Compensation Offered to Costa Concordia Survivors

by Emily Mapp Brannon ebrannon@hsinjurylaw.com

Emily is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

1/29/2012
Emily Mapp Brannon
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Compensation Offered to Costa Concordia Survivors

When the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground the island of Giglio, thousands of passengers were forced from their cabins to flee for lifeboats. It was a vacationer's worst nightmare -- a shipwreck that left dozens injured, at least 16 dead and 16 missing. Now, the ship's owner and operator, Carnival Cruise Line subsidiary Costa Crociere line is offering to compensate passengers for their suffering. The company has asked each survivor to accept 11,000 euros, or $14,460, and payment for five counseling sessions in return for not filing lawsuits. The cruise line will also reimburse passengers for the cost of cruise tickets and travel expenses, as well as lost luggage and personal items.

Many passengers have reportedly refused the offer, feeling that the monetary settlement would come nowhere close to compensating them for edical expenses, pain and suffering. Others have noted that a handful of sessions with a therapist would do little to help them deal with lingering problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

No amount of money can make the psychological trauma go away, but Costa Crociere needs to do it can to address passengers' physical, emontional and economic struggles stemming from the shipwreck. It is irresponsible for the cruise line to think a one-size-fits-all payment will do the job.

If you're ever in a situation like this, it's best to consult with an attorney about your legal options. Blindly accepting the first offer a company makes is never the best idea.

CD

Category: Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)

Labels: accident Costa Concordia cruise line Death Emily Mapp Brannon injury Italy mass transit personal injury Wreck

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Viriginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases for victims of mass transit accidents such as airplane, train and bus crashes. In fact, our law firm published a free consumer safety guide on what to do if you are hurt in a plane wreck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA including Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Norfolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive.

Shapiro and Lewis have also been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA mass transit injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can respond directly to you.

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