Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer

Cruise ship passengers share many of the same accidents people on land are prone to. A cruise ship owes to its passengers the duty of a safe transportation. If passengers do not get safely to their destination, they are viable to file a suit against the owner of the cruise ship, the company that chartered and operated the cruise ship; sometimes, even the company that sold the cruise ship tickets. No environment is 100% safe from accidents. Here are some of the most common injuries to happen on a cruise ship:

Slip and Fall injuries
These injuries are quite common aboard cruise ships. It can be caused by several things such as defective or dirty floors, wet areas, stairs or other areas. If you happen to encounter somebody who is running up their stairs during a cruise, immediately stop them from doing so and give a brief seminar on why it is hazardous to run up and down the stairs. Seriously though, inform that person of the dangers involved in doing such a risky action. There are also some others who are not aware of the surroundings and do not pay attention to signs such as: “Careful, slippery area”.

Swimming pool accidents / Drowning
Cruise ships most likely have swimming pools available for the utilization of their guests. Sometimes, accidents happen, whether it is because of a playful prank or something serious as accidentally falling into the pool’s water. Swimming pools are dangerous, especially for children under age 5 who happens to be unsupervised by a responsible adult.

Rape or Assault
The world is not really safe anymore. I didn’t know you could get raped or assaulted by another passenger or a member of the ship’s crew while on board a cruise ship. One story I read was about a 42 year old female passenger aboard the Coral Princess that reports of a 38 year old Portuguese crew member who sexually assaulted her during a cruise. There was even one story of a man stalking a father and his 3 year old son while they were taking a stroll on the cruise ship’s deck.

Respiratory infections
If the cruise ship has poorly maintained ventilation or cooling systems, circulation of air becomes ineffective. If a person who carries an illness gets into the room with poor ventilation systems alongside with all other passengers, those other passengers might acquire the illness that he/she has.

Passengers Overboard
Yes. It is very much possible to fall off a cruise ship. These people who have gone overboard the cruise ship have most likely taken the liberty to step off the area of safety, stepped on the railings and imitate Jack and Rose in the movie ‘Titanic’. Still, precaution and awareness of one’s surrounding is a must in preventing this kind of injury!

Being seriously injured while on a cruise in the middle of the sea can really be frustrating. Not only will you not be able to fully enjoy your trip but you get to suffer from ailments too. But you need not worry if in case a serious cruise ship injury does happen to you because there are actually laws that grants legal rights to both passengers and members of the crew who experienced a serious injury while at sea. You just need to follow these seven simple steps to ensure that your rights are protected in the event of a cruise ship injury.

Report the injury in writing. In case you got injured, make a written report of the incident and submit it to the ship’s security department. Keep in mind to include the exact place where the injury took place, the time and date of the injury as well as a short narrative on how the injury occurred.

Document your injury properly. Aside from the written report, it will also be best if you would take pictures of your injury (look for any signs of swelling, bruising or wounds), the place where it happened and other important factors that might be used for your case. Try to use your camera and shoot at many different angles as much as possible.

Get witness contact information. If ever a witness or several witnesses were there during the time that you got your injury, be sure to get their names and contact information for you might need them to prove your case.

Refrain from giving statements to anyone. Keep in mind that you are not obliged to make a recorded statement to anyone aboard the ship regarding the incident so you may politely refuse if ever you were asked to do so.

Get immediate medical treatment on board. Go to the ship’s doctor and have your injury treated as soon as possible and get a medical statement regarding your case.

Keep your cruise ticket. Remember that your ticket is essential for your case because tt may state as to how far a lawsuit may cover. Furthermore, the conditions stated in the ticket can also limit the amount of time that you would have before a suit is filed.

Consult with a maritime lawyer. Never hesitate to consult with an experienced maritime attorney regarding your case. Look for a lawyer who can assess your case and can help you get the right compensation that you need for your cruise ship injury.

Know your legal rights especially when it comes to serious cruise ship injury. Although maritime law may vary from one place to another, the information above will surely help you in case an unfortunate accident may occur while you are at sea. Follow these seven simple tips on what you should do in case of a cruise ship injury and you’ll definitely get what you really deserve and have your injury be treated the right way.

Think about this: why do we need to be offered two modes of transportation? Isn’t it more efficient to have one? More specifically, if it’s traveling to a certain island, why do we need to choose between taking an airline and a boat? Isn’t flying the best way to go? Don’t let your baggage into the plane just yet, though. Here are 3 good reasons why maritime transportation is here to stay:

Earth-friendly
Maritime transportation’s staying power is backed by its earth-friendly efficiency. Ships actually emit lower levels of air pollutant emissions. This can be effectively seen when compared to other vehicles. Fuel consumption of trucks and trains are even more greater than shipping vehicles. Maritime vessels’ emission properties are way below than any other vehicle in the planet. Also, in terms of frequency of trips, ships – especially the freight and cargo types – are usually low in number. This essentially means even less emissions of carbon monoxide and other pollutants.

Quiet as you like it
Maritime transportation also provides safe and quiet trips. Though considered a minor benefit from some, noise pollution is a condition that may lead to serious consequences. Better to stop it than let it all out, right? Ships produce less noise pollution, which in some parts of the world is a major problem. Can you imagine the stress of having to live in a community of loud car and truck noise? On a ship, it’s easy, smooth sailing. The only thing that may exude some sound in a ship is the engine. Aside from the engine hum (which can be considered a lullaby for some), travel is relatively quiet.

Safe
Maritime transportation is safe. Mainly because that the sea is vast and wide, accidents are rare and often of no consequence to passengers. This allows for most companies to opt for their cargo to be shipped this way instead. As compared to cars and trucks – which may encounter collisions and other accidents on the road – and aircraft – on which crashes seem to only get worse each year – maritime transportation is the best way to travel and deliver.

Maritime transportation is here to stay. These ships and vessels are environment friendly, emitting a low level of pollutants into the air. They’re also quiet, assuring not only a quiet voyage for its passengers, but for the sea and ocean marine life as well. Most importantly, marine transportation is safe. By knowing these three reasons, you’ll get to further appreciate your next boat ride.