For most people, a cruise is a safe and enjoyable experience. But for those who experience accidents, injury or illness, a cruise can result in a lifetime of pain and suffering.
People on a cruise ship can experience slipping and falling, tripping, back and neck injuries, leg, foot and ankle injuries, catastrophic head and neck injuries, Norovirus and more. Your time of pleasure and relaxation on a cruise ship can end up an unforgettable saga of lingering troubles once you return home.
Here are just a few of the common injuries and illnesses suffered by passengers on cruise ships, most of them avoidable and covered under maritime law.
Cruise Ship Slipping and Falling Injuries and Hazards
Cruise ships are designed for optimal aesthetic appeal, providing passengers an unforgettably scenic experience.
Unfortunately the design of the grand facades, as well as the construction techniques required on ships, cause countless hazards and frequent injuries.
Common Cruise Ship Falling Hazards
A common culprit in falling accidents on cruise ships is the widespread use of subtle elevation changes throughout the ship.
The middle of a cruise liner is higher than the edges to accommodate moisture and accumulation. Because of this, there are often small steps up and down as you walk through the ship.
An unexpected or unseen step up or down can cause injury. These steps may not be clearly marked and can easily go unnoticed. In other locations, such as dining rooms and foyers, single-step elevations are added for aesthetics.
The cruise line has a responsibility to make these steps highly noticeable, and when their negligence to do so causes you pain, you can take action.
It’s easy to slip and fall on a cruise ship
Cruise ship decks and floors are often made from a composite material that looks like wood, tile or other traditional flooring materials. This material maintains the pristine appearance cruise ship passengers expect.
But the flooring material that covers a majority of the ship’s surfaces becomes very slippery and dangerous once any moisture or water accumulates, particularly around pools or on exterior decks after cleaning or harsh weather. Navigating these areas can be difficult, causing many passengers to slip and fall.
Following a slip-and-fall accident at sea, you need an attorney with a deep understanding of maritime personal injury to protect your rights and fight for the restitution you deserve.
Our lawyers thoroughly investigate the evidence available and use expert analysis of the surfaces to prove negligence on the part of the cruise ship.
Cruise Ship Tripping Injuries and Hazards
The cruise ship industry thrives on the breathtaking ambiance of its spectacular ships. As the vessels become more and more aesthetic, though, they often involve more tripping hazards and dangerous surfaces.
There are many opportunities throughout the ship for trip-and-fall injuries. These hazards include:
- Observation decks with poorly placed low level equipment creating tripping hazards
- Multi-purpose deck areas, used for activities or games with hard to see tripping and falling hazards
- Single-step elevation changes or poorly constructed steps that can be difficult to see
Additionally, the doorways into many rooms and cabins throughout a ship have slightly raised thresholds, which regularly cause trips and injuries.
Following your tripping injury, you should know that your rights are protected by U.S. Maritime Law. In these cases, you need an attorney who understands the intricacies of maritime law and can best advocate for your rights.
At Law Offices of Charles D. Naylor, we are deeply familiar with the construction used throughout cruise ships, as well as the materials and features that often cause trip and fall or slip and fall injuries.
Back And Neck Injuries Aboard A Cruise Ship
Safety hazards and treacherous conditions throughout a cruise ship have the potential to cause lasting pain and trauma, particularly following a back or neck injury sustained while on the ship.
Slippery surfaces and elevated surfaces abound, inviting accidents, slips, trips and falls. Should you fall hard enough, you run the risk of sustaining serious damage to your back or neck. From complications to osteoporosis to a ruptured disk, the impact is lasting.
Cruise Ship Hip Injuries
With beautiful facades and interesting features, cruise ships are often the scene of accidents resulting in painful injuries. If you have fractured a hip or experienced hip trauma while on a cruise, you need the representation of a skilled maritime personal injury attorney fighting to recover damages on your behalf.
Cruise lines are responsible for taking the proper precautions to ensure that their walking surfaces are safe and that passengers are protected. When they fail to do so, we hold them accountable.
Cruise Ship Foot, Ankle and Knee Injuries on a Cruise Ship
It’s easy to injure your feet, ankles and knees through slips, trips and falls on cruise ships. Many passengers have injured feet, ankles and knees through slips, trips and falls on cruise ships. These injuries are often the result of slick surfaces, as well as elevated surfaces and unmarked steps throughout the ship, and can lead to chronic pain and limitations.
If you are injured in such a manner, you are entitled to compensation for the suffering you have experienced, as well as potential future limitations, because your injury is covered by U.S. Maritime Law, and you have the right to take action to recover damages for your pain.
Catastrophic Injuries And Head Trauma Aboard A Cruise Ship
When head trauma and devastating falls happen upon cruise ships, the cruise company will hurriedly cover up the evidence in an effort to protect themselves. We will uncover the evidence and build a case on your behalf.
The circumstances surrounding catastrophic injuries and head trauma aboard a cruise ship vary widely. We understand this and prepare each client’s case individually to reflect those unique factors.
Cruise Ship Infectious Diseases
Each year, many cruise ship passengers fall victim to highly contagious and infectious diseases while on vacation. This can range from food poisoning to the Norovirus.
Norovirus on a Cruise Ship
Norovirus is often transmitted through food, water, surfaces and areas of shared water, such as pools. Norovirus symptoms are painful and include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and other maladies.
Although the cruise lines have a responsibility to prevent the spread of this illness through proper cleaning and chemical sterilization, it is not uncommon to suffer an outbreak of Norovirus in the crowded confines of cruise ships.
When you experience sickness and pain due to an outbreak of an infectious disease on a cruise ship, the Law Offices of Charles D. Naylor can help. Maritime law and admiralty law do apply to these situations, and you can take legal action.
We understand the immense strain these types of illnesses can place on your health and your personal life, and we are committed to protecting the rights of cruise ship passengers and helping you recover damages for the pain you have suffered.
We understand that each case is different, and we will invest the time to investigate the circumstances surrounding your illness. We will gather the evidence to build a case on your behalf and help you gain restitution for your pain.
Protect Your Rights
Cruise lines rarely settle with individuals without representation. It’s up to you to find an attorney who can successfully protect your rights following accident, injury or illness aboard a cruise ship.
Following your cruise, you must file complaints or bring suit in whatever city from which your cruise set sail. Our lawyers are available to provide you representation in these cities, even though you may be remote.
We have the experience you need.
Contact a Los Angeles-based Cruise Ship Injury Attorney
At the Law Offices of Charles D. Naylor, our attorneys have been fighting for the rights of cruise ship passengers for more than 100 collective years. We have seen every kind of accident, injury and illness, and we are fully prepared to handle cases surrounding any injury that has occurred while at sea.
We are located in Los Angeles, California, and represent California cruise accident victims, and our lawyers are available to provide representation to cruise passengers anywhere in the Unites States, including Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, New York and Houston.
Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience defending the rights of cruise ship passengers and crew members. We have handled thousands of maritime personal injury cases, and we are prepared to handle whatever cruise injury or pain you have sustained while at sea.
We possess a deep familiarity with each cruise line, as well as many of the ships within those lines. We know the common safety hazards on the ships and can efficiently build a case on your behalf.
To best understand your particular needs, we provide free initial consultations to better understand your case. To arrange a meeting, please call us today toll-free at 888-603-5302, or complete our confidential form and we will follow up with you directly.
