Cruise Ship Illness: Can You Sue the Cruise Line?

If you become sick while on a cruise, you may wonder if you can sue the cruise line for any losses related to your illness, such as medical expenses. Similar to most personal injury cases, the liability of a cruise line for the illness of a passenger comes down to whether employees of the cruise line or the cruise line itself were in some way negligent, and whether or not this negligence caused your illness.

A skilled cruise ship illness attorney has experience in all areas of cruise ship illness and injury law and maritime law. They can provide you with both legal advice and representation to seek compensation if you suffered an illness on a cruise due to the negligence of another.

Can You Legally Sue the Cruise Line Because of Illness? 

To determine if you have a case and can sue the cruise line for an illness you developed, you’ll have to determine if the cruise line should have done anything differently that could have prevented your illness. For instance, if you became ill because of the intense volatility of the waves and sea sickness, it could be because the cruise line didn’t steer clear of the strong waves because they didn’t take the time to assess the ocean and weather conditions. A reliable cruise ship illness lawyer can assist you with this investigation.

Even if it appears that your illness wasn’t the fault of the cruise line, this doesn’t mean there aren’t other potential underlying causes you might not be aware of. The actions of all employees are the responsibility of the cruise line. The cruise line might be liable for other third-party vendors’ or guests’ actions that led to illness as well.

If you become sick while on a cruise ship, it’s best to have your case evaluated by an experienced lawyer to determine if the cruise line is or isn’t the liable party. The cruise line might be liable in ways you wouldn’t realize immediately.

Statute of Limitations for Cruise Line Illness

This is the deadline you have to file a lawsuit against a defendant. With cruise ship cases, the statute of limitations is typically no more than a year. This timeline may even be shorter depending on the cruise line and their own legal limitations. 

Also, many cruise lines have a notice requirement, meaning that if you plan on suing them, you’ll need to provide them with a formal written notice of the claim within a certain time period, typically only a couple of months following your illness.

If you become ill on a cruise, it’s crucial that you don’t miss the statute of limitations window or the notice requirement, so it’s in your best interest to consult with an experienced cruise ship illness attorney right away to ensure your rights are protected and you preserve all of your legal options.

Types of Illness That Cruise Line Negligence Can Cause 

There are a few primary illnesses that could occur on a cruise line that frequently are due to the negligence of the cruise line or its employees. These are:

• Food poisoning
• Norovirus
• Legionnaires’ Disease

Depending on the situation, if you become sick with any one of the illnesses, you may have the legal right to sue the cruise line.

Now, if you should become sick with a common health issue like a cold or the flu, you may also be wondering if you can legally sue the cruise line. Cruise ship passengers aren’t usually able to sue a cruise line for minor illnesses like these, as they can occur just about anywhere and at any time. However, it’s still a good idea to meet with a lawyer to determine if you have a case. 

Call on the Skilled Florida Attorneys at Baker Legal Team 

If you’ve become ill on a cruise ship and are wondering if you have any legal recourse, reach out to Baker Legal Team today. You could be entitled to claim and receive compensation, and we’ll do our very best to see that you are fairly compensated for your cruise ship illness.

The lawyers here at Baker Legal Team are experienced with maritime law and are passionate about helping our injured victims. Call us at (561) 320-0000 or fill out our online form to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our highly-qualified cruise ship illness attorneys today.