangway or elsewhere on board

• Swimming pool accidents

• Waterslide accidents

• Norovirus and food poisoning outbreaks

Injuries that happen onboard generally fall under admiralty law, also known as maritime law. Under maritime law, negligence is defined by the Supreme Court as a failure to exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances of each case.”

If you suffered an injury because the cruise line failed to exercise reasonable care, you have the right to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Injuries can also occur off the ship when you are on an excursion from the Port of Juneau or one of Alaska’s other ports of call.

What Happens If I Am Injured During an Excursion from the Port of Juneau?

If you’re injured on an excursion from the Port of Juneau or another port of call, liability depends on who had the duty of care in your excursion. The liable party is usually the excursion company rather than the cruise line, but in some cases, the cruise line may share some liability. When you meet with your cruise ship accident lawyers in Alaska, they will determine who has liability in your case.