Inside the Legal Spider Web of Cruise Ship Injuries By a Maritime Lawyer in Miami

Perkins Law Offices: Maritime Lawyer in Miami

Cruise injury cases are not like regular personal injury claims—they’re governed by a spider web of federal maritime laws, international regulations, and cruise line contracts that are intentionally written to protect the cruise companies. That’s why hiring a maritime lawyer based in Miami is absolutely critical.

Most major cruise lines—Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, and others—are headquartered in Miami, and their ticket contracts require all injury claims to be filed in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. If you hire a lawyer outside of Miami who isn’t familiar with this court or maritime law, your case could be delayed, dismissed, or even lost entirely. Cruise accident cases are not standard injury cases which is why the best lawyer for cruise injury cases is one in Miami who deals with such cases day in and day out.

A skilled Miami maritime attorney will know:

• The one-year statute of limitations that applies to most cruise injury cases.
• The six-month notice requirement hidden in cruise ticket fine print.
• The cruise line’s tactics—like blaming your footwear, alcohol consumption, or using misleading forms filled out under duress.
• How to fight for compensation even under restrictive laws like the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).
• Most importantly, what area of ships are demonstrably dangerous from having dealt with hundreds of similar claims.

A maritime lawyer in Miami isn’t just convenient—they’re essential. They know the courtroom, the cruise companies, and the loopholes. If you’ve been hurt at sea, hiring a Miami-based maritime attorney like Alex Perkins gives you the strongest chance at real justice. Perkins Law Offices have real client reviews online that share the positive experience they have on Google and Avvo. Clients love the Perkins team and routinely rave how Alex Perkins is the best lawyer they could have chosen for their case because he is honest and truly cares about them.

 Cruise Ship Injuries Are a Legal Spider Web Requiring a Maritime Lawyer in Miami

If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship, you may be shocked to discover just how complex your path to justice can be. It’s rarely easy and straightforward. There are so many variables in the different types of cases and jurisdictional issues that can make her break the ability to get compensation for your injury. Unlike car accidents or typical slip-and-fall cases on land, cruise ship injuries are governed by a unique combination of federal maritime law, international treaties, and iron-clad forum selection clauses written deep into your ticket’s fine print. You need the best cruise ship injury lawyer in Miami that you can find. Perkins Law Offices should be at the top of the list.

The Cruise Industry’s Hidden Legal Shield

Alex Perkins, founder of Perkins Law Offices, also known as Perkins Personal Injury Lawyers, has spent nearly two decades helping victims untangle the web of cruise line litigation. As he puts it: “It’s a spiderweb of gotcha traps—you’ve got to be Spider-Man a little bit.”

Here’s why: Most major cruise lines—Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises—are headquartered in Miami, and their contracts legally bind you to file your lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. If your attorney isn’t licensed to practice there or doesn’t understand the nuances of maritime law, your case might be dead in the water.

Maritime Law Isn’t Like Land-Based Law

You’d think a cruise injury would be handled like any other personal injury case. Wrong. So many cases have been lost because the lawyer or client doesn’t know the “lay of the sea” and that cruise injury cases are not standard. The short statute of limitations of one year is one major pitfall many lawyers fall into. In many states, the statue of limitations for personal injury cases is two years even four in some states, but when it happens on a cruise ship, it is only one year. A lawyer may even do some legal research and research general federal Maritime law that allows statutes of limitations to be up to three years, but what they don’t realize is that federal law also allows the cruise lines to shorten the statue of limitations in their ticket contract down to one year.  All Cruise lines have shortened their statue of limitations to one year.

The 6 month notice letter is another pitfall. Before you can even file suit, you have to send a written notice letter outlining the liability and theory of negligence to put the cruise line on notice. If you don’t fulfill this contractual obligation, you will not be able to file your lawsuit, even if you were still within the one year statute of limitations.

Another trap are Draconian and antiquated maritime laws that are still on the books. Cruise lines are protected by outdated and harsh maritime laws like the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA). If a child or unemployed person dies at sea—even due to the cruise line’s negligence—you might be entitled to zero damages. This is because the federal law with regard to deaths on the high seas, which means more than three nautical miles off of land, limit survivors, wrongful death damages to pecuniary losses. This has a specific definition under federal law, and you are not entitled to pain and suffering emotional distress or any other non-economic damages that you would be allowed under normal state laws for the loss of a loved one. DOHSA limits compensation to pecuniary losses (i.e., lost income). No compensation for pain, suffering, or loss of companionship. It’s devastatingly unfair—and totally legal. This law applies, even if you die on land, but the wrongful act that caused the death was started on the cruise ship.

A System Built to Protect Corporations, Not People

Cruise ships are like floating cities—but with less accountability. Until recently, they weren’t even required to report serious crimes like sexual assaults to law enforcement. Today, while they’re technically supposed to report incidents to the FBI, many still handle things internally, sweeping disturbing events under the rug.

Take one of Perkins’ confidential cases, for example. A crew member sexually assaulted an intoxicated passenger, and instead of calling the police, the cruise line quietly sent the offender home. No investigation. No justice.

Thankfully, under federal maritime law, cruise lines can be strictly liable for crew member misconduct—including sexual assaults. But only a seasoned maritime attorney will know how to build and win those cases.

Common Cruise Injury Defenses—And Why They’re Flawed

Cruise lines rely on predictable defenses:

• Blame the victim’s shoes: Even if you’re wearing flip-flops on a Caribbean cruise (like 99% of other passengers), they’ll say your footwear caused the fall.
• Claim you were drunk: If you had one mimosa at brunch, expect them to use it against you.
• Skewed incident reports: Medical staff will sometimes fill out forms for you, asking who you blame—but only offering “Myself” or “Other” as choices. Many victims sign these under duress or while on pain medication.
• Missing evidence: Cruise lines often refuse to release CCTV footage, even when it could prove your case. Why? Because it might hurt them more than help.

The One-Year Trap: Cruise Injury Deadlines Are Brutal

You only have one year to file a lawsuit, and six months to notify the cruise line in writing. That’s half the time given under most maritime cases.

Many victims get “slow-played” by cruise lines or general personal injury lawyers unfamiliar with maritime rules. They send demand letters, wait for a response—and by the time they realize nothing’s coming, the statute of limitations has passed.

If you’ve been injured on a cruise, do not wait.

Why Miami Victims Must Act Now

Florida doesn’t require drivers to carry bodily injury insurance, so car accident victims often struggle to collect damages. But cruise lines? They’re publicly traded companies with deep pockets—and they’re held to higher standards under maritime law.

But there’s a catch: these cases can’t be handled by just any attorney.

Inside the Legal Web of Cruise Ship Injuries: Why You Need a Maritime Lawyer in Miami

Call Perkins Law Offices—A National Leader in Cruise Ship Injury Law

Attorney Alex Perkins has earned a nationwide reputation as the go-to cruise ship injury lawyer in Miami. He handles cases from passengers across the U.S. and Canada, many of whom had no idea their local lawyer wasn’t qualified to bring the case in federal court.

If you were injured on a cruise—whether it’s a slip, trip, assault, or medical malpractice—time is of the essence. Don’t lose your right to compensation due to a missed deadline or inexperienced attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long do I have to file a cruise injury lawsuit?
You typically have one year from the date of the injury and six months to notify the cruise line in writing. These deadlines are strictly enforced.

Can I sue the cruise line for sexual assault by a crew member?
Yes. Under federal maritime law, cruise lines may be strictly liable for assaults committed by their employees.

Do I need a lawyer in Miami to handle my cruise ship injury case?
Almost always, yes. Most cruise contracts require lawsuits to be filed in federal court in Miami, regardless of where you live.

Will the cruise line give me the CCTV footage?
No. Cruise lines rarely share video footage before a lawsuit is filed, even if it could prove your case.

Can I sue if I was drinking before my injury?
Possibly. Cruise lines often use alcohol as a defense, but moderate drinking doesn’t automatically void your claim—especially if negligence played a role.

Contact a Perkins Law Offices Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer in Miami Today

If you or a loved one were injured on a cruise, don’t wait. Reach out to Perkins Law Offices—a firm with the experience, resources, and federal court access to hold the cruise lines accountable.