Cruise Injury Jurisdiction

Happy summer everyone! I hope all of you have had a fun, relaxing, and most importantly, safe June so far. Our first announcement is that our law office will be closed from July 4th through the 8th, and it will reopen on the 11th, in observance of the holiday. Secondly, I’d like to discuss an exciting summer activity, that’s often an overlooked aspect of personal injury: cruise ship excursions.

Cruise ship vacations are becoming an increasingly popular way to “get away” during the summer months, but there are a few things you should know with regard to your safety on cruise ships before you sail away. This time of year, I frequently get calls from clients who have been injured on cruise ships due to some type of negligence.

The fact of the matter is that most cruise ships are registered in countries other than the U.S., and most cruise ship injuries occur in International Waters. So, the rules that apply to cruise ship liability are much different than liability rules in Georgia, for instance.

If you plan on filing a cruise ship personal injury claim, the time limit is generally much shorter – 6 months notice requirements and a 1-year time limit for filing these types of lawsuits.

Also, most cruise lines require you to bring any lawsuit in Federal Court in a jurisdiction of their choosing.

Remember, the rules that apply to your injury claim are always spelled out in the cruise ticket package. It’s vital that you not lose this information, because you may need it at some point.

If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship, call my office right away, and we will be glad to help you navigate the uncharted waters of Cruise Ship liability claims.