- \n
- Currently, there is a rise in the \"prevalence\" of sexual assault allegations on cruise ships.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In last year\u2019s data, there were more than 101 allegations on ships embarking and disembarking in the U.S.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In many cases, the FBI has jurisdiction over the crime if you, as the victim, are a U.S. citizen.<\/span><\/li>\n
- If you are at sea when the crime occurs, you can seek care from the ship's medical personnel<\/a> or go to the nearest hospital if the vessel is docked.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Although the FBI may become involved, no specific federal government agency regulates cruise ships' customer service complaints or these types of issues. However, the Federal Maritime Commission provides some assistance to passengers of cruise ships and also may refer you to other appropriate governmental agencies.<\/p>\n
Commonly, the most important source of information is provided by the Department of Transportation, and they are the cruise line incident reports. These reports became mandatory, so they must be reported if any crimes are committed aboard the ship.<\/p>\n
The most unnerving fact is that if any criminal activity, such as rape or sexual assault, occurs on a cruise ship, it can potentially be a highly complex legal matter. This is because the crime involves jurisdiction, choices of laws, strict liability, and possibly statutory rape.<\/p>\n
This is the main reason: if you are a victim of sexual assault at sea, you must consult with an experienced, knowledgeable<\/span> Miami maritime personal injury lawyer<\/span> who has tried and successfully defended clients who have been violated on a cruise ship.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[elementor-template id=\"5541\"]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How Does Jurisdiction Work If My Sexual Assault Occurred At Sea?<\/h2>\n
![\"Cruise](\"https:\/\/mginjuryfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cruise-ship-at-florida-port-1-300x300.png\")
Suppose the cruise ship resides and leaves from Miami, Cape Canaveral, or any Florida port. In that case, the alleged perpetrator of the assault will commonly be prosecuted in a Florida State Court. Additionally, depending on the specific details of the crime, they may bring them before the Federal Court.<\/p>\nSome federal laws do provide provisions for particular specific types of maritime jurisdiction. This usually occurs when a criminal act is committed in international waters that are not under any nation's jurisdiction. Some federal laws will also apply if the victim is a U.S. citizen. and even sailing on a foreign cruise ship with a US departure or arrival port.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say the sexual assault or rape happens on a Miami-based cruise ship, and you, the victim, want to pursue civil damages. The primary issue is who to sue and what court I sue them in.<\/p>\n
- In last year\u2019s data, there were more than 101 allegations on ships embarking and disembarking in the U.S.<\/span><\/li>\n
![\"Cruise](\"https:\/\/mginjuryfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/cruise-ship-security-guard-300x300.png\")
You're booking your cruise, so you can relax and be treated like royalty, and expect that you will be safe and secure on the ship. You certainly don\u2019t expect to be the victim of a crime.<\/p>\n