Referring Attorneys: Cruise Ship Cases
Experienced maritime counsel for complex cruise ship injury claims
Many personal injury firms handle a cruise ship or maritime case once in a while. The problem is that these cases are complex and should only be handled by an attorney with true experience in this field. Federal maritime law applies, most of the cases have to be filed in Federal Court, cruise ticket language dictates a one year statute of limitations and a 6 month notice requirement, and the venue is controlled by contract and for most of the major cruise lines the venue to file suit is Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, no matter where the home port of the cruise was.
That is a very different setup from a standard slip-and-fall on land. Not every firm has the structure to move a maritime case from intake through discovery and trial. At Hickey Law Firm, we can handle these cases the way they deserve to be handled - with dedication, knowledge, and experience. (Jack Hickey represented cruise lines for 20 years and is Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law and as a Trial Lawyer). This is why we’re always open to accepting referrals for these types of cases.
WAS A LAWYER FOR THE CRUISE LINES. NOW A LAWYER FOR YOU ®
Types of cruise ship cases we accept through referrals
We accept a wide range of cruise-related injury and wrongful death claims. Below are some of the types of cases we take as referrals:
- Cruise ship passenger injuries: These are common cases, and they can involve falls, broken bones, head injuries, or other harm on the ship. The legal questions often include where the injury happened (on the ship or off of the ship and if so where), identifying the hazard and how large and visible it was and how long it had been there and of course whether the cruise line had notice of the hazard.
- Slip-and-fall/unsafe conditions: Wet decks, thresholds, poor lighting, and maintenance failures can all cause injuries and expose the cruise line to liability. These cases often depend on photos, incident reports, video, and proof that the dangerous condition was known about or should have been known.
- Sexual assault and crew misconduct: The cruise lines raise many defenses and excuses for the conduct of their employees and try to deflect and blame the victim. These are issues that need very cautious handling because of how sensitive they are. Liability is often based on negligent security, supervision, or hiring, or poor response to previously reported issues. Early preservation of records is often important because the cruise line possesses and controls much of the relevant evidence.
- Tender boat and embarkation injuries: Transfers between ship and shore can be awkward and unsafe if the crew mishandles the process. These claims often turn on seamanship, vessel movement, and whether passengers were given safe instructions and assistance.
- Excursion-related injuries: Questions may be raised concerning vendor liability, cruise line oversight, and what the passenger was told before booking. We look into who ran the excursion and the cruise line’s part in organizing it.
- Medical negligence on the ship: Some incidents involve delays in treatment, missing symptoms, or an inadequate emergency response by onboard medical staff and the command of the ship. Those lawsuits include medical and marine issues and many experts. So it is important to have a lawyer who has handled them before.
- Catastrophic injury and wrongful death: These claims can change a family’s life forever, and may need a more aggressive litigation plan from the start. They always involve expensive experts, getting to know the family, and going to trial or the willingness and ability to go to trial. A timely referral gives us room to preserve evidence and set the case up the right way.
WHEN PEOPLE NEED A SPECIALIST IN LIFE CHANGING INJURIES,
PEOPLE CHOOSE HICKEY LAW FIRM.
Why cruise ship cases require specialized maritime counsel
Cruise ship cases are not just land-based injury claims that happen to take place on a ship. They are governed by admiralty or maritime law, special venue rules, and contract language that can change where and how the case is filed. If the attorney handling the file does not work in that space, it is easy to miss a deadline or pursue the wrong court.
Admiralty and maritime law
The rules governing duty, causation, and damages may differ from ordinary state law. That affects how the claim is framed from the beginning.
Specific federal courts
All cruise ticket contracts require that injury lawsuits be filed in a particular federal court, most of which is in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Short contractual deadlines
Cruise tickets require notice within 6 months (and sometimes less if the cruise did not touch a U.S. port) and filing suit filed within a year.
Multiple responsible parties
Depending on the facts, liability may involve the ship operator, a parent company, a medical provider, an excursion vendor, or a security contractor. Sorting that out early can change the case strategy significantly.
This combination of law and procedure is why cruise cases are not a good fit for a generic approach. A referring lawyer who spots maritime law issues early can help protect the client and avoid unnecessary problems later.
Trial-tested vs. settlement-only representation
The cruise lines know which lawyers can and will go to trial and which will not. Who do you think they offer the most money to? Answer: The ones who go to trial.
Most cruise cases settle at some point, but not all do. The amount of leverage in negotiation often depends on whether the other side believes the case is fully prepared for court. A case built with trial in mind usually has more force behind it than a file positioned only for an early demand.
We settle only if we get the right number for our client. We are comfortable with settlement when it makes sense, and we are also prepared to keep going if litigation is the better path. That balance can matter a great deal in cruise cases, where the first offer is not always the right one.
If you have a cruise ship or maritime case that needs referral or co-counsel support, Hickey Law Firm can review venue, deadlines, evidence, and trial posture. We work with attorneys nationwide and can move quickly when a case needs an experienced maritime law firm.
Proven results in maritime and cruise ship cases
Jack Hickey is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law and Admiralty & Maritime Law, and Board Certified as a Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). Hickey Law Firm has handled many complex maritime and cruise ship matters that required hard work and dedication. These are examples of prior outcomes in maritime and cruise ship cases involving serious injuries.
- $12,000,000: Maritime case where dive boat backed over 2 of its divers. The propellers of the boat hit the heads of the divers and caused a major fracture on the skull of a 12 year old boy who suffered a permanent brain injury.
- $10,576,717: Maritime accident resulting in spinal cord injury and central pain syndrome.
- $9,000,000: Passenger sexual assault case involving crew misconduct.
- $6,000,000: Fall accident leading to traumatic brain injury.
- $2,998,000: Slip and fall injury awarded by a federal judge.
- $1,295,000: Cruise ship structural failure causing back injury requiring surgery.
These results are examples of past outcomes, not a guarantee of what any future case will be worth.
What happens when you refer a case to Hickey Law Firm
When a case comes to us, we try to make the process as straightforward as possible. The client receives early attention, and the referring lawyer knows where the matter stands. Here's how this usually works:
Initial consultation with the client
We talk to the client and get the basic information, and we find out if there are any urgent issues that need to be dealt with right away. That typically means inspections of scenes if possible, deadlines, medical care, and anything else that has to be safeguarded right away.
Case evaluation and jurisdiction analysis
We look at the cruise ticket, the location of the incident, and overall circumstances to determine where the case is headed. This helps us decide whether the matter should be heard in federal court or in some other particular forum.
Strategy discussion with referring counsel
We discuss the case with the referring lawyer and outline the next steps. That may include early negotiation, filing suit, or preparing for trial if the cruise line does not resolve the claim fairly.
Investigation, discovery, litigation, and trial if needed
If the case moves forward, we handle the records, discovery, depositions, motions, and trial preparation. The amount of our role depends on the case and the referral structure. The goal is to keep the process organized and give the client the experience and knowledge the case requires. We always make sure the referring attorney is informed as well if appropriate.
Co-counsel and referral fee arrangements
Referral relationships and referral fees are always in writing. The referring counsel and the client sign off on the agreement. We copy referring counsel on all significant emails and messages and keep them up to date.
Our approach keeps the process clean and ethical and lets the client get the right level of support.
Reach out to Hickey Law Firm and refer cruise ship and maritime cases with confidence
Cruise ship injury cases need attention and a team that understands maritime litigation from the start. If your firm has a case involving federal admiralty law, a cruise ticket deadline, or a claim that may require trial work, we can help review it and take the next step. Hickey Law Firm works with referring attorneys in a clear, ethical, and client-focused manner. If you have a maritime case you want to discuss, reach out to our team so we can discuss the best way to move forward.