SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CRUISE SHIPS
Sexually assaulted on a cruise ship? What happened was not your fault.
Sexual assault on a ship can leave a survivor far from home, unsure who to trust and worried about what to do next. If the cruise line failed to screen crew, secure cabins, staff its security team or respond to a report, however, it may have to answer for what happened. Because the ship controls the footage and the reports, early action can matter.
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice. Time limits can differ, so please call when you feel able to.
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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 SEXUAL ASSAULTS HAPPEN AT SEA
At sea, the cruise line controls both the ship and the response.
A ship is a closed community far from the police, and a survivor may share a deck with the person who hurt them for days. Because of that, how the line screens its crew, secures cabins and responds to a report can shape what happens next.
A cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care. For example, a case may look at whether crew were screened, whether known risks were acted on, whether guests were served alcohol while visibly drunk and how fast security acted. In addition, camera footage, key card logs and medical and incident reports can show what happened and when.
Crew members with access
Staff who use cabin keys, uniforms or authority to reach guests.
Weak crew screening
Thin background checks and no action on past complaints.
Cabin & key control
Unsecured doors, wide key access and no record of who entered.
Alcohol & nightlife
Guests served while visibly drunk, and drinks that were tampered with.
Understaffed security
Too few officers, thin patrols and a slow response.
Camera & monitoring gaps
Blind spots, unwatched feeds and footage that was not kept.
Ignored complaints
Earlier reports about the same person that led to no action.
Poor response after a report
No prompt medical exam, evidence not kept, or a survivor not believed.
Ports & the rest of the trip
Tenders, excursions and more. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
The line failed to protect you, or failed to respond.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes passengers reasonable care under the circumstances. In a sexual assault case, that can mean showing the line knew, or should have known, about the risk, such as earlier complaints or poor screening of crew. It can also mean showing the line did not respond as it reasonably should have, for instance by leaving an area unwatched or failing to help after a report. Which rules apply can depend on who the attacker was, so each case needs its own review.
A foreseeable risk
Earlier complaints, known problems or weak screening that pointed to the danger.
A failure to protect or respond
Weak security, poor screening, a slow response or no help after a report.
Harm and loss
Medical and counseling records, lost income and the trip itself.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A CRUISE
Your safety and care come first.
Get to safety
Go to a trusted crew member or a public area, or call for help. If you want to talk to someone now, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-4673.
Get medical care
See the ship’s doctor or a hospital as soon as you can, because an exam protects your health and can preserve evidence. If you can, keep what you were wearing, and keep every bill.
Report it when you are ready
You may tell ship security and law enforcement, and you can ask for a copy of any report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Write down what you remember
When you feel ready, note the time, the place and who was involved, in your own words. There is no rush to do it right away.
Keep your ticket and messages
Your ticket sets the deadlines and the court. Save your folio, photos, texts and key card too.
Call a Cruise Injury Attorney
Camera footage, key card logs and reports can be lost or overwritten. We can send a written request that they be preserved.
SEXUAL ASSAULT RESULTS
All results[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain, restrained line about a real case the firm handled.
[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain, restrained line about a real case the firm handled.
[Confirm] CASE TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain, restrained line about a real case the firm handled.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
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“Mr.Chalik was extremely responsive and professional. His office kept us well informed as things progressed. He showed true concern about the status of my wife’s recovery from her injury. I highly recommend his firm and feel very comfortable in suggesting them when asked for recommendations.”
QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Can I sue a cruise line if I was sexually assaulted on board?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example by not screening crew, ignoring earlier complaints or responding poorly to a report. However, the ticket can limit where and when you can file. For that reason, a free case review is the quickest way to learn where you stand.
What if the person was a crew member, or another passenger?
Either can matter, and the answer can differ. A cruise line is generally expected to take reasonable care in hiring and supervising crew, and in protecting guests from known risks. Because the facts and the rules vary, we look at who the person was and how the line responded.
Does it matter if I had been drinking?
It can be raised by the defense, but it does not automatically defeat a claim. Having been drinking does not make an assault your fault, and the cruise line’s own conduct still matters. Even so, we look at every factor with care before giving a view.
What if I waited to report it?
Reporting late can make a case harder to prove, but it does not automatically end a claim. Many survivors wait, and we understand why. Please call when you feel able to, though keep in mind that the filing deadline can be the bigger risk.
Do I have to go to the police or the FBI to bring a claim?
A report to law enforcement is a separate step from a claim against a cruise line, and the choice is yours. We can explain your options and how they fit together. In the meantime, keep any report numbers and copies you receive.
How long do I have to file?
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 can differ for some claims, so please do not assume it is too late. Since the clock may already be running, call as soon as you feel able to, and we will check the dates that apply to your ticket.
What does it cost to find out if I 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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