It is not enough to prove that you were injured on a cruise ship; in order to go after a cruise line, you would have to prove that their carelessness created or contributed to your accident. In order to understand how you could prove that a cruise ship was negligent (careless), we can examine some common slip and fall accidents that could occur on a cruise ship.
Stairway Accidents on Cruise Ships
Sure, slipping down the stairs might feel like you've simply had a clumsy moment, but the reality is that cruise ships must conform to certain guidelines when making staircases. It is possible that a flawed design or poor maintenance could have led to your slip and fall accident on the stairs. If you can talk with a personal injury attorney, they may be able to find a naval architect or some other expert who can examine the stairway in question. It is possible that poor maintenance led to a dangerous obstacle or slippery substance being left on the steps. Perhaps there weren't any handrails, or the dimensions or design of the rails or steps were unsafe.
Slip and Fall Accidents on Deck
Sometimes a slip is simply an accident, true, but sometimes, a surface that you slipped on was unreasonably safe. If the deck was not cleaned adequately, or certain obstacles were left for far too long, whatever the case, there are instances where a cruise ship could be faulted for the accident.
Threshold Dangers
By both federal and international law, ships must have thresholds. This helps ensure that water is sealed off from entering the interior. While thresholds must be present, there must also be warning signs, alerting passengers that a threshold is coming. If there is no such warning label, it's possible that the cruise line could be at fault.
Other Types of Injuries
In other instances, it may be possible to sue a cruise line for an illness you sustained aboard, or for some other injury. If you have suffered a purposeful attack from a crew member, then you should file a report immediately, with the cruise ship and with law enforcement. You may also have the option of pursuing an intentional tort.
While there are many instances where a cruise ship could be liable (responsible) for your accident, and thus your injuries, this will not always be the case.
There are times when an independent contractor, and not the cruise line, will be liable for injuries, such as when:
- When you were injured while ashore
- You suffered malpractice from medical staff aboard ship
Learn more about your legal rights when you discuss your case with a personal injury attorney!