A cruise is expected to be a fun time that is filled with great memories, although anything can happen while you’re on your trip. If you are injured while on a cruise, it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself legally. Doing so will ensure that you are covered if you have to go to court, which is an unfortunate reality that winds up happening to many people. You should be compensated if you are injured on a cruise, especially if the injury was the result of negligence. However, you must make sure you document the incident and can fully back up the facts of the case. If you are unable to do so, you are going to most likely lose when it comes to going to court.
Notify Someone of Your Accident
The first thing you need to do when you get injured on a cruise is to tell someone. Letting a manager of the cruise ship know you have been injured is a good place to start. They will have to fill out paperwork that documents the accident. If you look for medical attention without telling anyone what happened, the court is going to have a hard time validating your claims of injury. The more documentation you have in regards to your accident, the more proof you are going to have in court. The more documented proof you have, the greater the chance you will win your case. While no one expects to have to go to court over a personal injury case, this is a reality that can easily transpire. You can bet the cruise ship you are taking a trip on has a legal team that is prepared to handle such cases. If you don’t let someone know that you’ve had an accident, they are going to have an advantage in court.
Take Pictures for Documentation
The more pictures you take of the scene, the better the court is going to be able to view the actual scene of the incident. If you slipped in a puddle of water on the ship, you are going to want to snap some pictures of the puddle of water. You should also take a variety of pictures to establish the scene and provide documentation. The more evidence you provide your attorney, the better they are going to be able to make a case for your injury claim. If you avoid doing this, it is going to be far easier for the cruise ship to avoid responsibility. Keep this in mind and take some pictures with your cell phone before you seek medical attention.
See a Doctor
It is absolutely crucial to visit a doctor after you have been injured. Some people want to avoid being seen by a doctor, but this is the worst time to put on a tough exterior. When you seek medical attention, your doctor is going to ask you questions about your injury. They will document this information in their files, which will almost always come out during a court case. If you don’t go to the doctor, you are going to be missing out on critical evidence. Failure to seek medical attention creates a major red flag for the court. If you didn’t go to the doctor, don’t expect the court to believe that you were injured when you said you were.
Contact Your Attorney
If you already have a personal injury attorney, you are going to want to get in touch with them right away. It can provide a huge advantage to get instructions from a Tampa personal injury attorney right after your injury. They may be able to give you instructions on what to do, in terms of gathering evidence that may be pertinent to your case. Your personal injury attorney is going to want you to give them a call as soon as you can. In most circumstances, if you contact your Tampa personal injury attorney right away, they will be able to direct you in a manner that may create a stronger case. There is a finite window that allows for collecting evidence and providing documentation after an accident. If you contact your attorney at a later date, you might completely miss out on this aspect of evidence. The sooner you get in contact, the better it is going to be for your case