For thousands of people every week, the cruise vacation is enjoyable. Unfortunately though, dozens of injuries also occur each week. Some of these are minor mishaps, some of them are major accidents where someone has sustained severe or life-threatening injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a cruise ship accident or have become terribly sick, you may have questions about your legal rights.

Here is some help information when considering a legal claim

Cruise lines are supposed to operate under very strict maritime laws to provide a safe experience for their passengers and crew. They are required to abide by international safety standards out at sea at all times. When rules and regulations are broken or not paid attention to, accidents can occur and injuries can result from those accidents.

Those that are involved in an accident while on the cruise can be traumatized. Common types of accidents that happen on cruise ships are food poisoning, fires, assault, and accidents arising from unforeseen storms.

Any passenger that is involved in any type of accident on the cruise ship is able to file a claim against the cruise line. 

It’s up to an attorney to help you identify the merit and potential success of your case.

How to file a lawsuit against a cruise line

If you want to file suit against a cruise line, you would need to talk to a Maritime lawyer. A Maritime lawyer is someone who practices in the area known as “maritime law”. This type of law applies to suits that involve injuries and accidents that occurred on the waterways of the U.S., the Gulf of Mexico, or at sea.

Maritime lawyers work best to file suits against cruise lines. They will help you to seek compensation for your physical or emotional injuries. The suit will also give the cruise line a chance to evaluate their operations to see if there is anything that they can improve on so that the incident won’t easily happen again in the future to other passengers.

Most cruise lines will offer full refunds on the cruise as well as other incentives to satisfy a suit. Keep in mind that the suit should be filed within six months of the incident.

About Waks & Barnett, P.A.
Based in Miami, Waks & Barnett attorneys work with clients in Florida, throughout the United States and around the world. The firm’s attorneys practice in the areas of personal injury, accidents and wrongful death, with a specialization in admiralty and maritime law.

• Cruise ship passenger personal injuries and accidents
• Cruise ship passenger illness
• Cruise ship medical negligence
• Sexual assault on cruise ships
• Protecting the rights of passengers and crew

Call 1-800-905-2891 for a free consultation.

The headline is certainly dramatic:

Carnival Cruises Reports 2 People Missing Overboard in Australia

Carnival Cruises Reports 2 People Missing Overboard in Australia  – read the full story here at ABC News

“The couple — a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman — was reported missing this morning after the ship docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay at the end of a 10-day journey, New South Wales state Police Superintendent Mark Hutchings said, according to The Associated Press.

Hutchings said surveillance video from Wednesday night shows the couple from New South Wales falling from the ship’s mid-deck about 65 miles off the coast of Forester, a city 185 miles from Sydney.

Police are investigating whether the couple jumped from the ship or fell by accident.”

What does it mean for you? 

The reality is that, while passengers going overboard or going missing from cruises is dramatic and interesting to read about – and certainly upsetting for anyone involved with those passengers, incidents like this happen with very little frequency. They are uncommon.

What does it mean for you on your next cruise vacation? Nothing really. If you act safely, be conscious of your own personal safety, follow safety procedures and don’t climb over barriers or handrails – you won’t go overboard.

Could a handrail be negligently unfixed? Perhaps. Could another passenger or crew member act with malicious intent and push you over into the sea. Possibly.

But you’re more likely to get struck by lightening while winning the lottery – going overboard is just not something to worry about.

What you might worry about while enjoying your cruise are the more common incidents that result in personal injury.

• broken bones from slippery decks
• debilitating stomach viruses
• medical malpractice by the staff
• slip and fall accidents
• sexual harassment, assault and rape

These are far more likely to occur – so much so that attorneys like us field questions about potential claims constantly and manage actual cases and lawsuits against the cruise lines all day long, every day.

If you have questions about cruise vacation injuries or illnesses, please call us. The consultation is FREE:

Toll Free: 800-905-2891
Miami: 305-271-8282

It’s unfortunate, but car accidents happen in the greater Miami area every day.

Often, these accidents leave people injured and frustrated. Without legal advice or representation, you could be left without compensation – or too little compensation – from the other driver or their insurance company.

You may also face issues with lost time at work and medical bills that pile up during your recovery.

It’s one of the main reasons why working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help you.

If you or a family member has suffered due to an auto accident here in Miami, the personal injury attorney here at Waks and Barnett want you to know that we are here to help you.

Our lawyers – who deal with personal injury cases every single day – can answer your questions about:

• the types of financial injury compensation you may be able to recover
• how the insurance process works
• who will pay the bills after a your accident
• how to deal with hospitals and doctors
• how to work with your employer for missed time at work
• plus so much more

Every car accident client we work with has a variety of questions that they need answers to after they’re wreck. If you have questions, please call use. The consultation is free, whether on the phone or here in our Miami office. Our number is 800-905-2891.

If your case involved an injury at sea or an injury aboard a boat or other vessel, you would likely pursue the help of an attorney experienced with similar cases – not a general attorney that handles car accidents, divorces or business law.

In fact, attorneys who don’t handle maritime law cases will often refer you to an attorney who does. It’s not worth their time because of the complexity of the law. It’s also not worth your time as an inexperienced attorney will be much less successful representing your case if they don’t have the proper background.

Often, attorneys who specialize in maritime law are called maritime attorneys or Jones Act lawyers. Sometimes their referred to as an admiralty attorney. And if you’re injury occurred on a cruise ship, you may seek out a cruise ship injury lawyer.

All of these ‘types’ of attorneys practice variations of maritime law and aspects of various maritime and personal injury law. The circumstances of your injury or claim will dictate what type of attorney you should work with.

You may be an injured:

• cruise ship passenger
• cruise ship crew member
• commercial vessel worker, seamen or crew
• recreational boater
• owner or operator of a commercial vessel

A maritime lawyer can help you by:

• offering accurate and actionable legal consultation
• helping to answer questions that you might have
• offering up strategy and legal direction
• navigating the complexity of maritime law
• representing you in the appropriate court of law

If you need to speak with a maritime attorney, our firm is here to help. Waks and Barnett, P.A. of Miami has over 60 years of combined experience representing injured parties – from cruise passengers to seamen.

Our office number is (800) 905-2891.

You can also fill out a Do I Have A Case Form online and one of our attorneys will contact you immediately.

Our cruise injury law firm has been around for 25+ years and we’ve worked with passengers and crew members from all over the United States (as well from many countries from around the world).

Because of this, it’s not unusual for many of our clients to live in other states. We’re located in Miami, Florida.

Where do our clients live? Well, they live just about anywhere – from small towns to large cities. In 2013 alone we’ve fielded calls and inquires from injured cruise passengers from every state expect Montana and Wyoming.

Just about everyone has taken a cruise vacation. And unfortunately, with millions of American traveling on cruise ships every month, the potential for injury exists.

Fortunately however, we can help injury victims and their families no matter where they live. Much of our work can be done over the phone. You don’t have to live in the city or state in which your injury claim against the cruise line is filed. We do that on your behalf!

To contact us with more questions related to your cruise ship injury or medical mistreatment, please call (800) 905-2891.

Or, fill out our Do I Have A Case form online and one of our attorneys will get back to you ASAP.

Here is another reason why you should contact a maritime personal injury attorney if you’ve been injured on a cruise.

The simple reason is… 

You’re bound to have a variety of questions that you’re just not able to answer on your own. 

An experienced maritime or cruise ship injury attorney can help you answer your questions. Importantly, an attorney can also help you ask other questions that need answers.

After a Q & A session (or sessions), an attorney will help you craft the legal documents needed to file a claim against the cruise line (assuming your case has merit).

By talking with a maritime lawyer, you’ll have answers and have a direction and plan of action to follow.

That’s where the attorney will become invaluable!

Do you have questions for lawyers who handle cruise ship injury cases?
Please call us at (800) 905-2891. Consultations are free. The call is free.

Or, fill out our Do I Have A Case form online and one of our attorneys will get back to you ASAP.

In Miami (and in fact just about everywhere) it’s interesting to determine who most likely won’t wear a seat belt while in an automobile. 

Unfortunately, the lease likely person to wear their safety belt may be the most likely to be injured if they are involved in a car wreck.

According to the Center for Disease Control who keeps us with car accident statistics, here is some fascinating information…

Who is least likely to wear a seat belt?

• Adults age 18-34 are less likely to wear seat belts than adults 35 or older. (CDC, 2010, unpublished data).
• Men are 10% less likely to wear seat belts than women. (CDC, 2010, unpublished data)
• Adults who live in rural areas are 10% less likely to wear seat belts (78% use) than adults who live in urban and suburban areas (87% use). (CDC, 2010, unpublished data)
• Seat belt use is lower in states with secondary enforcement seat belt laws or no seat belt laws (79%) compared to states with primary enforcement laws (88%).

**info from CDC in Atlanta…

When you read these statistics, does it paint a picture of you? If so, there is a simple solution – buckle up! It’s the best and easiest way to protect yourself during a car wreck.

Need more information if you’ve been in a car wreck here in Miami? Please call us – the call and our time for a consultation is free. Your probably have questions.

Call Waks and Barnett at (800) 905-2891.

If you’ve been involved in a car wreck here in Miami and were able to walk away from the accident without serious injury, here are 7 essential steps you should take.

Yes, we realize that most people won’t print out a copy of this blog post and keep it in their glove box, but we want people to know that they do have rights and they should follow a plan after being involved in the car crash. 

Immediately following a car wreck – and assuming you’re physically okay (as are the other passengers in your vehicle) – you should try to try to focus on keeping your cool and  maintain your composure. Understandably you will be shaken and perhaps unable to focus, but you should try.

If you want to protect yourself and maximize your chances of being successful if the car wreck turns into a legal issue, you’ll want to go into action.

Here are 7 essential steps to take after your car wreck:

• Make sure you and your passengers are physically okay.
• Call 911 immediately.
• Make sure that an attending police officer takes a full report of the accident.
• Write down as much information as you can about the other cars involved in the accident. Take photos with your cell phone if you can – the scene, injuries, your care, their car, etc. Write down what your injuries are or the injuries of others. Take note of conversations with anyone involved or any witnesses. Attorneys will want to know as much as possible, as much detail as they can, in order to help you if it comes to that.
• When talking to others involved in the accident, do not admit fault. Keep conversations short and don’t reveal too much detail from your perspective – just get their information. Also, at a later date, be careful about your conversations with insurance representatives. Speaking to a lawyer first is the right choice.
• After leaving the scene, go see a doctor. They can help you understand what injuries you have as well as which injuries may worsen in the next hours and days. Explain how the injuries happened. Any sensations of disorientation, confusion, memory lapses, or other conditions you have sustained – every small detail is important and can help an attorney help you.
• Call a Miami car accident lawyer

We can help you with your car wreck. At Waks & Barnett, our car accident attorneys and support staff possess this experience and can help you obtain compensation for all of your injuries, medical bills, income loss, pain and suffering, past and future.

Call 800-905-2891.
Free call / Free consultation with a Miami based car accident lawyer.

We work with a clients who have suffered terrible injuries, often due to the negligence or irresponsibility of other parties.

Victims of Miami automobile accidents suffer a variety of injuries, including sprains, strains, spinal injuries to the neck or back, head injuries, broken bones, and seat belt and air bag injuries.

When we meet these clients and their families, it’s often difficult to imagine the pain and frustration they’re going through – but it does make us resolve to work very hard for them to help them find compensation and accountability for their injuries.

Were you injured in a car accident in the Miami area and feel like your injuries are getting worse, not better?

Some of these injuries may not appear serious at first, but often get progressively worse. Some may result in serious disability or significantly diminish our client’s quality of life, which can affect not just their personal health, but also have ramifications for the entire family.

The insurance companies that insure drivers here in Florida who cause these injuries spend millions of dollars defending these claims and, if you are not represented by experienced lawyers, they will take advantage of you.

At Waks & Barnett, our car accident attorneys and support staff possess this experience and can help you obtain compensation for all of your injuries, medical bills, income loss, pain and suffering, past and future.

Although the insurance companies are often willing to settle cases without going to court, if they choose to fight, our attorneys are willing and able to vigorously pursue your rights in a court of law. And when it comes to representing victims of Miami car wrecks – that’s just what you’ll need – someone to fight for your rights in a court of law.

What is a Maritime Personal Injury Lawyer?

A maritime lawyer is primarily involved with a special set of laws and regulations dealing with people who may be injured on a ship or boat, as a result of either a work-related or recreational accident. 

And yes, often attorneys who represent passengers who have been injured on a cruise ship and want to file a claim against the cruise lines are maritime lawyers.

These lawyers can also represent crew members who were injured or became ill while working for an employer – a boat operator, owner or other group.

Why would you need a maritime attorney?

Maritime law is highly technical when it comes to where and when a maritime claim can be filed and the benefits which the victim of a maritime accident may be entitled to receive. A maritime attorney will have good working knowledge of related cases as well as the Jones Act and its coverage.

You might need a maritime attorney if you were a crew member who was injured on the job or a cruise ship passenger injured on your cruise vacation.

Although most maritime personal injury cases are settled, they must often first be litigated in court and, depending on the circumstances, the case may be brought either in a state or a federal court.

Decisions about where to file the claim, how a claim will be litigated, what witnesses to call, and whether a settlement offer is reasonable, are the role of a maritime lawyer.

In selecting a maritime lawyer, it is important to review the experience of the lawyer involved in handling the case, the ratings that he may have received, and whether or not the maritime lawyer is board certified.

What kind of injuries can maritime personal injury lawyers help with?

Physical injuries are not the only basis for lawsuits against the cruise lines or commercial working vessels. Claims might be filed for other personal injuries related to sexual harassment, assault, abuse or rape. 

Injury may also apply to medical mistreatment, malpractice or poor care that led to further medical injuries. It may also cover poor sanitary conditions and/or the spread of viruses and other illness.

The claim against an employer or a cruise line may also include help for medical bills, insurance issues and lost time at work / employment issues.

What will a maritime lawyer do for me?

An experienced maritime lawyer can help with almost any claim leveled against the cruise line if the claim has merit – or against an employer if you are a crew member or work on a commercial ship.

One of the main questions your lawyer will ask is, “do we believe that negligence lead to your injury?”

If you need more information about hiring an attorney who specializes in maritime and cruise law - please contact Waks and Barnett at (800) 905-2891.

We have 25 years of experience dealing with cruise ship and commercial vessel injuries, accidents and mishaps and we take them extremely seriously.

We offer a Free and Private Consultation over the phone or in person – please reach out today – don’t wait.