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More Than 30 Years of Legal Experience

Cruise Line & Boat Accident Attorney

Cruise Line Accidents

The Daytona Beach area serves as a hotspot for many recreational day cruises and extended international cruises. It's also a major connecting port for passengers traveling to South Florida port destinations or those with connections to the Mexican or Caribbean cruise lines, including world famous brands like Princess, Carnival and Disney.

From our office in Ormond Beach, Bonnie A. Berns, P.A., represents individuals and families in Florida and throughout the nation who have suffered injuries, food poisoning and other accidents while cruising the Caribbean and Gulf coasts. Filing claims against cruise lines requires time and dedication, not to mention extreme attention to detail — elements our firm provides.

Determining Liability

It's unlikely that a cruise ship line would be held liable for a passenger's injury unless it was directly caused by the negligence on the part of the cruise line itself or its employees. Most injury lawsuits involve:

  • Slips and trips due to poorly maintained public areas
  • Improper signage and lighting
  • Falls from deck to deck or overboard
  • Food poisoning
  • Negligent security on the ship

Tickets Often Serve As Contracts

Accident claims involving cruise lines are typically subject to maritime laws as opposed to state-level personal injury laws. Moreover, they could also involve elements of contract law.

When a ticket is purchased for a cruise, it details the extent of the cruise line's liability for a passenger's safety. The ticket operates as an agreement, so when someone is injured on a cruise, lawyers focus on the terms and conditions of that agreement.

Cruise Ships Accident Claims Have Strict Deadlines

Tickets often limit the time within which an injured passenger can file a lawsuit. A cruise ship ticket might limit that time to one year, and if no notice of claim was served, a lawsuit could fail. The ticket might also require that the lawsuit must be filed in the state or country of departure.

This is where our firm can help. We regularly help Florida residents as well as those from other states who departed from a Florida port and subsequently suffered injury on a cruise ship. We can serve as your representative in the local court systems. We also regularly make use of technological tools to organize your case from afar. Our team will frequently update you on the status of your case so you know what we are doing on your behalf.

Contact Us To Discuss Your Case With An Experienced Attorney

With over 30 years of litigation experience, we're skilled at representing injured passengers suffering from significant or catastrophic injuries on cruise ships. If you think you were injured as a result of cruise ship negligence, contact us for a free personalized one-on-one consultation and case evaluation at 386-672-4040. With our 24-hour answering service, your calls are taken at any time.

Handling Boat Accidents Along Florida's Coasts

With nearly 1,200 miles of coastline and 11,000 miles of rivers, streams and waterways, Florida is a perfect location for recreational boating and fishing. Couple that much water and about 900,000 registered watercraft, and boating accidents are inevitable. According to the most recent statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 634 reported boating accidents happened in the state in 2015, resulting in 365 injuries and 73 fatalities.

Anybody operating a watercraft has a duty to pilot it in a safe and careful manner, using due care and caution for the safety of others. If you or a loved one was injured in a boating accident, Bonnie A. Berns, P.A., will advocate on your behalf. Our firm brings over 30 years of personalized service to your case.

Types Of Boating Accidents

Collisions with other watercraft, like sailboats, powerboats, Jet Skis, yachts, tour boats or cruise ships, are the leading cause of boating injuries and fatalities. Other causes include:

  • Water skiing accidents
  • Grounding
  • Crashes involving objects underwater
  • Boats overturning
  • Falling overboard
  • Crashing into fixed objects

Injuries sustained in boating accidents range from relatively minor, like whiplash or fractures, to catastrophic, like traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. It's possible to have that operator held liable for damages like medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and any permanent disability or disfigurement.

Although most cases ultimately settle, lawyer Bonnie A. Berns has extensive trial experience. She and our experienced team of legal professionals are not at all apprehensive about taking your case before a judge and jury if a satisfactory settlement can't be reached.

Why Clients Work With Our Firm

Our clients receive personalized service with one-on-one consultations. When you retain us, responsibilities are not passed off to another attorney or paralegal. With a 24-hour answering service, we're accessible and responsive. Your calls are answered at any hour of the day.

If you or somebody close to you has been injured in a boating or other type of accident, contact our office in Ormond Beach, Florida. Just phone 386-672-4040 or use our online contact form to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. Home or hospital visits are not a problem, and we also offer Spanish translation services.