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Should I take the Costa Cruise and Carnival Settlement Offer of $14,400?

The operator of the Costa Concordia luxury cruise liner, Costa Cruises and Carnival is attempting to reduce the number of lawsuits which will be filed as a result of the shipwreck, reckless conduct of its ship's captain and crew and negligent evacuation, offering a settlement of about $14,400 to each uninjured passenger.

It is unclear what Costa Cruises means by uninjured as virtually every passenger we have spoken with reports problems following the accident.  This includes everything from sleeplessness to PTSD like symptoms, anxiety and depression.

Should I Take the Settlement Offer? No, not before consulting an attorney.  In our opinion, this offer is low for most of the passengers who were on-board the Costa Concordia Cruise ship, even those who suffered to visible physical injuries.  A competent Cruise ship lawyer can likely increase that settlement through negotiations on your behalf.

Contact a crusie ship attorney today for a free no-risk consultation.

Understanding Litigation Options for Passengers of the Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Accident

This is Cruise Ship Attorney Enrico Schaefer.  Today, we’re talking about the Costa Concordia accident.  We are a law firm that specializes in representing victims of cruise ship accidents.

Play: Understanding Litigation Options for Passengers of the Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Accident
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With: Enrico Schaefer

Sponsored by: Traverse Legal, PLC

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Should I Join the Class Action Filed in Miami, Florida against Costa Concordia?

A group of lawyers have filed a class action against Costa Concordia in Miami, Florida on behalf of all U.S. passengers.  Passengers are asking our cruise accident attorneys whether or not they should join the class action.  I spoke to an attorney the other day that believes the class action is really just a marketing gimmick in order to sign up plaintiffs.  Class actions in mass disasters have rarely, if ever, been allowed.  There is no reason to believe that this class action will survive in U.S. court. 

The reason that a Costa Concordia class action is unlikely to survive is because everyone’s injuries are different.  In fact, everyone’s experience in getting off the boat is different.  Perhaps the only issue which  may be common to all Costa Concordia passengers is whether or not the cruise ship company Costa Cruise Lines and the captain of the Costa Concordia were reckless in causing the disaster.  However, courts are reluctant to certify an injury- or death-based accident class action on that sole issue alone. 

Passengers are better off hiring an attorney that is going to handle their individual claim for damages and compensation as an individual.  It is much better to represented individually than as a member of a larger class.  You want an attorney that is going to give you personal attention and handle your case in a way that courts will ultimately require. 

If for some reason the class action is certified by the Miami, Florida court, U.S. passengers will have the opportunity to opt-out of that class action.  You will need a lawyer to help you understand whether or not you should remain part of the class action or opt-out.  Again, we are advising Costa Concordia passengers they are much better off having individual representation rather than class representation.  Moreover, cruise ship disasters such as the Costa Concordia are handled in a unique way.  The insurance company for Costa Concordia will try and resolve as many cases as possible.  It is very unlikely that any case will actually go to trial.  That means the process for handling your case is fundamentally different from the class action approach.  You need to get a settlement brochure put together detailing your individual claims and circumstances and begin the process of negotiating with Costa Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line insurance company lawyer, as well as the insurance adjuster.  The processing of a settlement-based system is fundamentally unique. 

If you wish to speak to a Costa Concordia cruise accident lawyer to handle your individual claim, feel free to contact us.  Please note that whether or not you are part of the class action or not, your total fee will remain the same.  You will only pay a one-third contingency fee in order to pursue compensation and damages.  You are much better off having individual representation in our opinion. 

Cruise Ships Underreport Incidents and Accidents Involving Damage and Injury

REUTERS provides an interesting article concerning how cruise ships underreport incidents and accidents involving damage or injury.  The article recites a number of instances of injury or death by Carnival Cruise Lines or its affiliates, such as the Costa Cruise Line in which the Costa Concordia was involved.  It is indicated that Carnival has over forty-nine percent (49%) of the world’s cruise market. 

There is also suggestion in the article that some are of the opinion that the practice of showboating for tourists and coming too close to the coast has become common along the Italian coast, according to Enrico Scerni, former president of the Genoa, Italy-based RINA ship classification organization.  The Costa Concordia Ship Captain Schettino claims that Costa Cruises had told him to perform the maneuver for the benefit of the tourists and passengers.

The finger pointing will go on relative to the Costa Concordia disaster and how it may have occurred, but there is also the larger issue concerning both the lack of reporting of actual accident incidents related to cruise ships as well as the lack of minimum standards for safety or that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  One of the outcomes of these disasters is that oftentimes and it is hoped that new standards for both reporting and safety are developed and implemented both internally and in the cruise industry.  When these events occur, it is the cruise accident attorneys, as well as the investigators, who will uncover the mishaps and misconduct that must be addressed and corrected to avoid future cruise line disasters. 

Costa Concordia Attorneys: Handling Cruise Ship Injury & Death Cases From Around the World

A Costa Concordia Accident Attorney is standing by ready to help you understand your rights against Costa and Carnival Cruise Lines arising from the Costa Concordia incident on Friday January 13, 2012. Injury and death claims mist be filed within the period specified in the Passenger Cruise Contract.  Injury claims may include physical injury such as bruising, cuts, sprains, back pain and more severe physical harm.  Psychological injuries may include anxiety, fear, sleeplessness, depression, PTSD and other mental conditions.   Compensation and damages may include payment by Costa and Carnival Cruise Lines for physical and emotional injuries as well as punitive damages as a result of the Captain's willful and reckless actions. A class action against Costa or Carnival is unlikely because of the different injuries and circumstances that each passenger suffered.

Handling passenger claims and litigation from France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the United States and other countries though US counsel and coordination with attorneys, barristers and lawyers licensed in the above respective countries.  You have rights.  We have answers.   Contact one of our Cruise ship attorneys today for more information.

Costa Concordia Passengers Confirmed Dead.

While a concerted effort by cruise ship accident attorney and advocates continues, there are thus far 11 confirmed dead as a result of the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident.  Litigation in both the United States and Italy is anticipated as a result of the accident.  The issue of where each lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises should be filed continues to be analyzed by attorneys. It is clear that several different venues, including the United States and Italy, will see lawsuits and claims filed.  Because the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship may have manslaughter charges brought against him, punitive damages for willful and reckless operation of the Costa Concordia ship are expected. 

Contact a Costa Concordia cruise ship accident attorney for more information by clicking here.

Costa Concordia's Death Toll Rises to 11

The death toll has risen to 11 in the Costa Concordia tragedy.  It appears as though a number of passengers were either trapped in their cabins or went back to their cabins to retrieve belongings and became trapped in the flooding ship.  Meanwhile, analysts continue to assemble all of the inconsistent statements made by the Costa Concordia ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, relating to how he happened to be off the ship in advance of many of the passengers and crew. 

This news story indicates that there is new evidence that the crew ship sailed within 750 feet of the coast last year, nevertheless, there are other reports which indicate that the cruise ship was within 150 meters of land when it hit rocks.  What we’ll learn shortly is the identity of the rocks hit by the Costa Concordia, as there should be either rock scrapes or paint from the bottom of the ship from the boulders that tore through the hull of the Costa Concordia.  This will definitively indicate whether these under water hazards were or should have been known to the captain and crew of the Costa Concordia.

Contact a Costa Concordia cruise ship accident attorney for more information by clicking here.

Costa Concordia Captain Claims Ship Hit Uncharted Rocks

The Costa Concordia captain claims he hit uncharted rocks. As this story suggests, these waters are well known and it would seem patently absurd the ship hit anything uncharted.  There will be physical evidence of the Costa Concordia's collision on the rocks which will conclusively establish that what sank the ship was on the charts.  As noted in the news report, there will surely be criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits against Carnival Cruise lines and its affiliate together with the Captain, Francesco Schettino, to achieve some level of justice for what may turn out to be criminally negligent conduct.

Contact a Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Accident attorney for more information by clicking here.

Preliminary Analysis of How The Costa Concordia May Have Went Down

The CNN story is a good preliminary analysis of what may have happened causing the ship to list and ultimately list and then sink. The significant fact is that had there been a prompt assessment of the ship damage the evacuation could have occurred long before it became so difficult for the lifeboats to be boarded and launched. The analysis demonstrates there should have been more than adequate time to have everyone evacuated from the ship before it filled with water, listed, and began sinking.

It would seem once there was any evidence of a hole below the waterline that orders should have been given for all passengers to go on deck and get ready to abandon ship. The investigators will come up with a similar analysis to determine the reasons for the seeming delay in the order to abandon the Costa Concordia.

Contact a Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Accident attorney for more information by clicking here.

Missing & Deceased Passengers on the Costa Concordia Named: Two United States Passengers Still Missing

Costa Concordia Disaster:   Lawyers, cruise ship experts and the press continue to investigate the cause of the Costa Concordia cruise ship accident.  Authorities have now released details of the passengers still missing after the Carnival cruise line Costa Concordia cruise ship accident, including 2 from the United States, Barbara Heil and Gerald Heil.  There is still no count for the number of people injured in the accident. Minor physical injuries are likely in the hundreds and emotion injuries likely in the thousands. Our cruise ship accident attorneys have worked with dozens of passengers injured in cruise ship accidents like this one.  Often the emotional scars are life changing.

• 12 of the victims are German - Elisabeth Bauer, Horst Galle, Christina Mathi Ganz, Norbert Josef Ganz, Gabriele Grube, Egon Hoer, Margarethe Neth, Inge Schall, Siglinde Stumpf, Brunhild Werp, Josef Werp and Margrit Schroeter.

• 5 Italians are missing - Dayana Arlotti, William M Arlotti, Maria Dintrono, Maria Grazia Trecarichi, and Luisa Antonia Virzi.

• 4 French victims are still missing - Michael M Blemand, Jeanne Gannard, Pierre Gregoire, and Mylene Litzler.

• 3 crew member victims have not been found - Italian Girolamo Giuseppe, Russel Terence Rebello from India and Erika Fani Soriamolina of Peru.

• Crew member Sandor Feher, from Hungary, died inside the vessel.

Contact a Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Accident attorney for more information by clicking here.