Cruise Ship Liability Arising From Coronavirus

COVID-19 has affected just about everyone in the United States, and it has become common knowledge that some individuals are more at risk than others. For example, outbreaks in nursing home facilities across the country have been some of the most severe, as the elderly are particularly vulnerable to infection. At the time the virus became an official pandemic, there were also many cruise ships traveling all around the world, putting those on board at extreme risk of infection.

News of coronavirus outbreaks on these ships quickly made headlines, as many people not only became sick, but several also died as a result of being stranded on a ship when they became severely ill. Now, several lawsuits against cruise ship companies are emerging, but experts are warning that those individuals will have an uphill battle ahead. So, are cruise ship companies liable when someone becomes sick from the coronavirus on board? The answer is that it depends. Those who do have a valid case should always speak to a San Francisco cruise ship accident lawyer for help.

Simply becoming sick while on a cruise ship does not automatically mean the cruise ship company is liable. Like in any personal injury lawsuit, in order for an individual or company to be considered liable, they must have displayed negligence. In the case of COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships, negligence means that the cruise ship staff members did not take proper care of their passengers.

If the staff on a cruise ship did everything they could to contain the infection, they are likely not liable for resulting damages. For example, after one case of COVID-19 was discovered on the ship, the cruise ship staff should have shut down all events, quarantined anyone who was ill, and required all other passengers to remain in their rooms. If they did not do this, they could be considered negligent. However, if the cruise ship staff did everything they could to prevent the spread of infection, they may not be considered liable.

Regardless of whether someone became infected by the coronavirus onboard a cruise ship, or suffered from another type of accident, it is always difficult to pursue claims against cruise ship companies. Individuals who want to file a claim should remain aware of two main problems.

The first is that cruise ships are typically under the jurisdiction of maritime law. Maritime law is quite different from the personal injury laws in California, and many are unaware of those differences. Additionally, maritime law may absolve the cruise ship from liability, depending on the situation. Your San Francisco cruise ship accident lawyer can help you determine whether you have a case.

The other main problem with filing a claim against a cruise ship company is that all cruise ship tickets have a disclaimer included on them. These disclaimers typically prevent people from filing lawsuits against the cruise ship company. It is important that all passengers understand that, while these disclaimers sometimes hold up in court, they do not provide total immunity when the cruise ship company or its staff members have been negligent.

Cruise ship operators and staff members are responsible for ensuring the safety of their passengers, and that includes when there is a pandemic. However, suing cruise ship companies when they are negligent is not easy. A ccruise ship accident attorney in San Francisco can help with your case. At the Brod Law Firm, our attorneys have taken on some of the toughest cases, and we have the experience necessary to help clients secure the fair compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has contracted COVID-19 when onboard a cruise ship, call us today at (800) 427-7020 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.