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  • Cruise Ship Accident & Illness Claims

Cruise Ship Accident & Illness Claims

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For many people, a cruise is the holiday of a lifetime. Cruise ship operators have a duty of care to their passengers and should protect them from harm. So, if you've become ill or sustained an injury while on a cruise then our lawyers could help you claim compensation.

What is a cruise ship illness or accident compensation claim?

With so many passengers in a confined space, cruise ship operators have a duty to follow clearly set out procedures to both minimise the risk of an illness outbreak, and to contain it if one occurs. There are also procedures to limit the risk of accidents that must be followed.

Illnesses such as food poisoning are unfortunately quite common on cruise ships, and we've helped thousands of passengers make cruise ship illness claims for:

  • Norovirus
  • Salmonella
  • E-Coli
  • Campylobacter
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Legionnaires’ disease
  • Viral Gastroenteritis.

Accidents we’ve been able to help people claim for include:

  • Assault
  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Burns
  • Falling overboard.

If you've sustained an injury or illness that you think was caused by negligence on the part of the crew or operator of a cruise ship, our lawyers could help you claim compensation. Contact us today to discuss what happened to you in a free initial consultation.

Compensation claims in England, Scotland, and Wales are normally funded through a no win no fee agreement. This means that there's nothing to pay upfront, and that you won’t have to pay any legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful.

However, you’ll need a suitable insurance policy if you wish to make a no win no fee claim. We can take out After The Event (ATE) insurance if you don’t already have an appropriate policy. This will protect you from incurring any costs.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell to handle your cruise injury or illness claim?

We have a proven track record in cruise ship illness and injury claims, including high-profile cases. Our team of international serious injury solicitors have the experience and expertise to get the compensation that should be awarded to you.

Our lawyers are recognised internationally as leaders in the field of personal injury, and we continue to secure more compensation awards for our clients than any other UK law firm.

Not only will you be represented by expert solicitors, but you’ll also be helped by other teams across our firm. We have an in-house team of Support and Rehabilitation Coordinators, who are trained clinical specialists who’ll help you to access the care and support you need most. With strong relationships with charities across the UK, we’ll get you help that’s close by.

Alongside this support, our Welfare Benefits advisors will be there to ensure you’re aware of all the benefits you may be entitled to claim. Our Court of Protection team can also set up a personal injury trust for you. This protects your compensation from being factored into your benefit entitlement.

We work flexibly around your needs and preferences. If you’re unable to travel, we can visit you at home or in hospital or arrange video or phone calls. We’ve also got offices in many locations around the UK, so if you prefer, you can visit us at a local office for a comfortable and confidential talk with your solicitors.

No Win No Fee
Over 30 years of experience handling high-profile claims
Longstanding links with foreign law experts
Offices across the UK

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Demetrius Danas National Head of International Serious Injury Meet The Team

Accidents At Sea & Cruise Injury Claims - More Information

If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, or if you became ill through the crew or cruise liner’s negligence, you could make a claim. We encourage anybody who sustained an illness or injury through no fault of their own to contact us.

We’ll start by setting up a free initial consultation with one of our team. This gives you the chance to explain what happened to you and we’ll let you know if you could claim compensation. We’ll also advise you on the funding options available.

You don’t have to go any further than this initial consultation, but if you choose to continue your claim with us, we’ll begin gathering evidence. We can use a range of evidence to support your claim, including:

  • Witness statements
  • Independent medical experts
  • Receipts
  • Photographs / CCTV footage
  • Medical records
  • Complaint records.

We will then approach the individual or cruise line responsible for your illness or injury and inform them that we intend to make a claim. The process will be quicker if they admit fault and accept how much compensation we feel you need. In this case, we’ll also work to get you interim payments, which can be used to pay for ongoing expenses before your claim is settled.

However, if they disagree with the compensation amount or won’t admit responsibility, we’ll need to prove it was their fault. This may involve initiating court proceedings. We try to keep claims from going to court, but we’ll be by your side every step of the way if we need to take your claim to court.

Many claims can still be settled out of court even after trial dates have been set.

The time limit under the Athens Convention to bring a claim is normally two years, although it can be up to three years for children or people without mental capacity. This time limit begins from the date of disembarkation (when you get off the ship).

However, the Limitation Act 1980’s discretion to extend the time limit doesn’t apply to the Athens Convention. For this reason, we urge you to contact us as soon as possible to start your claim.

No, it doesn’t matter where your accident or illness happened. The Athens Convention states that cruise liners and ferries (“carriers”) must have enough insurance to cover any accidents that happen.

So, wherever in the world your cruise ship was when you became ill or had an accident, we can help you to make a claim for compensation. Get in touch with us to tell us what happened, and we’ll begin work on your claim.

Because the nature of each cruise ship claim is different, the amount of compensation awarded in each case varies.

To get an idea of how much your claim could be worth, contact us today. We’ll arrange a free initial consultation where we’ll learn more about what happened to you and advise you on how much you could claim.

Your compensation amount will be a full reflection of:

  • Your pain and suffering
  • Any expenses you’ve incurred, such as travel or medical expenses
  • Your long-term care needs
  • Any specialist treatment or equipment you’ll need
  • Any modifications you need making to your home
  • The price of your cruise
  • Loss of earnings you’ve had.

Yes, you can claim compensation if you became injured or ill while on a cruise somewhere in the UK.

UK cruise lines and ferries are still subject to the Athens Convention, which states cruise liners must have insurance in place should an accident occur.

If you booked your cruise through a smaller UK-based company, they’ll likely have public liability insurance. We’ll be able to claim against this to get you the compensation you deserve.

We’re able to handle most cruise ship claims for injury or illness on a no win no fee basis.

To make a no win no fee claim, you must enter into an agreement that’s linked to a suitable insurance policy. We’ll discuss the finer points with you before we start working for you and advise you on what we believe would be the best funding option for you.

We’ll always discuss all funding options available to you before we begin your claim.

Person relaxing by the sea with no legal worries

I am relieved that our legal battle is finally over. Our holiday was a nightmare and we were so disappointed. We’re glad Irwin Mitchell has managed to achieve a successful outcome for us”

David, client

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common injury on a cruise ship?

Cruise ship accidents can come in many different forms. However, some of the most common way injuries are sustained while on board include:

  • Slips, trips, or falls on deck, including when the ship is embarking or disembarking
  • Burns or scalding from meals on board
  • Assault
  • Falling overboard
  • Being injured on excursions organised by the cruise company
  • Being injured due to poor safety measures.

This isn’t an exhaustive list. You could still claim compensation if you had an accident on a cruise ship that’s not listed above. Please get in touch to tell us what happened to you, and we’ll advise on whether you may be able to claim.

What are the most common illnesses on a cruise ship?

You could make a cruise ship claim for illness if you experienced issues such as:

  • Food poisoning
  • Allergic reactions to meals served on board, or exposure to fumes/ chemicals
  • Respiratory conditions, such chemical poisoning, pneumonia, and legionnaires’ disease
  • Ship doctors misdiagnosing a condition or failing to treat an illness or injury properly.

There are other illnesses and reasons you could make a claim for compensation. Contact us if you became ill through ways not listed above.

Can I make a claim for an injury if I was a member of staff on a cruise ship?

If you've been injured while working as a crew member, you can still claim but the process might be slightly different.

Depending on where your employer is based, we might need to approach your claim in a different way than we would most claims. However, we can still help you to make a claim for compensation.

Get in touch with us to tell us about the injuries you sustained while working at sea. We’ll talk you through the claims process and make you aware of how much compensation you could be entitled to.

Read More FAQs

Related Information - Accidents At Sea & Cruise Injury Claims

Air accident claims - we can help if you or a loved has been involved in an aviation accident
Package holiday claims - our expert lawyers could help you claim compensation if you became ill or injured during a package holiday
Accidents & illness abroad claims guide - more information about making a compensation claim
Serious injury abroad claims - how we can help if you have been involved in a serious accident abroad

* To make a No Win No Fee claim, you need to enter a No Win No Fee agreement that's linked to a suitable insurance policy. We'll explain this in more detail before we start your claim.

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