Miami Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer

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Millions of people go on cruises every year. Cruise lines are particularly popular here in Miami, and in most cases, they make for great getaways. Unfortunately, there are times when cruise lines will fail to account for the safety of their passengers, and their passengers will sustain very serious injuries as a result. If you were injured while on a cruise due to no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation, but you have to act fast. Contact a skilled Miami cruise ship accident lawyer from Aigen Injury Law today to learn more about these accidents and how our firm can help if you’ve been harmed in one.

Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer Serving Clients in Miami & Throughout Florida

Though the last place anyone suspects to sustain a serious injury is on vacation, the truth is that accidents can happen anywhere negligence occurs. Cruise line ownership, their operators, and their staff must be vigilant in preserving a safe environment for all. If you’ve been hurt due to their failure to do so, our firm is here to help.

We combine local Miami-Dade knowledge with understanding of federal maritime law to assist clients in recovering:

  • Medical expenses and future care costs
  • Lost wages and reduced future earnings
  • Physical and emotional suffering

Common Causes & Types of Cruise Ship Accidents & Injuries

Cruise lines are responsible for ensuring the safety of all passengers. Unfortunately, they don’t always live up to this responsibility. Just some of the most common causes and types of cruise ship accidents and injuries are as follows:

  • Unsecured objects, such as tables and chairs, sliding about and crashing into passengers.
  • Serving passengers spoiled food
  • Negligent cruise ship operators
  • Debris or liquids left uncleared away
  • Dangerous swimming pool conditions or inattentive swimming pool lifeguards
  • Dangerous cruise ship escalators, elevators, or stairwells
  • Insufficient lighting in certain areas
  • Unsafe cabin conditions

Why Miami Is at the Center of Cruise Ship Accident Cases

Some of the largest cruise companies in the world have their headquarters in Miami-Dade County, and their ticket contracts often require passengers to file lawsuits in Miami federal court. This means that even if your accident occurred in the Bahamas, Cozumel, or the middle of the Caribbean, your claim will typically be heard in Miami.

Having a local cruise ship accident lawyer can make all the difference. Our attorneys are familiar with PortMiami operations, the local judiciary, and the defense counsel who frequently represent major cruise lines in these cases.

Common Cruise Ship Accident Cases in Miami

With millions of passengers passing through PortMiami each year, accidents and injuries are unfortunately a frequent occurrence.

We often help clients who have suffered:

  • Slips and falls on wet decks, gangways, or marble staircases on the ships leaving PortMiami
  • Food poisoning due to contaminated buffets or unhygienic kitchen conditions
  • Onboard injuries, for example, rock climbing walls or surf simulators
  • Medical negligence by ship doctors or nurses
  • Tender boat or excursion accidents during island stops
  • Crimes or assaults caused by negligent security

In other cases, passengers are injured even before the ship leaves the dock, on the MacArthur Causeway, or in the congested parking garages and terminals around Port Boulevard.

Understanding Cruise Ship Injury Laws in Miami

Because of Miami’s role in the cruise industry, many passenger injury claims filed here are governed by federal maritime law, with local trial courts in the Southern District of Florida. Appeals from those cases go to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, whose decisions often shape how cruise-injury cases are handled in South Florida.

At PortMiami, county agencies maintain security and terminal-operations rules. Whether an injury at or near the terminal is governed by maritime law or by Florida premises liability law depends on how it happened. If a vessel’s conduct causes an injury—even on land—maritime law might apply. If the incident stems from conditions on the terminal itself (and not from a vessel), Florida law may control. The specific facts matter.

Cruise tickets typically include forum-selection clauses that require lawsuits to be brought in Miami (often the federal court in Miami, or a Miami-Dade court if federal jurisdiction is lacking). They also impose short contractual deadlines—commonly written notice within six months and filing suit within one year. Exact terms vary by cruise line, so passengers should review their ticket contract and act promptly.

What to Do After a Cruise Ship Injury in Miami

Getting hurt on a cruise is the last thing anyone expects, but what you do in the moments that follow can make a big difference later. Take these steps to protect yourself and your claim once you’re back on land.

  • Tell Someone Right Away: Report the incident to the crew and make sure a written report is filed. Ask for a copy before you leave the ship.
  • See a Doctor: Get checked out in the ship’s medical center, then follow up at a hospital.
  • Take Photos and Notes: Snap pictures of what caused the injury, your surroundings, and any visible wounds.
  • Get Witness Information: If anyone saw what happened, politely ask for their name and contact details.
  • Keep All Paperwork: Hold onto your ticket, boarding pass, and medical forms—they’ll help your lawyer prove what happened.
  • Request Local Records: If your injury occurred while boarding or disembarking, and Miami police responded, you can request a report from the Miami Police Department Records Unit.
  • Call a Lawyer Before You Call the Cruise Line: The company’s insurer isn’t on your side. Talking to a local lawyer first can help protect your rights from the start.

Local Resources for Cruise Ship Injury Victims in Miami

If you’ve been injured during a cruise or while offloading at PortMiami, it’s important to quickly get local medical attention. Fortunately, Miami has some of the most excellent hospitals and trauma care centers in the state:

These facilities regularly treat passengers from cruise ships with broken bones, head injuries, dehydration, or infections.

If you need to report your accident to local or federal authorities, you can contact:

Bringing a Claim Against a Cruise Ship Owner

Typically, cruise ship lines can be held accountable for injuries under General Maritime Law. As long as you and your experienced personal injury attorney can prove that you were hurt because the cruise line fell below the acceptable standard of care and you incurred financial damages as a result, you should have a valid claim. You should note that in most cases, you will have to bring a Notice of Claim within six months of the date of the accident, and you will also typically have to file your personal injury claim within one year from the date the accident occurred. That said, the timeframe for bringing injury claims against cruise lines varies depending on the circumstances of the specific accident and cruise line, which is why it’s in your best interest to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as you can.

Contact a Cruise Ship Lawyer Today

The bottom line is that if you were harmed on a cruise ship due to no fault of your own, the time to act is now, and Aigen Injury Law is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation with our competent and dedicated legal team.