5 Things To Do If You Think You Have Gotten Food Poisoning On A Cruise Ship

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Getting sick on a cruise ship can make you feel miserable, and most importantly, it can ruin your vacation. If you simply come down with a cold, there's not much you can do about that — it's just a case of bad luck. However, if you believe that your sickness was a result of food poisoning, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against the cruise ship.

Cruise ship accident attorneys not only help people who have been seriously injured on a cruise ship, but they also help people who have been affected by other issues including, in some cases, food poisoning. If you believe that you have or are currently suffering from food poisoning, here's what you need to do.

1. Take Notes

With any crime or legal issue, at least a portion of the trial often centers around recreating the crime, but, unfortunately, memories are notoriously fallible. To help create an accurate case, start by taking notes.

Focus on the following types of questions. When did your symptoms start? What did you eat? When did you eat? It can be hard to take notes when your digestive track is upset, so you may want to ask your traveling partner to take notes for you.

If possible, also make notes about anything you noticed in or around the dining area. Was the server visibly sick? How about any of the kitchen staff you saw? Where there any obvious health code violations, such as food sitting out too long in the buffet area or warm food sitting out without the help of a bain-marie?

2. Talk With Other Guests

The symptoms of food poisoning are very similar to and almost indistinguishable from seasickness or the flu. However, if you have food poisoning, you are probably not the only person affected. Take some time to find out how the other passengers on board are faring — consider getting names and numbers so you can contact them later if you ultimately decide to bring a lawsuit against the cruise ship.

3. Check Your Contract or Receipt for Food Poisoning Contingencies

In some cases, cruise ships offer refunds for guests who have experienced food poisoning. Check the contingencies on the agreement you signed or digitally consented to when you bought the tickets. It should outline whether or not you can get a refund for your ticket.  

4. List Other Expenses

Even if the cruise ship is willing to offer you a full or partial refund, that may not cover all of your costs. Did you take time off for work for this vacation? Are you paying a babysitter or nanny to watch your kids at home? Did you incur kennel expenses for your dog? In addition to these expenses, many cruise ship travelers buy airline tickets from their home cities to the port cities. They may also incur expenses for special outfits, luggage, or other travel-related costs.

If the illness is serious, it may have other health complications, especially if you have a compromised immune system. It may even require you to incur extra medical expenses or miss additional time at work when you get home.

Track all of those expenses. If you ultimately bring forward a lawsuit, your lawyer can argue that the cruise ship owes you for all of those expenses. In some cases, it's even possible to get compensation for pain and suffering.

5. Contact a Lawyer as Soon as Possible

There is a statute of limitations on almost every type of case, and that window is usually pretty small when it comes to bringing a suit against a cruise ship. To ensure you don't lose your opportunity, contact a cruise ship accident attorney right away. They can help you decide if your case has merit and if you should move forward.

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1 May 2017