Before speaking with a cruise ship attorney, gather as much information as you can about the injury. Be ready to present photographs of the cruise ship accident site, medical records pertaining to your injury, and/or receipts for charges you may already have paid in relation to your injury. Also try to find your cruise ship contract, which you signed before boarding the ship. The contract can help your cruise ship attorney determine where to bring suit, what your legal rights and obligations are, and whether it's feasible to file a lawsuit.
In some cases, filing a cruise ship accident lawsuit doesn't make sense. If the injury was not severe, it may be a good idea to let the cruise ship compensate you with some kind of good-faith gesture, like tickets, discounts or credits. However, don't enter into any such agreement with a cruise ship after being injured without consulting a cruise ship lawyer first to ensure your rights are protected.
Location is everything in cruise ship law, so be sure to inform the cruise ship lawyer where you are located and find out where to file your claim. Most cruise ship lawsuits are filed in Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Seattle, Washington. Time is also of the essence, since you probably have a shorter time in which to file your case, you are far more likely to find competent legal representation as early on in the process as possible. Attorneys will be wary of taking on a new client whose lateness has caused valuable opportunities to investigate and document the injury to slip away.
When searching for a cruise ship lawyer, experience is important. Don't settle for a lawyer who claims to have brought a case against a cruise line before insist on one who has experience with the major carriers in general and yours in particular and can show you a track record of success. Also, look for a compassionate and fair attorney who seems to care more about handling your case and getting you the compensation you deserve than lining his or her own pockets.