MARITIME LAWYER
In Florida

Sea Travel Accident Attorneys

Although headlines are devoted to catastrophic incidents, such as the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the 1956 collision between the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm, or the more recent (July 1998) fire onboard the cruise ship Ecstasy, there is an increasing number of travelers who sustain injuries due to the course of the travel.

The port of Miami is known as the Cruise Capital of the World. It is home to nearly 20 ships and has the largest year-round cruise fleet in the world. In 2006, nearly 3.7 million passengers used the Port of Miami.

Silva & Silva’s knowledge of the industry, applicable maritime/admiralty laws, and its location in Miami allows its attorneys and investigators to compile information and pursue the case for its clients expeditiously. The Firm is knowledgeable of all the documents associated with sea travel, such as Contracts of Carriage and Itineraries for Travel, which have been drafted by attorneys who represent the cruise ships. These documents contain language that may be enforced against the passenger/victim, such as forum-selection clauses, in which the cruise operator specifies the only courts and geographic locations where the suits can be filed. The Longshoremen’s Act, Jones Act, and Death on the High Seas Act claim can also be handled by the Firm.

Any claim involving death or significant injury would normally benefit from the advice of an attorney who has experience in this area of the law. Cruise ship injuries, or injuries during the course of a cruise-tour, regardless of whether the injury occurs at sea, traveling to and from shore, on land, or in the air, present many complex issues involving maritime law, products liability, comparative law, and contract law to name just a few. Early consultation with qualified maritime attorneys at Silva & Silva is suggested.

Coral Gables, FL