Jacksonville Florida Cruise Ship Passenger Disappearance Lawyers
Cruise Ship Passenger Disappearance
While disappearing at sea doesn't happen often, it does happen.
Passengers board a luxurious cruise ship which is essentially a floating party complete with all of the food and entertainment anyone could want. Some vacationers let their hair and defenses down during a cruise and binge drinking is one of the main reasons people go overboard, according to those who study the cruise ship industry.
It is also not unheard of for a passenger to stand on a ship's railing to take a picture, which is strictly prohibited because of the possibility of a slip and fall into the ocean.
Cruise lines do not have to report crimes onboard to any central authority, so there are no good numbers on how many cruise ship passengers disappear each year.
More than 11 million Americans took a cruise in 2008 and estimates are anywhere from 8 to 20 passengers disappeared that year, never to be seen again.
A cruise ship has a duty to provide care for its passengers and to hire responsible help who will look after passengers. Cameras mounted on the largest cruise ships are supposed to be motion activated and the images monitored by ship personnel at least some of the time. A motion activated recording should tape what happens just before and after a person jumps or falls from a ship. Unfortunately, not all of the tapes are recorded or kept as evidence.
Another time passengers disappear is when they leave the ship at a port and the cruise liner has no record of whether or not they got back onboard. Without any kind of a ship-issued swipe or identification card required, the movement of passengers is not tracked. On rare occasions, passengers have disappeared without a trace and the cruise industry has no idea whether they disappeared off the ship and into the sea or while visiting a port.
Cruise ships are supposed to report all crimes to the country where the ship is flagged as well as to the FBI and the Coast Guard. But the ship personnel may not be aware a passenger has gone missing during the crucial first hours when he or she is most likely to be found.
That is why the services of a Jacksonville ship passenger disappearance attorney are so essential. Farah & Farah can launch its own investigation as soon as we are notified to try and find the missing passenger. We will view the onboard camera recordings and talk to witnesses, both on the ship and in the port.
Our Florida maritime attorneys know what it takes to determine jurisdiction, negligence, and to fight the cruise line's claims to get you the answers and the compensation you deserve. If your loved one has gone missing while on a cruise, call Farah & Farah for a free consultation on your case, but remember you are working against the clock.
Please visit our Jacksonville Admiralty Website for more info.
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