Contaminated Food - Miami Cruise Ship / Casino Accident Attorney

Every year, millions of passengers leave from the Port of Miami aboard luxury cruise ships in order to spend a couple of days or weeks relaxing, soaking in beautiful scenery, shopping, partying and sampling a variety of fine foods. Unfortunately, some passengers are prevented from enjoying their vacations due to outbreaks of gastrointestinal viruses and bacteria present in contaminated food.

Recognizing the prevalence of food poisoning caused sickness on cruise ships, the experienced Miami personal injury lawyer, Sean M. Cleary, is dedicated to protecting the rights of passengers whose vacations have been destroyed due to the failure of luxury liners to provide a safe, sanitary environment. Mr. Cleary is familiar with the applicable state and maritime statutes, and he uses negotiation and litigation skills to obtain the maximum compensation for victims who have sustained personal injuries on cruise ships.

Cruise Ship Accidents: Norwalk Virus

First identified in 1972 in the town of Norwalk, Ohio, norovirus affects more than 20 million Americans annually. This gastrointestinal virus can be prevalent on cruise ships where the combination of closed spaces, deficient sanitary measures and a large number or people creates conditions ripe for large-scale outbreaks. Individuals affected by the norovirus typically experience diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea and body aches. While these gastrointestinal symptoms usually resolve within several days, the physical and emotional discomfort experienced by norovirus victims often completely ruins their vacations.

Salmonella Outbreaks: Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Salmonella is another dangerous bacteria. It works similar to the norovirus in that it is often transmitted with contaminated food and causes a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. However, sickness caused by salmonella bacteria lasts somewhat longer as its victims usually take a week to recover. In addition, if salmonellosis spreads from the intestines to the blood stream, it can cause death. In the United States, about 600 individuals die every year due to complications of salmonellosis.

Food-Borne Illness: Compensation

If your vacation aboard a cruise ship has been cut short due to sickness caused by norovirus, salmonella or some other harmful microorganism found in contaminated food, you may be entitled to compensation. However, due to special laws that apply to cruise ship accidents, in most cases you have to file your personal injury lawsuit within a year. Therefore, it is important that you contact a qualified Miami cruise ship injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Sean M. Cleary is highly experienced in helping cruise ship accident victims obtain compensation for their medical expenses, physical and emotional distress and any other damages caused by exposure to contaminated food. In addition to representing victims of cruise ship and casino accidents, Mr. Cleary specializes in helping families of deceased cruise ship accident victims hold the responsible parties liable through litigation based on Florida's wrongful death statutes or the Death on the High Seas Act.

Please contact him today at (305) 416-9805 for a free evaluation of your case and determine the most appropriate plan of action.

Related Articles to Cruise Ship Accidents:

• Assault on a Cruise Ship
• Slip-and-Fall Accidents