Cruise Ship Lawsuits Must Be Filed in Florida, Regardless of Origin
Cruise ship sailing is a popular pastime with Americans and foreign travelers, and South Florida is the country’s cruise ship capital. From the sunny shores of Florida, people set sail on voyages through the Caribbean and to exotic destinations around the world. And although cruise ships generally have impeccable safety records, accidents do happen on board. Food poisoning, slip and falls and other injuries are typically what constitute passenger lawsuits from cruise ship travel incidents. More extreme cases involve disfigurement, dismemberment and even wrongful death, but these are much more rare.
Filing a Cruise Ship Lawsuit in Florida
What most people don’t realize is that no matter which port you sail from anywhere in the U.S., you must FILE your lawsuit in Florida (usually in Miami). Whether for a class action suit or an individual case, a lawyer must notify the cruise line of the intent to sue within six (6) months of the incident and then file suit in Miami within one (1) year. Even if you live thousands of miles away, you must be prepared to show up in local Florida court in order to fight your case.
That’s why it’s important to hire a local cruise ship attorney in South Florida to handle your claim. Out-of-state attorneys won’t be as familiar with maritime law and can’t handle all the details that must be taken care of at the local level. A local attorney can also help keep you informed of trial dates and other important events that are mandatory for your case.
