Is There A Time Limit For Bringing A Claim Against A Cruise Line?

Question: When do I have to bring a claim against a cruise line?  Is there a time limit?  

 

Answer:  There is a time limit for everything in life.  And that includes when you have to bring a claim against a cruise line.  Cruise passengers who are adults and are injured have 1 year from the date of the injury.  

 

But for injuries to certain people or for a death, the time limit can be up to 3 years.  There is a Federal statute which applies to this. That statute is 46 USC Sec. 30508(b)(2) and (d).  The statute says that if a minor child or someone who is incompetent injured, or for the family of someone who dies from the negligence of the cruise line, the time limit is extended up to 3 years.   So for a minor child or incompetent person who is injured or for the family of a passenger who dies, the answer is a little more complicated.  In those cases, the time clock does not start to run until “the date a legal representative is appointed for the minor, incompetent, or decedent’s estate or 3 years after the injury or death” whichever comes first.  The time limit in the cruise passenger ticket is almost always 1 year.  But the one year does not start to run until that legal representative is appointed by a court.   

 

This time limit of up to 3 years would apply to a case of sexual assault of a minor child.  If someone sexually assaulted a minor child on a cruise, the time for bringing a claim may not now be gone even though most cruise ships have not sailed with passengers in over a year.    

 

When in doubt, call the maritime attorneys who specialize in this specialized area, Hickey Law Firm.  Call us now.  305.760.4492.          

 

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact us today. We will lead you on the journey to justice. We will show you the way. We will explain the process, what we have done, and what we will do. Take our hand and walk with us. We have a team ready for you now.