WRONGFUL DEATH ON CRUISE SHIPS
Lost a loved one on a cruise? You deserve to know what happened.
A death on a cruise ship can leave a family with more questions than answers, especially when the loved one was far from home. If the cruise line failed to keep your family member safe, however, the law may let the family hold it responsible. Because the ship keeps the records, early action often matters.
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice. Time limits after a death can be different, so please call as soon as you can.
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Results
- $150KCarnival · passenger accident
- $80KRoyal · slip & fall
- $35KRoyal · slip & fall
- $100KHolland America · slip & fall
- $38KMSC · slip & fall
- $70KCarnival · slip & fall on deck
HOW WRONGFUL DEATHS HAPPEN AT SEA
When a death happens at sea, the evidence stays with the ship.
A death on board can come from an accident, an illness, a crime or a delay in care. In many cases, the family is far away, and the cruise line is the first source of information. Because of that, what the ship recorded and who it told can shape the whole case.
A cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care. For example, a case may look at whether the ship was kept safe, whether the crew was trained and supervised, and whether medical help arrived quickly. In addition, cameras, medical logs and incident reports can show what happened and when, which is why they should be preserved early.
Overboard & drowning
Falls from decks or balconies, pool incidents and delayed searches.
Medical negligence
Missed diagnoses, slow response or poor care in the ship’s infirmary.
Illness & outbreaks
Infections that spread when a ship failed to isolate, clean or warn.
Assault & violence
Attacks that followed weak security or crew misconduct.
Falls & accidents on board
Wet decks, stairwells, unsafe rails and equipment that failed.
Shore excursion deaths
Zip lines, boats, ATVs and transfers booked through the ship.
Food & alcohol
Ignored allergies, unsafe food, or drinks served to guests already intoxicated.
Ship safety failures
Fire, collision or drill problems where safety systems did not work as they should.
Anywhere else onboard
Passengers and crew alike. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
A failure of care that led to the loss.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care under the circumstances. In a wrongful death case, that can mean showing the line, its crew or an operator it chose did not use that care, and that the failure played a part in the death. The rules about who may bring the claim and what a family can recover can vary, so each case needs its own review.
A failure of care
Unsafe conditions, poor supervision, slow medical help or a missed warning.
A link to the death
That failure played a part in what happened.
A family’s losses
Funeral costs, lost support and companionship, and other losses the law may allow.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A DEATH ON A CRUISE
Take care of your family first, then protect the records.
Take care of your family
Grief comes first, and it is fine to take time. Ask the cruise line for one point of contact, and ask a friend or relative to help with calls.
Ask for the reports
Request a copy of any incident, medical and security report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Write down what you know
Note the dates, times, places and who was with your loved one while the details are fresh.
Get names
Collect names and contact details for crew, travel companions and other guests who saw or heard anything.
Keep tickets and papers
Your ticket sets the deadlines and the court. Save the booking, folio, photos, messages, medical records and any death certificate or autopsy report too.
Call a Cruise Injury Attorney
Camera footage, medical logs and ship records can be lost or overwritten. We can send a written request that they be preserved.
WRONGFUL DEATH RESULTS
All results[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One calm, plain line about a real case the firm handled.
[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One calm, plain line about a real case the firm handled.
[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One calm, plain line about a real case the firm handled.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
“Sylvia was a pleasure to work with. She answered any questions I had and was patient and kind to me. She is an asset to the company and anyone who has the pleasure of working with her, is lucky.”
“Chalik & Chalik is a great firm if you prefer a smaller and more family oriented firm. The paralegals at this firm are an absolute treasure and they will work so hard to help you out and make sure you are taken care of throughout the case and if you have any questions they will help answer any of them.”
QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Who can file a wrongful death claim against a cruise line?
That depends on the law that applies. Often, a personal representative of the estate brings the claim for the benefit of family members, such as a spouse, children or parents. Because the rules vary, we explain who may file and what losses may be claimed when you call.
Can I sue a cruise line if my loved one died on board?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example through poor supervision, unsafe conditions or slow medical help. However, the ticket and the place where the death happened can affect where and when you can file. For that reason, a free case review is the quickest way to learn where you stand.
What can a family recover in a wrongful death case?
It depends on the law that applies, but families may seek losses such as funeral costs, lost financial support and loss of companionship. Because every case is different, we cannot promise an amount. Even so, we can explain what the law may allow once we know what happened.
Is a death at sea treated differently from a death on land?
It can be. Cases at sea may be governed by maritime law, and which law applies can depend on where the ship was and who was involved. For example, passengers and crew members can follow different rules. Because of that, it helps to speak with a maritime attorney early.
What if the cruise line says it was an accident or my loved one’s own fault?
Cruise lines sometimes point to the passenger’s own actions, and that can be raised as a defense. It does not automatically end a claim, however. Questions about safety, supervision, alcohol service and medical care can still matter. As a result, the records the ship kept are often central.
How long do we have to file a claim?
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice, both far shorter than usual injury deadlines. Time limits after a death may be handled differently, but you should not count on that. So please call as soon as you can, and we will check the dates that apply to your ticket and the law.
What does it cost to find out if we have a case?
Nothing. The case review is free, and if we take your case, we work on contingency, so our fee comes only from what we recover for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing in attorney fees.
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Hurt on a cruise? Talk to Debi’s team today.
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