Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer | Florida Maritime Attorney Tim Nies

Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer: Your Rights and the Legal Process

By Tim Nies, Florida Maritime, Injury Lawyer and Army Ranger Veteran

Cruises are meant to be relaxing escapes. Unfortunately, when cruise lines fail to maintain safe conditions aboard their ships, passengers can suffer life-altering injuries. Are you searching for a cruise ship injury lawyer? As a Florida maritime attorney who has handled injury cases since 2001, I’ve seen how confusing and stressful these situations can be, especially when the responsible party is a billion-dollar cruise line. Contact a cruise ship injury lawyer to explain your rights and the legal process as soon as possible after an injury.

Before representing injured passengers, I worked as an attorney for a Florida law firm defending cruise ship companies. That experience gave me firsthand insight into how these corporations handle injury claims, and the tactics they use to minimize compensation. Today, I use that knowledge to fight for injured passengers and their families throughout Florida and beyond.

What to Do Immediately After a Cruise Ship Injury

If you’re injured on a cruise ship, the steps you take immediately afterward can make or break your case:

1. Report the Incident – Notify the ship’s security or medical staff as soon as possible. Make sure a written report is completed and ask for a copy before disembarking.
2. Document Everything – Take photos or videos of the scene, your injuries, and any unsafe condition (like a wet deck or broken handrail).
3. Get Witness Information – Obtain names and contact information of anyone who saw the incident or its aftermath.
4. Seek Medical Care – Get evaluated by the ship’s doctor, then follow up with a qualified physician as soon as you return home. Keep all records.
5. Do Not Sign or Provide Recorded Statements – Cruise lines often ask passengers to sign forms or make statements that may limit their rights. Politely decline until you’ve spoken with an attorney experienced in cruise ship injury law.

Understanding the Cruise Line’s Fine Print

Most cruise lines include specific legal provisions on their passenger tickets, often printed in small text. These provisions typically:

• Require you to file your lawsuit in Miami, Florida, regardless of where you live or where the injury occurred.
• Limit your time to file suit to one year from the date of injury (much shorter than most state laws).
• Require written notice of your claim within six months of the injury.

Failing to meet these deadlines or filing in the wrong court can cause your cruise ship injury claim to be dismissed, no matter how serious your injury is.

Filing a Cruise Ship Injury Lawsuit in Florida

Cruise ship injury cases are governed by federal maritime law, not state law. The process typically involves:

1. Case Investigation – Your attorney gathers evidence such as incident reports, surveillance footage, maintenance logs, and witness statements.
2. Notice of Claim – A formal notice is sent to the cruise line within the required time frame.
3. Filing the Lawsuit – Most major cruise lines require that cases be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
4. Litigation and Settlement – The case may proceed to discovery, depositions, mediation, or trial. Many cases settle before trial, but only after the cruise line knows your attorney is fully prepared to go to court.

Why Maritime Law Experience Matters

Representing injured passengers in maritime cases requires both federal court experience and a deep understanding of the cruise industry. Having previously defended cruise lines, I know exactly how they evaluate, defend, and settle claims. That insight allows my team at Van Riper & Nies Attorneys to build strong cases that stand up in court and lead to meaningful results for our clients. Contacting a cruise ship injury lawyer soon after the injury is critical.

Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer

If you were injured while on a cruise, don’t wait. The deadlines under maritime law are strict, and the cruise lines are already protecting themselves. Contact me, Tim Nies, a Florida maritime and injury lawyer, and Army Ranger Veteran, for a free consultation. I’ll personally review your case and explain your rights.

Van Riper & Nies Attorneys, P.A.

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As a Florida maritime lawyer, Tim Nies also represents Longshoremen in Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims and injured workers in Jones Act and Defense Base Act claims.