If you or a loved one were injured while aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Clearwater, FL, you may be entitled to compensation. Going up against a large cruise line can be intimidating. An experienced Clearwater cruise ship accident lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, and your suffering.
Since 2001, our award-winning lawyers have been fiercely advocating for clients in the Tampa Bay area. We bring over 119 years of combined experience to the table–and we’ve won tens of millions of dollars for accident victims for our hard work.
If you were hurt and someone else was to blame, contact our law offices in Clearwater, Florida at (727) 493-4418 to schedule a free consultation today.
How Can Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Cruise Ship Accident in Clearwater, FL?
You didn’t expect to leave a cruise suffering from painful injuries. If that happened, you may deserve significant compensation–but you shouldn’t expect the at-fault party to simply hand over a check.
An experienced Clearwater personal injury lawyer can help you fight for fair compensation.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll fight for you by:
- Gathering evidence to build and prove your case
- Working with respected experts to establish your case value and prove causation
- Determining who is legally liable for your damages
- Protecting you from allegations that you caused your own injuries
- Negotiating with the cruise line and insurance companies for a fair settlement deal
- Fighting to protect your rights in court if necessary
Our lawyers have decades of experience fighting for accident victims like you. Call us today to schedule a free consultation with a Clearwater personal injury attorney.
How Common Are Cruise Ship Accidents?
The cruise industry is an important part of Florida’s economy. As a whole, the industry is expected to generate over $25 billion in 2023 alone.
While cruises are extremely popular, major cruise ship accidents that impact all passengers are relatively rare. According to one study, only 448 major cruise ship accidents were reported over an 11-year period.
Most cruise ship accidents are much more minor. That doesn’t mean they’re any less traumatic for the victims themselves. Thousands of cruise passengers are injured due to criminal acts, food poisoning, and slip and fall accidents.
Our lawyers handle all types of cruise ship accident cases, including those involving:
- Disney Cruise Lines
- Royal Caribbean
- Princess Cruise Lines
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Norwegian Cruise Lines
- Holland America Cruises
All you have to do is call our law firm to learn more about your legal options.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover if My Clearwater Cruise Ship Accident Case is Successful?
Like any car accident victim, victims of cruise ship accidents should understand their case value before taking any settlement.
Your case value will depend heavily on:
- The severity of your injuries
- The cost of your medical care and other expenses
- The value of your lost wages while you recover
- How the injury will impact your ability to earn a living in the future
- Damage to your quality of life or emotional well-being
- Your physical pain and suffering
- The strength of the evidence to prove your case
Our lawyers in Clearwater offer a free case evaluation so you can understand your case value before taking legal action. Give us a call right away to schedule yours.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Cruise Ship Accident Victims in Florida?
In a successful personal injury case, the victim can recover damages for economic and non-economic damages.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- Current medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Lost future earning capacity
- Physical therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Any out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and PTSD
- Anxiety and depression
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
The types of compensation you can recover depend on the nature of your specific losses. To learn more about the money you may deserve after an accident, call our Clearwater cruise ship accident attorneys today.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for Causing a Cruise Ship Accident in Florida?
As of March 2023, Florida follows a modified comparative negligence law. Victims lose their right to compensation if their percentage of fault exceeds 50%. If you were less than 51% liable, your settlement or verdict is reduced to account for your share of fault.
Our Clearwater Cruise Ship Accident Attorneys Will Fight to Recover Full Compensation for All of Your Injuries
The injuries suffered by cruise ship accident victims have the potential to be severe.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we often represent accident victims who have suffered:
- Broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Cruise ship accidents do have the potential to be catastrophic or even fatal. If you lost a loved one, call our wrongful death attorneys to learn more about your right to compensation.
What Causes Most Cruise Ship Accidents Off the Coast of Clearwater, Florida?
Cruise ship accidents tend to happen because of careless or reckless behaviors. In other words, they happen when people are negligent.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of cruise ship accident cases, including those involving:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice while visiting the ship infirmary
- Bed bugs
- Food poisoning
- Swimming pool accidents and drownings
- Recreational accidents
- Amusement park accidents
- Assault or sexual assault by a passenger or crew member
- Fires or explosions
- Negligent operation of the cruise ship
- Failure to properly train or supervise the ship’s crew members
- Negligent security, which can allow assault and sexual assault to occur
- Swamping or running aground
- Collisions with fixed objects or another vessel
- Falls overboard
- Failure to provide proper warning about dangerous conditions on the ship
- Accidents during onshore excursions
- Small boating accidents
If you were injured while on a cruise, contact our law firm in Clearwater today. Our trusted personal injury lawyers have the resources to help you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
What Do I Have to Prove to Establish My Right to Compensation After a Cruise Ship Accident in Florida?
The vast majority of all personal injury claims are based on negligence.
To prove negligence, you must establish the following elements:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care
- A breach of duty occurred
- The breach of duty caused some type of accident or injury
- The damages you suffered
Many cruise ship accident claims involve premises liability laws. When you board a cruise ship, you’re classified as a business invitee. Because you’re there so that the cruise line can make a profit, the cruise line owes you a heightened duty of care as a business owner.
That duty includes a responsibility to:
- Provide adequate warning about any dangerous conditions aboard the ship
- Conduct regular inspections to identify hidden dangers and unsafe property conditions
- Fix any dangerous conditions in a reasonable amount of time
- Provide adequate security to prevent criminal activity aboard the vessel
Our lawyers can help you locate the strong evidence you need to prove your case.
We’ll search for and evaluate:
- Any photos or videos of the accident or accident scene
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Records detailing the cruise line’s maintenance and inspection policies
- Information about the cruise line’s hiring and training policies
- Accident reports
- Medical records
If you were injured on a cruise, you don’t have to build your case alone. Our lawyers in Clearwater are here to handle the legal issues while you focus on healing. To get started, call to schedule a free case review today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Cruise Ship Accident in Florida?
If your injury occurred after March 24, 2023, the statute of limitations in your case is likely two years. You’ll have two years from the date of the accident to take legal action and file a lawsuit. If the accident occurred earlier, you typically have four years to file a personal injury lawsuit.
These Florida law deadlines apply in most typical personal injury cases. However, when you book a cruise, you agree to the cruise line’s terms and conditions. Those terms almost always include a shorter deadline to sue for damages. It’s also possible that maritime laws could govern your case, so a different deadline could apply.
Contact a Clearwater Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today
Were you or a loved one injured while aboard a cruise? Contact an experienced Clearwater cruise ship accident lawyer today. Our team at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers will review your case for free and help you understand your legal rights.
Visit Our Law Office In Clearwater, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – Clearwater
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D
Clearwater, FL 33764, USA
Phone: (727) 493-4418
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
