How Often Do Accidents on Cruises Really Happen?
Cruises are an exciting vacation where people get ready to relax, enjoy new surroundings, and get away from the stresses of everyday life for some time. While people are typically planning out how they’re going to spend their time on the cruise, they may rarely think about safety. However, a cruise ship is like any other property—if it’s poorly maintained, passengers are at risk of sustaining serious injuries. When staff negligence causes an injury, you can seek out legal options. Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law can help you with your premises liability claim.
What Kind of Accidents Cause Cruise Ship Injuries?
According to the CDC, slip, trip and fall injuries account for 12%-18% of medical center visits on a cruise ship. More people go to the medical center for instances of respiratory illness at 19%-29% and seasickness at 10%-25%.
These accidents typically happen when negligence is involved. Those in charge of the ship are supposed to keep an eye out for hazards. If they find hazards, they need to either fix them or warn passengers about the issue until they can fix it. When this doesn’t happen, passengers can get injured in a number of different ways. Some examples of what causes these injuries include:
- Spills
- Recently mopped floors
- Clutter or debris blocking hallways
- Unstable railings or staircases
- Old flooring
- Electrical hazards like exposed wiring
- Pools
The injuries can range from mild to severe. Serious injuries include head trauma, burn injuries, broken bones, and injured spines. Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains are possible, too.
These injuries can be incapacitating and affording the care may be costly. When our lawyer is representing you, all your medical expenses and the other costs of your injuries will be taken into account when determining your compensation.
Now that you know how injuries can occur on a cruise ship, you’ll want to know about what you need to do after the accident.
What Should You Do If You’re Injured on a Cruise Ship?
After an injury on a cruise ship, you may feel disoriented and not sure about what to do next. There are certain steps you should take to protect your health and document your injury, which can help with your claim later.
Inform someone on the staff that you’ve been hurt. They will be able to either direct you to the medical center or arrange for a way for you to get there. When you see the doctor, tell them everything that happened and include all your symptoms. Don’t ignore pain or expect it to go away on its own—pain is indicating that something is wrong. Your doctor will use the information you give and will start treatment. Follow their treatment plan.
When you arrive back home, schedule an appointment with your primary doctor. Tell them what happened and what you’ve been doing to treat the injury. They may be able to recommend further treatment and help you regain your health. You should follow their recommended treatment plan as well.
After you’ve visited the doctor, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer. The medical expenses of your injury could be high and can prevent you from going to work. Your lawyer will assess your case and losses, and fight for you to get the compensation you deserve.
Determining Liability After a Cruise Injury
The legal process can be complex, so it’s important to have a reliable and experienced lawyer at your side. While your attorney will try to hold the cruise ship liable for your injuries, you’ll likely face opposition. That’s why your Biloxi attorney will need to prove the cruise line owed you a duty of care, failed to meet that duty, their failure caused your accident, and your accident resulted in injuries that caused damages.
The cruise ship may say your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. That’s why visiting the medical center on the ship and your primary doctor are both crucial elements to supporting your case. Your lawyer will look into how the accident happened and will determine if it could have been prevented if someone had not acted negligently. We’ll do everything possible to get you the compensation that will help you afford your medical bills and other expenses the accident cost you.
Call Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll go over the merits of your case and discuss your options. With your case in our hands, you can focus on your recovery while we fight for the justice you deserve.
