What Happens if there’s a Death on a Cruise Ship?

If a cruise ship passenger dies, the crew will notify the family and store the body in the morgue aboard the ship. Typically, the family arranges for a transfer of the body back to the deceased’s home country. 

Once the family of the deceased knows what happened, they may have the option to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of their loved one. You can learn more about this option and how it could help your family with a cruise ship wrongful death lawyer.

What Happens When There’s a Cruise Ship Death?

A lot happens if there’s a death on a cruise ship. Depending on the facts surrounding the death, you may expect:

The Cruise Line to Notify Your Family

Representatives from the cruise line should notify the family of the deceased after a fatal accident. In some cases, the cruise ship line may take a significant amount of time to provide this notification.

The Cruise Ship to Place the Body in the Morgue

Members of the cruise ship crew should place the remains of the deceased in the morgue on the ship. Every cruise ship should have a morgue. The crew should leave the remains there until they reach a port that takes human remains. 

After reaching a port that accepts remains, the cruise ship will unload the deceased to transfer them to local authorities. The cruise ship may sometimes bring the deceased back to its home port, but this is not always the case. 

To Take Steps to Get the Remains Sent Home

Typically, the family of the deceased will need to make arrangements for the return of their loved one’s remains. The process can become complicated and expensive, especially if the cruise ship leaves the remains in a distant country. 

A cruise ship injury lawyer may provide assistance throughout this process, helping family members bring home these remains safely and quickly. 

The Cruise Ship Line to Launch an Investigation

The cruise line may investigate the reasons for a fatal accident. However, the company will want to protect itself and its profits, so these investigations often determine that a passenger passed due to natural causes, even if this seems unlikely. 

The cruise ship line may never disclose the results of this investigation. However, a cruise ship wrongful death lawyer may perform an independent investigation on behalf of your family. 

What Should You Do if There’s a Death on a Cruise Ship?

If you lose a loved one during a cruise, it’s essential that you reach out to a wrongful death lawyer for professional and compassionate legal support. An attorney can immediately review your situation and:

Answer Any Questions

You will likely have a lot of questions about the steps you need to take after the loss of a loved one. Your lawyer will explain what happens if there’s a death on a cruise ship, how you need to communicate with the cruise line, and how you can move forward in this situation. 

Investigate the Causes of the Fatal Accident

Your attorney can conduct an investigation to gather evidence after the loss of a loved one on a cruise ship. Your lawyer may need to:

• Speak to witnesses who saw the cruise ship accident
• Request surveillance footage that shows any relevant events 
• Get copies of any accident reports

The cruise ship line and its insurance representatives may try to obscure evidence of negligence if you do not have professional support from a dedicated legal team. 

Help Your Family File a Legal Claim

A lawyer can assist your family if you need to file a wrongful death claim. The rules for filing this type of claim can vary significantly for cruise ship accidents, so it’s essential that you have a professional explain it to them.

In some cases, an attorney could negotiate a wrongful death settlement with the insurance company that represents the cruise ship line. If the company will not negotiate, your lawyer may suggest filing a wrongful death lawsuit. 

Secure Damages for Your Family

Filing a wrongful death claim could help your family get funds to cover the financial pressures you experience due to the loss of a loved one. Wrongful death claims may provide funds to cover the costs of a funeral and burial, along with non-economic losses sustained by your family. 

Talk to Us After a Death on a Cruise Ship

What happens if there’s a death on a cruise ship? In this situation, the cruise ship line will likely notify the family and keep the remains in an on-ship morgue until reaching a better location. You can learn more about what to expect in this situation from a cruise ship lawyer from our team at John Foy & Associates. 

Our legal team has over 350 years of combined experience and the resources to help your family stand up to big cruise ship companies. We’re here to compassionately support you after the loss of a loved one, so reach out now.