Being out on the open sea is supposed to give you a sense of freedom, with the wind on your face and your friends or family around you. But in the event that things go wrong, accidents and injuries out on the water can affect you on dry land for the rest of your life. So if you’re unlucky enough to have gone through a maritime misfortune and someone else is at fault, you might be entitled to compensation.
Claiming for an accident at sea
Travelling by sea on a cruise liner or ferry boat is statistically one of the safest ways to travel. Especially after the tragedy of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster of 1987. Today, maritime movement has been refined for safety, but it’s never 100% safe when water, winds and weather are involved.
If things go wrong on the water, it’s down to the boat operator to keep everyone onboard safe by law. And if you’re injured by events at sea, making a claim can help you to begin to get justice for any pain caused by the negligence that caused your suffering.
What types of accidents/injuries at sea can I claim for?
It’s rare, but when disaster happens on deck, it can interrupt the relaxation normally found when skipping across the waves. But as rare as it might be, accidents can happen:
- Burns: These can occur due to spilled food and drink, electrical failure, fuel leaks or incorrect handling of flammable materials. This can also cause smoke inhalation.
- Collisions: Contact between the boat and the dock, rocks or other large objects can lead to harsh rocking, crushing and falling objects onboard.
- Grounding and capsizing: If your boat runs ashore, it can cause crushing, panic or falling when the deck becomes unlevel.
- Heavy weather and rough seas: Severe weather conditions can cause falling, entanglement or drowning depending on the severity.
- Loading and unloading accidents: If cargo is being loaded or unloaded, especially in heavy weather, things can fall and cause crushing or trauma.
- Machinery and equipment accidents: Incorrectly tied down or positioned machinery can cause crushing, lacerations or worse.
- Piracy and security incidents: Although less common, pirates can attack boats at sea and depending on the severity of the attack, injuries may occur.
- Outbreak: Illness like seasickness is common onboard boats, but if a virus gets onboard, it’s down to the crew to contain a full-on outbreak.
- Slips, trips and falls: Wet and slippery decking or knee-height equipment being left on the ground can cause slips, trips and falls. A common occurrence that can become more dangerous out at sea.
Can I claim for an accident at sea?
When accidents happen on ferries, ocean liners and pleasure crafts — as innocuous as they may seem at the time — they can drastically impact your life once you’re back on shore. Once you realise you’ve been affected more than you initially thought, or have been looking for justice ever since, you should contact us for a no-obligation evaluation of the circumstances surrounding your injuries.
If we discover that you’ve been affected by negligence on the part of the captain and crew or tour company of the boat you travelled on, we can advise and represent you in a tribunal or in court if you want to pursue a civil suit.
The evidence you’ll need to make an accident at sea claim
The process of making an accident at sea claim can feel scary at first due to the rarity of the claim. Our skilled legal team at Injury Lawyers 4U bring years of expertise with us when handling cases like this and are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve.
To build a strong claim, we’ll need some detailed information from you. Here’s what we’ll need to know:
- The date, time, and specific location of the accident.
- Details of the incident, including your account of what happened and who you believe was at fault.
- Contact and insurance information of all parties involved.
- Any available police reports documenting the occurrence.
- Photos or videos from the scene, which could include photos taken by you or CCTV from the scene.
- Contact details for any witnesses.
- Records of any medical treatment you received, whether at the scene or afterwards at the doctor’s office or hospital.
Reach out to Injury Lawyers 4U today. Our skilled team is ready to offer you comprehensive, free legal advice, helping you understand your rights and whether you have a valid claim.
How much compensation can I get for an accident at sea?
The level of compensation you may be able to claim for your accident at sea will vary depending on the following:
- Severity of your injury: Smaller injuries with full recoveries will get less compensation, whereas more long-term injuries that require care will garner more.
- Severity of negligence: Depending on how negligent the captain, crew and those responsible for you onboard the boat have been, the more compensation you may receive.
- General damages: Use our compensation calculator to determine this amount depending on your injury or trauma.
- Special damages: These are the parts of the claim affected that are not described as an injury. These include financial hardship, time off work or the cost of travel because of your injury.
To receive an estimate of what you could receive in general damages compensation for your injury at sea, use our compensation calculator.
What are the time limits for making an accident at sea compensation claim?
Accidents at sea involve strict international law – these are very different rules to traditional holiday accidents. In this case, it’s important to seek out legal help as soon as possible to ensure you adhere to the Athens Convention. This is an international law that states any accident at sea claim must be brought within two years of disembarking of the vessel at fault.
Can I make an accident at sea claim in the UK?
You can make a claim against cruise ships and ferries in the UK wherever the incident occurred because of the Athens Convention. It doesn’t matter where you live or where the incident took place, you will be entitled to claim. Smaller companies in the UK will have boats that usually make use of public liability insurance to ensure you are compensated if things go wrong.
Why contact us?
It doesn’t matter how esoteric you might think your injury or trauma is, our team of expert legal professionals are on your side to advise, instruct and help you get the justice you deserve. So if the worst does happen out at sea and you want to pursue legal action, contact us via our quick contact form. Alternatively you can phone us directly on 0333 400 4445.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to make a claim after an accident at sea?
As a rule, anyone who has been injured in an accident at sea can make a claim. The success of a claim depends on how unsafe the conditions were on the boat at fault and how much negligence was at play. The claim must be made within two years of disembarking from the ship.
What should I do immediately after an accident at sea?
Once the incident occurs, you should immediately seek medical attention and make sure your injuries have been documented. This documentation will be required when making a claim in the future. Once safely home, you can begin the process of contacting Injury Lawyers 4U who will take your claim onwards.
Do I need a lawyer to file a claim for an accident at sea?
It is possible to make a claim for an accident at sea on your own, but using an experienced maritime injury lawyer can help you when you encounter complexities you may not have anticipated. They can also handle negotiations that can sometimes become tense and difficult.
How long does it take to settle a maritime injury claim?
How long it takes for a claim for an accident at sea to be settled depends entirely on how complex the situation is and the severity of your injury and trauma. It also depends on the responsible party’s acceptance of liability. Some cases can be resolved in a matter of months, while others can take years depending on these factors.
What costs are involved in making a claim?
As with Injury Lawyers 4U, many injury lawyers operate on a no win, no fee basis meaning you won’t be charged if your claim is unsuccessful. If you opt for a firm that charges upfront, what you pay will depend on the work quoted to get your claim across the line.
