Bernstein & Maryanoff

Miami & Statewide Florida Boating Accident & Cruise Ship Injury Attorneys

Boating and cruise ship accidents injure many people in southern Florida. Each specific type of boating accident needs to be analyzed carefully by an experienced lawyer to determine the victim's rights. For example, there are different time limits for filing a lawsuit based on the body of water involved. There are also different compensation limits based on the value of the boat, whether you are a guest on the boat, whether the owner is present on the boat, or you are an employee who is injured on a boat. It is important in determining your rights to know whether you were on land or sea when the accident occurred. Many other factors apply as well, such as how many days of the year you are on land versus being at sea.

The lawyers and staff at Bernstein & Maryanoff have the financial resources and experience to help you pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries or loss in any type of boating accident. From our principal office in Miami and numerous other offices across Florida, we represent clients throughout the state.

Cruise Line Injuries

When a person takes a cruise, their ticket is a legally binding contract. The contract differs based on the cruise line involved, but may involve the following kinds of limits if you are injured:

• You normally must provide written notification of your injury to the home office of the cruise line within six-months. If you don't, you will be prohibited by law from making your claim.
• There is typically a requirement that any lawsuit be filed within one year. If not, you will be prevented from suing the cruise line.

Beyond the time limits for filing claims, cruise lines are very sophisticated at protecting themselves from personal injury claims. Typically, cruise lines will have an injured person sign a statement of how an accident happened and what part of their body was injured. People will typically sign the statement, not knowing that it will later be brought out in court to show what they said immediately after the accident.

Many cruise lines, such as Carnival, require that any lawsuit against them be brought only in Miami-Dade. They do this because they employ a lot of people in the Miami-Dade area. They are also very generous with donations to local civic events and charities. It takes a sophisticated and experienced lawyer to handle a cruise line injury successfully. You should hire a Miami lawyer who knows the ins and outs of these cases and not an out of state lawyer.

Free consultation: There is never a charge to talk to a cruise ship and boating accident attorney at the law firm of Bernstein & Maryanoff. With a principal office in Miami, other offices across Florida, and the willingness to make house calls, our attorneys will be there when you need them. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis.

Learn more about boating accidents

Boating Accident Information Center

Brain Injury Information Center

Wrongful Death