Cruise Ship Passenger Accidents and Injuries
The cruise ship organizations have a legal obligation to its passengers. Under the federal maritime law, they are required to give rational aid under whatever circumstance that may arise. The meaning of reasonable care can be different for each claim, this is why areas that are most used by the public in a cruise ship, must be clear of any slip, fall, and trip dangers that can occur, along with a quality maintenance of the equipment on the cruise ship.
Under reasonable care, the safe passage to the ship and from the cruise ship and giving a high-level quality of safety and security to protect all of the cruise ships passengers and crew members is essential for reasonable care. Breaking these violations include:
- A failure to warn of a hazardous condition
- A failing in correcting the hazardous condition
- Exposure of the passengers to an unneeded harm
Classification of the Types of Accidents
- Disasters such as, pirates attacking the cruise ship, sinking of the cruise ship, crashes against other cruise ships or boats, terrorist’s attacks, and many more.
- Sicknesses such as, an outbreak of noroviruses, gastrointestinal illness, influenza, and many more.
- Injuries such as, rapes, assaults, battery’s that can be done by either the passengers or cruise ship members and slipping and falling fractures
- Deaths such as, jumping overboard, suicides, murders, heart attacks, drowning, and many more
- Crimes such as, theft, robbery inside the cabins, smuggling or possessing illicit drugs, past warrants, exposure and hostile behavior by a passenger who may be under the influence
- Outside conditions such as, hurricanes, heavy storms, severe fog, and tsunamis
Crime Reports and Statistics About Cruise Ships
Did you know that there was a 2008 report conducted of which about 10% of the passengers were in some way affected by a crime? Amongst all those crimes, 55% of those were cases involving sexual assault, 22% of those were cases involving physical assaults, 7% of those were cases involving homicides, and about 5% of those cases were about missing persons; passengers and cruise members.
Many of these crime incidents go unreported. Here are some statistics conducted by the FBI:
- In a year, there are about 50 cases that are opened relating to crimes occurring at sea
- Between 2002-2007, 46% of the crimes that were reported were related to members of the cruise ship
- Between 2012-2014, there was a sum of 74 rape cases and 29 assaults that ended in severe bodily injury
It has been noted that Nassau Bahamas is actually one of the most dangerous places to travel to. There are over 30 murders per 100,000 people, compared to the US that is an average of 4.5 murders per 100,000 people. Many cruise ship passengers have been either been raped, robbed, and even killed when going a shore excursion in Bahamian capital city.
Drug trafficking is another issue that occurs within cruise ships. There are about 3 to 30 kilos of marijuana and cocaine smuggled each day.
Some Cruise Ships Disasters That Have Occurred
- Norwegian Dawn: Happened in 2005, a 70-foot wave hit the cruise ship and flooded 62 cabins
- Celebrity Mercury: Happened in 2010, contained 2,600 passengers. There was a norovirus outbreak that affected 400 of those passengers, causing vomiting and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Seabourn Spirits: Happened in 2005, contained 300 passengers. The cruise ship was 100 miles off of the coast of Somalia. Pirates attacked by firing machined guns and grenades. Miraculously, no passengers were hurt.
These are just some disasters that have occurred on cruise ships. There have been many others with far worse devastating results.
Making an Accident Claim
Some things that need to be done by the passenger who suffered the injury or accident:
- The passenger must read and comprehend the cruise ticket contract that is given to them before going on the cruise ship. In that contract, it states the terms and conditions if anything were to happen to you while on-board
- The passenger must report the accident or injury immediately after it happened. This is crucial in receiving compensation. You need to round up any witness’s information that were present at the time.
- The passenger must take pictures of their injuries and of the area where the accident happened.
- Do not settle for less. Get what you are deserved. Most cruise ship companies will want to work things out with you personally. Contact a personal injury lawyer before falling into any tricks by these companies
- It is vital to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. You can visit the medical center that the ship has, but it is important that you follow-up on your injury as soon as you get off the cruise ship
If you perform all of these steps, you are more than likely to have enough evidence to be able to file a claim against the cruise ship for its negligence under the maritime law. You must get in touch with a skillful litigator who understands this law, and is an expert in accidents and injuries involving cruise ships.
Cruise Ship Accident and Incident Expert
You went on a cruise ship to experience something new, to get-away from your everyday life, to visit and see new places, but you suddenly found yourself in very stressful or painful situation. What should you do? Do not extend the process. As soon as you have become a victim of an accident or injury from a cruise ship, get into communication with one of our expert legal advisers who will look into all that can be done for your case. Act fast to be able to get the most out of your claim. Cruise ships negligence cannot go unpunished. Call us today at (305)529-0001, or come in person at 2655 South Le Jeune Road #504 Miami, Florida 33134
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