Can I File a Legal Claim in Miami Against a Cruise Ship Due to COVID-19?

As the worldwide pandemic involving the new coronavirus spread across the globe, some travelers on board cruise ships found themselves in a difficult situation. On board multiple cruise ships, COVID-19 spread to both crew and passengers. In some cases, passengers were not able to get removed from the ship because countries, concerned by the pandemic, refused to allow cruise ships to dock. In some cases, it took weeks for passengers to get home safely.

Passengers who were affected by the coronavirus on board cruise ships have pointed to numerous problems. They noted that cruise ship companies made it hard for them to cancel their cruises with a refund, even after the pandemic was spreading across the globe. Not only did cruise ships continue to sail, passengers claim, but in some cases, passengers made the choice to go onboard due to the inflexibility over refunds.

Once a pandemic occurred onboard, some travelers assert the cruise lines confined passengers to small cabins, failed to dock where passengers could get medical help, and failed to prevent COVID-19 from moving from passenger to passenger. As a result, some passengers are alleging that cruise ships companies acted with negligence and recklessness, putting them at risk.

A number of lawsuits have already been filed against Princess Cruise Lines Ltd. and it is expected that more passengers will file legal claims in the weeks and months to come against other cruise ship companies which experienced outbreaks on board their vessels.

If you were on a cruise ships which experienced an outbreak and you suffered from the illness or experienced losses due to the outbreak, you may have a claim if the outbreak was caused by the cruise ship company’s negligence. However, you will need to prove the company acted negligently.

If you think you have a claim after contracting COVID-19 or being affected by an outbreak on board a cruise liner, it is important to retain a qualified and experienced marine injury attorney. The cruise ship companies are aware they are at risk of legal claims and will be taking steps towards a defense. In addition, anyone filing a claim against the companies will need to prove the companies acted in an unreasonable and negligent way. In addition, the pandemic situation is still evolving rapidly, so the legal climate related to this situation may change as well, which could impact claims.

Charles Flaxman of Flaxman Law Group has decades of experience helping plaintiffs like you. His offices in Miami, Hollywood, and Homestead are poised to handle a variety of injury claims. In fact, the entire team at Flaxman Law Group has worked on thousands of personal injury cases and is pleased to offer no obligation, risk-free, and no-cost initial consultations. If you think you may have a claim related to COVID-19 or related to any injury, contact us. Our phone lines are staffed around the clock so you can always reach us.