subject: Find An Experienced Cruise Law Firm In South Florida [print this page] The growth of cruising in recent years has been nothing short of astonishing. It was considered a niche segment in the travel industry before well-heeled investors started ordering huge passenger liners in the 1980s. Increased guest capacity meant that cruise lines were able to cut costs, which finally allowed them to offer their services to the growing middle class. Before this time, cruising was considered an activity that only the very wealthy could afford. Around 14 million guests sailed the briny on a cruise ship in 2010. Thats up from just half a million in 1970!
The increase in attendance has obviously been good for the growing industry. More than 300,000 Americans work on or for the cruise lines. But much of this growth is the result of expanded guest capacity. Instead of building large fleets of small or medium-size ships, most of the top cruise lines build small fleets of absolutely enormous ships. Because they provide more services and carry more passengers, these ships weigh several times more than the gigantic superliners of old, such as the Titanic.
Many of the larger ships are little more than floating shopping malls, complete with their own stores, restaurants, and activity centers. Some carry thousands of guests, which mean they can get quite crowded. It is for this reason more than any other that accidents on cruise ships are on the rise.
South Florida is the cruise ship capital of North America. According to recent estimates, as many as 8 million people board cruise ships and depart from ports in South Florida each year. With so many guests, it is no surprise that cruise ship accidents happen quite frequently in or near Florida ports. The most common ones include slip and falls down stairs or on decks, diving accidents, and health-related issues, such as food poisoning.
How cruise ship law firm can help
If you have sustained an injury on a cruise, there are several things you should know. First and most importantly, there are a number of key differences between regular accidents and those that occur on a cruise ship. Most of the top cruise lines put special exculpatory clauses in their passenger tickets to help protect them from lawsuits. The most common one prevents guests from suing for damages after one year. The typical statute of limitations for regular accidents, like car accidents, lasts for four years. Therefore, it is important to contact a cruise law firm as soon as you possibly after your accident.
Because of complex maritime laws, a cruise law firm must first determine where exactly your accident occurred. If it happened during boarding or departure in Florida, it will be subject to Florida law. If it occurred inside of the United States, but not it Florida, it may be controlled by Federal Maritime law. Finally, if you were hurt at some exotic island port, it may be necessary to try the case under local laws.
The Maus Law Firm has extensive experience with accidents that occur on cruise ships in and outside of the Florida area. Our talented and compassionate team of attorneys will examined the applicable laws in order to help your recover the maximum compensation that you are entitled to under the law. Please call (855) 999-5297 to speak to an experienced cruise law attorney today.
