Maritime Rape and Sexual Assault

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Our Texas Lawyers Help Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault Onboard Cruise Ships, Yachts and Other Vessels

If you are a victim of rape or sexual assault at sea, you have clear legal rights. You are entitled to protection, and you are entitled to financial compensation for what you have endured. Our lawyers can help you assert your legal rights, and we can do so immediately. We can deal with the vessel and the authorities on your behalf, we can advise you until you get back to land, and we can do everything necessary to ensure that the appropriate parties are held accountable.

On cruise ships, yachts, and other vessels, rapes and sexual assaults simply should not happen. There is no justification or excuse for a ship operator to fail to protect its passengers and crew members. Cruise lines and other companies can be held liable for onboard rapes and sexual assaults in many cases, and we have decades of experience helping victims recover the financial compensation they deserve.

Do You Have a Claim as a Victim of Rape or Sexual Assault at Sea?

If you are a victim of rape or sexual assault onboard a cruise ship, yacht, or other vessel, you are entitled to financial compensation. The only real question is who—or what company—is liable. Maritime laws protect passengers and crew members, and they hold cruise lines and other companies accountable when they fail to take adequate steps to prevent attacks on their vessels.

You should speak with a Texas attorney about your legal rights if:

  • You were raped while traveling as a passenger onboard a cruise ship or charter vessel. Again, cruise lines and other companies have a legal duty to protect their passengers, and they can—and should—be held liable when they fail to do so.
  • You were sexually assaulted while traveling as a passenger onboard a cruise ship or yacht. Cruise lines and other companies’ obligations extend well beyond preventing onboard rapes. They must take adequate steps to protect their passengers against all forms of sexual assault.
  • You were raped or sexually assaulted as a crew member. If you were raped or sexually assaulted as a crew member, you should speak with a Texas attorney who has experience handling maritime work injury claims. While your legal rights are clear, you will need an experienced lawyer to help you collect the compensation you deserve.

What if the cruise line, charter company, or your employer is ignoring your situation or claiming that the attack didn’t happen? Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon scenario. However, the good news is that this is far from the last word, and our attorneys can gather all of the evidence we need to establish liability and pursue a claim for damages on your behalf.

Maritime Sexual Assault Attorneys for Attacks and Rape Onboard Commercial Ships

Statistics show that rapes and sexual assaults onboard commercial ships are far more common than most people realize. This includes rapes and sexual assaults perpetrated both by and against ship workers in all occupations. While employers and vessel owners are supposed to provide safe environments for workers while they are performing their job duties and while they are off the clock, many fall far short of meeting their legal obligations.

Onboard commercial ships at sea, assailants will often take advantage of any opportunity to attack. As a result, rapes and sexual assaults may occur in sleeping quarters, bathrooms, kitchens, cargo holds, engine rooms, secluded areas on deck and other locations. Regardless of where, when and how rapes and sexual assaults occur, victims deserve help, and they deserve help from an experienced Houston maritime rape lawyer to assert their rights under the law.

Onboard Private Yachts Also Fall Under Maritime Laws 

While working on the crew of a private yacht can be a rewarding career, it can also be dangerous. Like crewmembers of other vessels, individuals who work on private yachts face risks of rape and sexual assault on the job. If you have been raped or sexually assaulted while working onboard a private yacht, whether underway or at port, you should speak with a Texas maritime sexual assault lawyer promptly.

Guests onboard private yachts face similar risks as well. In addition to pursuing claims against their attackers, guests who are sexually assaulted on private yachts can pursue claims against the yacht’s owner in many cases. Yacht owners typically have insurance to cover these (and other) types of liability claims.

Rapes & Assault Cases Involving Cruise Ship Passengers

While a cruise vacation is supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, passengers can fall victim to serious crimes, including rape and sexual assault by a crew member, contract employee, entertainer or even by another guest. These crimes often take place in the passenger’s cabin with the use of a passkey or in poorly lighted areas and restrooms, and in inner corridors, hallways and storage rooms that can restrict and trap unsuspecting guests and passengers. The absence of video or security cameras can also be a contributing factor as well. In many cases, negligent security procedures and hiring practices, such as failing to conduct criminal background checks, are to blame for these unfortunate events. In such situations, cruise ship operators and owners can be held liable for monetary damages.

If you have been raped or assaulted on a cruise, you are likely to be confronted with a nightmare of legal hurdles which may prevent you from receiving legal relief. Recovery against a cruise line is governed by numerous legal rules and documents, including but not limited to your cruise ticket, the contract of carriage, and the itinerary for travel. The laws and legal procedures in these types of claims are very complex and an experienced maritime lawyer can help you navigate the legal system. Cases involving cruise ship are especially tricky as the contract for voyage has very specific places and filing deadlines that a lawsuit can be filed and deadlines to put the negligent cruise ship owner on notice of the injuries and details.

When a crime occurs, cruise ship operators and their insurance carriers have a strong team of lawyers who will aggressively investigate and defend any legal actions brought against them. You need to have a cruise ship rape attorney on your side who can protect your interests and take all of the steps necessary to properly file and litigate your claim and help educate you on what can be done, if any, to help bring the rapist or attacker to justice before a criminal court for the crimes they committed on the high seas.

What To Do if You Have Been Raped or Sexually Assaulted at Sea

Preserving your legal rights after a rape or sexual assault at sea presents some unique challenges. However, it is extremely important that you do what is necessary to protect yourself. There are some mistakes you will need to try to avoid as well. As the victim of a rape or sexual assault onboard a commercial ship, cruise liner, private yacht or another vessel, you should:

  • Report the rape or sexual assault immediately. You should report the rape to the ship’s head of security or the ship’s captain right away. Explain what happened and where it happened, and provide a description of the assailant (or the assailant’s name if you know it).
  • See the ship’s doctor. You should be able to see the ship’s doctor, and the ship’s doctor should conduct a rape examination. This should happen before you take a shower or use the bathroom. While you will want to see your own doctor as soon as you get home, it is important that you see the ship’s doctor for now so that he or she can preserve key evidence of your attack.
  • Take photos of the location where you were raped or sexually assaulted. If possible, take photos of the location where the attack took place. You should also take pictures of any physical injuries you suffered in the attack. Keep these photos on your phone until you can give copies to your lawyer.
  • Take notes (or record a voice memo). In addition to taking photos, you should also take notes detailing everything you remember. Alternatively, you can record a voice memo on your phone. Take your time, and try to be as detailed as possible. Include the names or descriptions of any people who may have witnessed the assailant approaching you or leaving after the attack.
  • Avoid speaking with anyone else about the attack. Once you report the attack and see the ship’s doctor, you should avoid speaking with anyone else but your maritime rape lawyer. You should also avoid posting anything on social media. You need to keep your ordeal private for the time being, and you need to avoid giving anyone the opportunity to influence your recollection of what happened to you.

If you want help, you can call us to speak with a Texas maritime rape lawyer before taking the steps discussed above.  We can explain everything you need to know, provide step-by-step instructions, and engage the authorities on your behalf. We can also communicate with the ship’s security officer or captain for you until you are safely back on U.S. soil.

Our Maritime Sexual Assault Attorney Explains the Difference Between Criminal and Civil Cases for Rape and Sexual Assault

Even if an individual who perpetrates a rape or sexual assault faces criminal prosecution, the victim must still separately pursue a civil claim to recover just compensation. In the United States, the criminal and civil justice systems are separate and criminal convictions generally do not result in payment of compensation to victims.

The Jones Act and other maritime laws provide grounds for rape and sexual assault victims to pursue civil claims against their assailants, vessel owners and others. Importantly, it is possible to pursue a successful civil claim even if the assailant is not convicted in criminal court. As a result, victims do not have to (and should not) wait for their assailants’ criminal cases to go to verdict, but instead should consult with a Houston maritime sexual assault attorney right away.

How We Help Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault Onboard Cruise Ships, Yachts and Other Vessels

Many rape and sexual assault victims feel helpless, and they find their circumstances paralyzing. But, you can move forward, and you can get the help you need to seek justice for your attack. When you contact us for help with your maritime rape or sexual assault case, we will:

  • Be available to you by phone 24/7 until you get back to U.S. soil.
  • Contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or other appropriate authorities to secure the scene and investigate the crime.
  • Provide step-by-step instructions for you to follow while you are still at sea and once you return to land.
  • Conduct an independent investigation to determine what civil claim (or claims) we can pursue on your behalf.
  • Pursue all available civil claims to hold the at-fault parties accountable and recover the financial compensation to which you are legally entitled. 

Losses You May Be Entitled to Recover as a Victim of Rape or Sexual Assault (Applies to Passengers and Crew Members)

As a rape or sexual assault victim, you may face a long and difficult road to recovery. The psychological effects of the assault could last long after your wounds have healed, and the harsh reality is that you may never fully be able to move on.

These facts are what make seeking just compensation so critically important. At Willis Law Firm, we are passionate about helping rape and sexual assault victims recover financial compensation—not only for the losses they have incurred to date, but for their future losses as well. As a rape or sexual assault victim, you deserve every available opportunity to recover, and you deserve to never have to worry about dealing with the costs of your ordeal.

When you engage our firm to represent you, we will fight to recover just compensation for all of the current and future costs of your rape or sexual assault. This includes compensation for your:

  • Medical Treatment Costs – You are entitled to coverage for all of your medical treatment needs following a maritime rape or sexual assault. This includes coverage for any treatment you receive onboard the ship (it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible—including seeing the onboard physician if necessary) and any additional treatment you receive on land.
  • Psychological or Psychiatric Therapy – You are also entitled to coverage for your mental health treatment. The psychological effects of being victimized in a rape or sexual assault can be significant, and it is not unusual for victims to need long-term psychological or psychiatric therapy.
  • Loss of Earnings – If you are unable to work due to the effects of your rape or sexual assault, our lawyers can seek just compensation for your lost earnings. This includes both income and benefits, and it covers the entire period that you are unable to earn a living.
  • Pain, Suffering and Emotional Trauma – In addition to compensation for the costs of psychological or psychiatric therapy, rape and sexual assault victims can recover compensation for the non-financial effects of their pain, suffering and emotional trauma. Whether you will struggle with the effects of your attack for months, years or the rest of your life, you are entitled to compensation for as long as it takes you to recover.
  • Loss of Companionship and Consortium – Many rape and sexual assault victims find it difficult to maintain their relationships with their spouses, partners, friends and other loved ones. In legal terms, this is referred to as “loss of companionship” and “loss of consortium,” and these are also compensable losses under maritime law.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Maritime rape and sexual assault victims can also recover financial compensation for their loss of enjoyment of life. Whether your attack causes you to give up cruising, give up on your maritime career, or otherwise lead a less happy and fulfilling life, you are entitled to compensation for this loss as well.

The specific amount you are entitled to recover as a maritime rape or sexual assault victim depends on your individual circumstances. Generally speaking, however, compensation awards for maritime rapes and sexual assaults will often be substantial. At Willis Law Firm, we will do everything we can to maximize your recovery, and we will work to help you secure a favorable settlement as quickly as possible. 

FAQs: Filing a Claim for a Maritime Rape or Sexual Assault

How Do I Report a Rape or Sexual Assault on a Cruise Ship?

If you were raped or sexually assaulted onboard a cruise ship, you should report the assault to the ship’s head of security immediately. You should also contact a Texas attorney to ensure that the ship’s head of security handles your report appropriately.

What Can I Do if I Was Raped or Sexually Assaulted on a Private Boat?

If you were raped or sexually assaulted on a private boat, you should report the assault to the U.S. Coast Guard or the local authorities. You can also notify the ship’s captain if it makes sense to do so. You should contact a Houston maritime rape and sexual assault lawyer immediately in this situation as well, as there are several steps a lawyer can take to help protect you and preserve your legal rights.

Can I File a Lawsuit if I was Raped or Sexually Assaulted at Sea?

There is a good chance that you can file a lawsuit if you were raped or sexually assaulted at sea. From negligent hiring practices to inadequate security, rape and sexual assault victims have several potential grounds for filing claims against vessel owners and operators. Federal maritime laws provide rape and sexual assault victims with clear legal rights, and it is important that you assert your legal rights if you have been victimized.

What Compensation is Available to Victims of Maritime Rapes and Sexual Assaults?

Victims of maritime rapes and sexual assaults are entitled to compensation for the financial and non-financial costs they incur—both in the aftermath of the assault and in the future. This includes compensation for medical bills, loss of income, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, and other losses.

How Long Do I Have to Report a Rape or Sexual Assault On the Water?

The amount of time you have to report a rape or sexual assault on the water depends on the circumstances involved. As a result, it is best to report your attack as soon as possible. If you contact us, we can promptly file an appropriate report on your behalf.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Maritime Rape and Sexual Assault Claims?

The statute of limitations for maritime rape and sexual assault claims also depends on the circumstances involved. For example, if you have rights under the Jones Act, you can file a claim up to three years after the attack. However, waiting to file a claim can make it more difficult to recover the financial compensation you deserve, and we strongly recommend that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.

Can a Lawyer Help Me if I was Raped Onboard a Cruise Ship, Yacht, Cargo Ship or Other Vessel?

If you are a victim of a maritime rape or sexual assault, a Texas attorney can help you in many ways. For example, your lawyer will be able to report your attack, communicate with the authorities, and guide you forward. Your Texas maritime rape lawyer can also determine what claim (or claims) you can file, accurately calculate just compensation for your losses, and fight to ensure that you receive the full financial compensation to which you are legally entitled. 

Call a Texas Maritime Rape Lawyer at The Willis Law Firm at 1-800-468-4878

If you are a maritime employee who has been raped or sexually assaulted by a co-worker, or if you are a cruise ship passenger who has been the victim of a violent crime, the Willis Law Firm can help. We are a dedicated legal team that knows how to handle difficult and sensitive cases against maritime employers, vessel owners, and cruise line operators.  Contact us online or call to schedule your free, confidential consultation with a maritime rape attorney or cruise ship rape attorney at our firm today.

Willis Law Firm, Offshore & Maritime Lawyer
Nationwide Help - Licensed in Texas and New York
Principal Office
5005 Riverway Drive
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Houston, Texas 77056

713-654-4040
1-800-468-4878
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Houston, Texas 77029

713-930-1717
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