Water plays a factor in the most common Cruise Ship accident, but not in the way you might think. Drowning in the ocean or in a pool is an understandable worry, but the most commonly suffered accident is a fall.
There are plenty of liquids on the deck to cause slip-and-fall injuries, such as puddles around the pools and spilled drinks by tipsy passengers. Victims might also fall down an unsafe set of stairs or trip on debris.
These might seem like minor incidents, but victims could break bones and suffer head trauma. What’s more, cruise ships are liable for accidents when they allow hazards to sit out or go unrepaired for an unreasonable amount of time. Victims can seek recovery support from major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Disney.
Slip-And-Fall Hazards on Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ships
Slip-and-Fall and Trip-and-Fall hazards can appear at any time on such a big ship with so many people aboard. Cruise Line companies and parent corporations are responsible for almost any accident that could have been prevented.
Cruise ship owners and operators must keep stairwells and carpeting on walkways in good repair. Their employees must not do anything that might create an obstacle. But beyond that, cruise lines are also responsible for the mistakes that passengers make that can endanger other guests.
They must monitor for children who spill juice on hard floors and mop up slipping risks. They must clear candy and other items that end up on the floor to roll someone’s foot out from under them.
These are just a few of the hazards that can leave a cruise ship line liable for falls and injury recovery costs:
- Slipping hazards in the form of puddles around pools and water rides, restaurants and bars, and buffets
- Sea spray slip-and-fall dangers on unmopped decks
- Leaking water hazards in the room
- Tripping hazards due to debris in hallways
- Tripping hazards due to debris left on stairs, puddles on stairs
- Tripping hazards due to damaged carpet and flooring
- Fall hazards allowed to sit on gangways as people deboard and board
- Uneven surfaces catching a foot and causing a fall
- A fall from a great height and traumatic injuries
The corporations that own cruise ships have every resource available and can afford teams of lawyers. They may be liable if you fall, but their lawyer will be working to find ways to blame you for your fall. They may claim you were clumsy or that you aren’t hurt as badly as you claim.
A Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer can investigate your accident and the cruise ship line’s safety records to show who was really to blame. Your lawyer can then demand the maximum in compensation for your recovery.
Securing Compensation for Cruise Ship Slip-And-Fall Victims
Cruise accident victims must hold those at fault fully liable for injuries. Victims may face months of surgeries and pain simply due to a broken bone that didn’t heal right. They may get headaches for years afterward due to a Traumatic Brain Injury.
Any settlement check must cover the immediate needs of the victim and the potential needs in the years to come. Cruise Ship Corporations want to pay for a trip to the infirmary aboard the ship, and that’s it. However, a lawyer can help victims hold them responsible for every medical cost you encounter when you get back to land and haven’t healed.
These and other factors will also contribute to the size of a cruise accident settlement check:
- Medical compensation for current medical bills and those expected in the future.
- Lifelong support for victims left with a permanent disability.
- Support for the physical pain victims may endure.
- Support for the emotional trauma victims may be left to cope with.
- The devastating loss of enjoyment of life due to an injury.
- Reimbursement for lost income and benefits while a victim must miss work.
- Compensation for travel costs.
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
Slip-and-fall accidents are common almost anywhere you go. But cruise ships are especially bad places because slip-and-fall hazards can so suddenly appear.
If your cruise vacation ends in a serious accident, make sure your cruise provider isn’t let off the hook for its negligence.
Allow Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers to handle the stress and frustration of battling insurance companies while you use that time to focus on healing. We want you to be able to afford the best care available so you can get back to vacationing and cruising as soon as possible. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation cruise accident consultation.
If you trust your case to us, you won’t need any money to hire our services. Your Cowen Edwards representative doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement that a Cruise Line must pay you and your family.