Often, cruise ship accidents may require a lawyer due to the fact that they are highly complicated and there are many different issues that could come up and lead to the loss of possible compensation when the individual harmed in the accident is not informed regarding how to proceed and what is required for the claim. This is why most incidents on a cruise ship will necessitate maritime law involvement. Here are some of the key reasons to keep in mind when you are dealing with a cruise ship accident and thinking if you need a lawyer or not.

How complex the injury/accident is- Other than the need to worry about maritime laws and how to pursue compensation for the damage that is caused, the individual that suffers harm through an accident will need to think about other complex matters within the claim. There are often many things to investigate regarding evidence and getting witness statements of those passengers who are still on the ship or who leave the ship. If the crew has a certain amount of involvement in the crime or accident, then this could cause other difficulties without a lawyer. The victim of the accident will require a lawyer to question, interview, and assist with preserving all the evidence they can.
Investigation- If you hire lawyers early on, they can help you with the full investigation into the accident from the beginning. This may mean coming aboard the cruise ship while the cruise is still going on and not set to return home until weeks or months later. Some lawyers may need to contact the cruise ship operator in order to coordinate the investigation long-distance until the legal professional can get near the ship. Lawyers will also assist with finding an expert witness and questioning crew/witnesses.
Fighting with the cruise ship company- One of the key problems in pursuing a claim against the cruise ship liner is battling the legal team hired by the company. The lawyer you hire to help with such matters will assist through fighting the legal processes on your side. Other problems come up in the contract signed when you agree to conditions the company set in the cruise paperwork, aka your ticket. This may put a brake on any attempts to initiate a claim against the company, and the cruise liner may dictate when and where the person is able to file a claim. This location and time may negatively affect the victim of the accident.
Assistance throughout recovery- Another way that a lawyer assists the victim of a cruise ship accident is through beginning the claim or investigation while the injured party is in recovery. He or she may have to visit the doctor, stay in the hospital, or handle pain. Throughout these trying times, the lawyer can conduct investigations in the background or directly for the client as he or she works on healing and getting past the pain and suffering incurred by the accident. The victim may also reconnect with family, go back to work, and go on with their daily life while the lawyer handles the legal aspects of the battle against the cruise company.

If you are seeking an attorney experienced in maritime law, call Madalon Law today.

Contrary to popular belief, in the years before Uber and Lyft started to appear on the scene in cities all across the United States, deadly car accidents were at record lows. By 2010, just before the ride-hailing services started to expand throughout the nation and take over, the total amount of traffic fatalities had settled down at 32,885 nationwide- the lowest number since 1949, according to data released by the government. However, once Uber and Lyft started to expand aggressively, these fatal accidents have started to be on the rise yet again. 

Researchers John Barrios from the University of Chicago along with Yael Hochberg and Livia Hayi Yi of Rice University note in a draft of their study that “The arrival of ridesharing is associated with an increase of 2-3% in the amount of motor vehicle fatalities and fatal accidents.” These researchers examined the effect of ride-hailing on traffic safety by taking official statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and compared them with the dates that Uber or Lyft began to operate in a specific location. The authors then analyzes the accident rates in those cities per vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Unsurprisingly, VMT increased dramatically once Uber launched in San Francisco in 2010, which was quickly followed by other competitors, due to the miles drivers travel between the end of one fare and picking up another passenger. 

A study found this year that in New York, drivers travel an average of 2.8 miles in between fares. With the staggered introduction of ridesharing across U.S. cities, the researchers were able to illustrate how its introduction in a metropolitan area can lead to an economically meaningful increase in overall motor vehicle fatalities. This increase remains consistent with acknowledged macro trends in motor vehicle accidents. Of course, this study is also concerned with toal vehicle traffic within a given city and time, so it is also possible that the accidents are not necessarily related to any ride-hailing driver. The researchers note in the study that it “may be too soon to tell whether the effect we document is a short-term adjustment or a longer-term pattern.” 

Both Uber and Lyft have pushed back against the findings of the study, and each company have called the study’s results “deeply flawed.” An Uber spokesperson interviewed by Business Insider states that “Uber has contributed to safety in many ways and we take our responsibility to help keep people safe seriously.” Even though these findings have been disputed by ride-hailing giants, will still contribute to a growing list of research surrounding ridesharing and the entire gig economy. It could also function as a spark for those pushing for further caps on ridesharing. However, it’s important to continue research in order to have a more thorough understanding of the issue so that we can continue to improve on public health and safety, as ridesharing becomes ever more popular. If you were involved in a car accident, it’s important to seek legal counsel. Call Madalon Law for your car accident attorney consultation today.