Cozumel is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the world–and for good reason. The sheer majesty of its crystal-clear waters, gentle tropical climate, and the warm good-natured people of this tiny Mexican island on the Caribbean Sea attract hundreds of thousands of cruise ship passengers from around the world as part of both Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise itineraries.
The cruise ship dock on the deep water pier is located in Cozumel’s main town, San Miguel de Cozumel, which is chocked full of touristy shops selling everything from sombreros to tequila and Cuban cigars. Punta Langosta, Puerto Maya, and the International Pier are the three cruise ship ports in Cozumel. Ships from Celebrity, Regent Seven Seas, Carnival, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, Disney, Holland America, Thomson Cruises, and AIDA frequently visit Cozumel.
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As a lawyer who sues cruise lines on behalf of passengers who have suffered slips and falls, trips and falls, sexual assaults, and other injuries on board ships traveling to and from Mexico, I believe that Cozumel is a relatively safe place to visit. That may help explain why many cruise lines include an overnight stay. It is important, however, to remain vigilant when in port– especially when it comes to renting scooters. I was told by one local taxi driver that virtually every ship has at least one passenger on a given cruise who decides to rent a scooter and gets seriously injured.
It makes sense, given that the person most likely has little to no experience driving a scooter, much less a rental, which may not be in perfect working order, on strange roads, in a foreign country. Add prolonged exposure to hot sun, inadequate footwear, and some alcohol to the mix, and it is a recipe for disaster. I urge you to forgo the scooters and stick with taxis or formal excursions. In addition, most onshore injuries that occur on excursions or elsewhere are not the legal responsibility of the cruise line, and proving a connection can be expensive and time consuming.
It is also very common for us to investigate a potential injury claim against a cruise line that results from one of the unique architectural features that are found on cruise ships. Our cruise ship law firm’s primary focus is always on accidents that occur onboard the ship as a result of the cruise line’s failure to properly inspect, maintain, and repair dangerous conditions like wet and slippery decks, spills, steep stair cases, as well as unmarked raised thresholds and door sills.
Injured On a Cruise To or From Cozumel, Mexico
If you have been injured on a cruise to Cozumel, you may be surprised to learn that the majority of cruise lines–Carnival, RCCL, NCL, Celebrity, Disney, and others–require that any claim against them be filed not in Mexico but in a United States Federal District Court, most often located in Miami, Florida. This legal requirement is buried deep in the legal mumbo-jumbo and small print on the passenger ticket. Many people never receive the ticket as they book online–much less read or understand it.
In addition, there is a one-year statute of limitations, or legal time limit, that applies to cruise accident claims. Once an incident is reported aboard a cruise ship, the cruise line immediately begins its investigation–typically by having their security offices taken written statements (the dreaded passenger injury statement form) and oral statements from the passenger, witnesses, crewmembers, and medical staff. They review and analyze the CCTV of the incident and report their findings back to their risk managers and lawyers in Miami. By the time a claim is ultimately filed, the cruise line knows more than the plaintiff about the facts of the incident, how and why it happened, and how it can leverage that information to offer minimal settlements to unrepresented people. That is why it is important to contact one of the best maritime injury law firms in America as soon as possible after your incident.
Our maritime personal injury law firm has investigated multiple cases in which a major cruise line charges passengers for the medical care they received after having falling on a wet and slippery deck by adding exorbitant service fees to their bills. We have witnessed many cases of the cruise line attempting to vilify passengers who are hurt–treating them like suspects rather than victims. We have seen many situations in which families, elderly passengers, and people traveling alone are left behind in third-world countries to fend for themselves after being hurt on the vessel, while the ship heads to its next port.
We provide free initial legal consultations to anyone who may have had an accident on a cruise to or from Cozumel–or while in port. Not all injuries or claims are valid legal cases. However, we have over 50 years of combined legal experience helping people from around the world who have suffered a physical injury because of a cruise line’s putting its profits ahead of passenger safety. Call us today toll-free at 1-866-597-4529 or email us at [email protected]. We also provide consultations via SKYPE and Facetime. We encourage you to contact us even while still onboard the vessel–before you speak to a cruise line investigator or sign any document.
