As we reported in this August 2014 blog, cruise ship assaults are often perpetuated by employees and/or other passengers aboard vessels.

If you are assaulted on a cruise line, you should be aware that you might have specific legal rights. Depending upon where and when the alleged assault took place, you may be able to hold a cruise line liable for employing a dangerous employee and/or allowing an assault to occur aboard a vessel.

Cruise lines have a duty to make sure that employees are not threats to passengers, and they have a duty to make sure passengers are not placed in a position where an assault could easily occur. Following an assault aboard a cruise ship, after reporting the incident to the FBI and/or the United States Coast Guard, you should contact our nationwide maritime attorneys.

Cruise ship assaults can be both sexual and violent in nature. They can include instances of rape, unwanted sexual groping or violent attacks. Aside from an investigation performed by a government agency, if you believe you were assaulted aboard a cruise ship, our maritime attorneys can conduct an independent investigation to determine which entities you could potentially hold liable.

Woman Files Lawsuit Against Holland America Following Assault

An example of a cruise ship assault that made national headlines occurred last year when a room service attendant aboard a Holland America vessel attacked a Michigan woman.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, the woman said that in February 2014, the employee assaulted her after hiding behind her cabin. The woman claims that the man beat her up and tried to throw her off the vessel when she resisted the man’s advances.

The ship, which originated from Florida, was off the coast of Honduras when the incident occurred. The attack lasted for more than 45 minutes and involved heavy objects in the room that were reportedly used to subdue the woman prior to her being able to escape to find help. The woman was discovered covered in blood following the incident by other passengers and a criminal investigation was launched.

The woman’s attacker was charged in connection to the incident and was sentenced to 30 years in prison earlier this year.

If You Have Been Assaulted on a Cruise Ship, Our Nationwide Maritime Attorneys Can Help You

Cruise lines must be held accountable when assaults occur on their vessels. By contacting our maritime trial lawyers, you may be able to seek damages for your pain and suffering. While no amount of money will make up for the damage that was caused to you following an assault, it can help pay for bills associated with therapy and provide security for your future.

Contact our maritime trial lawyers today and tell us about your cruise ship assault case. We are here to help.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Nationwide Maritime Attorneys