Sexual Assault on Cruise Ships: What to Do Afterwards

This video features John H. (Jack) Hickey, a Medical Malpractice attorney based in Florida.

Attorney Jack Hickey | 888-393-1388 | Free Consult

“You need somebody who knows about the business of the cruise lines.”

Sexual assault on cruise ships is a devastating and traumatic experience. Victims deserve someone on their side as they recover and figure out what further actions to take.

John H. “Jack” Hickey is an injury attorney and maritime lawyer based in Miami. He has represented many victims of sexual abuse that occurred on cruise ships, usually perpetrated by crew members. Hickey explains that there are very strict deadlines in place for reporting sexual assault: six months from the date of the incident to report it, and one year from the incident to file a claim. He says most cruise ship-related lawsuits need to be filed from Miami, Florida, where his firm is based, though Hickey can assist clients from anywhere in the world.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-393-1388 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Key Takeaways From Jack Hickey:

Many people might not consider the prevalence of sexual assault on cruise lines, but Hickey maintains that cruises often provide a recipe for these situations.

If you have been assaulted on a cruise ship, it’s important to report the assault to authorities on board, to the FBI, and to take pictures documenting the situation.

It’s important to immediately report the assault to the cruise line management, as well as to the FBI. If you are a United States citizen, the FBI has jurisdiction to come on board and conduct an investigation. Additionally, while taking pictures to document the assault might seem uncomfortable, maritime law teams have a variety of trustworthy attorneys, many of them women, ready and able to help with your situation.

There are deadlines regarding passenger claims against cruise lines, so it’s important to report the incident and file a lawsuit as soon as possible.

The deadline for reporting sexual assault on a cruise line is six months from the incident itself, and the deadline for filing a lawsuit is a mere one year from the incident. These deadlines are referred to as statutes of limitations, and after they pass there is nothing you or an attorney can do to seek justice for that specific situation. Even if you are still on the cruise, it’s important to report the incident immediately so there is a record of the assault on file. Seeking legal counsel immediately is another important step; an attorney will be able to help you preserve evidence that might otherwise have been lost over time.

You must file your claim in the city indicated on the ticket itself—most often Miami, Florida.

While there are rare circumstances in which the claim must be filed elsewhere, like England, the vast majority of claims made against a cruise line must be filed by a maritime lawyer in Miami, Florida. The maritime lawyers in Miami are well-versed in these types of lawsuits, and they have the experience and know-how to file your suit as quickly and effectively as possible.

Personal injury attorneys work on contingency, which means you won’t owe any money to your legal team unless they win your case.

From the initial consultation to the final trial proceedings, you won’t owe your lawyer a penny unless they win your case, at which point they would be paid a previously agreed-upon percentage of the winnings. This includes all costs of the investigation and trial proceedings.

Hickey Law Firm is still fully functional during the COVID-19 crisis.

Hickey Law Firm has clients all over the world, so they are well-versed in operating remotely on behalf of their clients. You can request a consultation and sign up for services online and they even provide electronic signing for documents as well as sending them through the mail in hardcopies when requested. Phone calls, video conferencing, and emails are just a few ways these lawyers stay in contact with their clients. Hickey advises cruise line assault victims to not hesitate to contact an attorney; deadlines for reporting and filing a claim expire and unfortunately are not being postponed or extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more, contact Jack Hickey directly by calling 888-393-1388 or by submitting a contact form on this page. There is no charge for the consultation, and you never owe any out-of-pocket attorney fees.

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