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All forms of travel experience downtime, often because of fatal accidents. Whether you're on a train, plane, car, or ship, passenger safety is never 100 percent guaranteed. The cruise industry has enjoyed years of steady growth and is now the most profitable sector in the travel industry. However, recent tragedies have underscored the need for improved passenger safety. They've also turned cruise ship law into a popular field for the seasoned personal injury lawyer. Recent Disasters When it was completed, the Costa Concordia was the largest Italian ocean liner in history. The enormous vessel was one of the most popular floating cities in Europe, before it struck a rock and ran aground off Italy's west coast. There were more than 4,200 passengers on board at the time, 300 of whom were confirmed dead. That accidents happen is a fact of life, but many people now worry that these ships have simply gotten too big. The most famous sea disaster of all time was the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Over 1,500 people died when the vessel struck an iceberg in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. But the Titanic was a rowboat compared to a modern ship like the Costa Concordia, which had 2,000 more passengers aboard when she ran aground. And the Costa wasn't even the biggest boat in the water! There are now ocean liners that can accommodate over 6,000 passengers! Big and Getting Bigger The cruise industry has been on a heck of a run in recent years. According to travel experts, it is now a $40-billion industry. But, because it takes a long time to build new ships and larger vessels are more profitable, the major cruise lines have been investing beaucoup bucks in bigger boats. The strategy has paid off-for the most part. There is no doubt that cruise travel is more popular than ever. About 20 million people booked trips in 2014, 60 percent of which originated in North America. As already mentioned, the most profitable ocean liners are the mega vessels, which are essentially floating cities, complete with shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and even casinos. Most of these Brobdingnagian boats operate out of Florida and visit ports of call in the Caribbean. These fast, fun, and affordable vacations have become extremely popular with American families. But are they safe? Legal Advice It stands to reason that anytime a space becomes more crowded, there will inevitably be more accidents. Not surprisingly, thousands of people are injured in cruise accidents each year. Most are the result of slip and falls, diving accidents, or food poisoning. It is the job of a personal injury lawyer to determine if the victim is entitled to damages for their injuries. What to Consider Even if you are hurt on vacation through no fault of your own, you may not be able to sue for damages. Why? Because most of the major cruise lines put special provisions in their contracts/passenger tickets that limit the time you have to file a lawsuit to one year. (Most other accident victims have three or four times as long to sue.) Therefore, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. When looking for a personal injury lawyer, Baton Rouge residents should consult http://www.murraylaw.net/personal-injury-lawyer.html.
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