What should you do if you’ve had an accident or falling ill on a cruise ship?

For most embarking on a cruise, it is filled with happy memories. For some, it can turn into a traumatic affair.

What types of accidents can happen on a cruise?

The most common types of accidents on cruises are slips and trips aboard the ship, for example, tripping over a carpet as it wasn’t fitted properly or hitting your head on a falling beam.

It may also be that you have suffered food poisoning on the ship which you could also claim compensation for.

What should you do if you’ve had an accident or falling ill on a cruise?

If you have been injured as the result of an accident which was not your fault, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

The time limit for making a claim is only two years from the date of the accident.

It is also important that you retain any travel tickets from the voyage as well as any documents confirming the booking.

What must you do to be successful in claiming compensation?

Like all accidents, it is vital that you prove the accident was caused as the result of negligence, and could not have been avoided.

However, claiming compensation for an injury or illness on a cruise is a tricky area of law.

It is necessary to establish jurisdiction for example, is the cruise company principal place of business in the UK, where did the ship depart, where did it visit and so on.

It may even be possible to pursue a claim in Scotland if the cruise company’s place of business is here or the contract between the company and you as a passenger was made here.

Specialist legal advice

This is a very complicated area of law and it is essential that you instruct a solicitor that knows this specialist area of law.

At Digby Brown, we have a team of lawyers that specialise in foreign and travel law. Contact us on 0333 200 5925 to speak with a legal advisor or fill in our online enquiry form.

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