Being involved in a cruise ship overboard accident can be one of the scariest and most traumatic experiences someone can face. Whether you or a loved one fell overboard or saw it happen, the pain, fear, and questions that come afterward can be difficult to face.
If this has happened to you or someone close to you, a cruise ship overboard accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates is ready to help you take the next step. Our cruise ship injury lawyers have helped people with their legal matters for more than 20 years.
We’ve recovered over $1 billion for our clients, and we treat every person who comes to us with the respect they deserve. If you are recovering from a cruise ship injury, call us for a free consultation. We work on contingency, which means you don’t pay us until we win your case.
We Will Fight for You After a Cruise Ship Overboard Accident
When you work with John Foy & Associates, you get more than just legal help—you get representation from a legal team that truly cares. Here’s what our personal injury lawyers will do for you:
- Listen and support you: We know this has been a traumatic experience for you and your family. We will guide you through it.
- Gather the facts: We’ll investigate how and why the accident happened.
- Find who’s responsible: If the cruise line, crew, or another party was at fault, we’ll hold them accountable.
- Work with experts: From medical professionals to maritime specialists, we’ll build the strongest case possible.
- Fight for damages: We’ll seek money for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and more.
- Communicate with the cruise line’s insurance: You won’t have to deal with them alone.
- Take your case to court if needed: We won’t back down from a fight when your future is at stake.
Who’s Responsible When Someone Falls Overboard from a Cruise Ship?
Cruise ship companies have a duty to keep passengers safe. If someone falls overboard, it may be because the cruise line failed to:
- Provide proper safety equipment.
- Maintain railings and other barriers.
- Train the crew correctly.
- Monitor passengers effectively.
- Respond quickly to emergencies.
Other parties that could be at fault include:
- Ship staff: If they were careless or didn’t follow safety rules.
- Security companies: If they didn’t act in time or missed warning signs.
- Third-party vendors: Like excursion guides or maintenance contractors who made the ship unsafe.
A personal injury lawyer from John Foy & Associates will find out who is responsible and help you fight for the financial recovery you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
How Maritime Law Affects Your Cruise Ship Overboard Case
Cruise ship accidents often fall under a special type of law called maritime law (also known as admiralty law). This area of law applies to events that happen at sea and has different rules than personal injury cases that happen on land.
For example:
- Cruise lines can set shorter time limits for filing a claim—often just one year, not two.
- They may require you to file your case in a specific state or federal court, usually listed in the fine print of your ticket.
- They might limit the amount of money you can recover unless the accident was caused by serious neglect or failure to act.
Our cruise ship overboard injury lawyers understand how maritime law works. We know how to hold cruise companies accountable—even when the legal system seems stacked in their favor.
Common Injuries in Cruise Ship Overboard Accidents
Falling overboard can lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries, such as:
- Hypothermia
- Head injuries
- Drowning or near-drowning
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Emotional trauma
Damages in Fatal Cruise Ship Overboard Accidents
If the accident resulted in the loss of a loved one, we understand how painful that can be, and we are deeply sorry for your loss. We can help families file a wrongful death action and pursue damages for:
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost future income
- Loss of companionship
- Emotional suffering
During your free consultation, our cruise ship wrongful death lawyers will explain how these actions work and how we can handle your case.
You Must File Your Cruise Ship Injury Lawsuit by a Deadline
Strict deadlines apply to filing cruise ship injury cases. Many cruise lines require legal action to be filed within one year of the incident due to contract terms on the ticket. These deadlines can be shorter than usual personal injury cases, so you must act quickly.
We’ll help you understand the timeline for your specific case and ensure that we file it on time.
What to Do After a Cruise Ship Overboard Accident
If you or a loved one was involved in a cruise ship overboard accident, the steps you take right away matter:
- Get medical help: Even if you don’t feel pain or think your injuries are minor, we suggest you get checked by medical staff. Injuries might not show up right away.
- Report the incident: Let the ship’s crew members know what happened and make sure they write an official report.
- Take notes and photos: If you can, write down what you remember and take pictures of the area.
- Get witness info: If anyone saw what happened, get their name and contact information.
- Don’t sign anything from the cruise line: They might try to get you to agree to something that hurts your case.
- Talk with an attorney: Our cruise ship passenger injury attorneys will protect your rights and guide you through the next steps.
Protect Your Case with the Right Evidence
After a cruise ship overboard accident, evidence can disappear fast. Ships are large, and once they return to port, records can be lost, cameras overwritten, and witnesses hard to track down.
That’s why it’s important to act quickly. Our team will:
- Request security camera footage from the ship before it’s erased.
- Get copies of medical records from the ship’s doctor or clinic.
- Collect witness statements from other passengers or crew members.
- Request the ship’s safety and incident reports.
- Review your ticket contract to see what legal rights and time limits apply.
The sooner we can start building your case, the better your chances of recovering damages and getting answers.
Our Cruise Ship Overboard Accident Lawyers Will Lead Your Case
We understand how overwhelming it is to recover after a serious accident. Our cruise ship overboard accident lawyers will take on the legal work and fight for what’s right so that you can focus on healing and rebuilding your life.
If you or someone you love was hurt or killed in a cruise ship overboard accident, call John Foy & Associates today. The consultation is free, and you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
