Cruising is becoming more and more popular. As the number of people on cruise ships increases, so do the chances of accidents occurring onboard. If you wish to recover damages from the cruise line if you become injured while on a cruise, you have to recover evidence that there was negligence on the part of the cruise ship. Negligent means that the cruise line failed to act with reasonable care. A personal injury attorney can work with you to determine if your injuries were the result of the cruise ship’s inaction or action.
Types of negligence that can occur on a cruise ship
- Tripping and falling over a threshold
- Tumbling down the stairs
- Slipping and falling on the deck
Other negligent incidents may include assaults or other intentional acts by members of the crew.
If you fell down a staircase you may assume that you were clumsy or just lost your balance. If the accident were investigated further, the fall may have been caused by a number of other reasons:
- Missing handrails
- Faulty or loose handrails
- Handrails that move away from stairs at the bottom of the stairs
- The steps are not the correct depth making your steps shaky and inconsistent
Steps and Stairs
Never assume that falling down the stairs was automatically your fault. Let your attorney use professional inspectors to investigate the condition of the stairs to determine whether or not they were in a safe condition.
Slipping and Falling on the Deck
Similarly, just because you fall on the deck, does not mean you were clumsy or not paying attention. If the deck was wet, how did it get that way? What material is the deck composed of? There are some types of decking that get really slippery when wet, while other surfaces do not. Again the cruise line has an obligation to make sure the decks are reasonably safe. The cruise line may be negligent if it used a surface that is known for becoming extra slippery when wet in an area where it is known to be wet almost all the time, such as near a pool or water slide or hot tub. An investigation by your attorney will be necessary to determine liability for a slip and fall on the deck
Tripping and Falling Over a Threshold
Thresholds are traditionally located in doorways or entryways to other rooms. International and Federal shipping laws require thresholds on ships in specific locations to ensure that the ship remains watertight. Because the thresholds are required by law, a ship cannot be found negligent because of their design. The cruise ship does, however, have a duty to give passengers sufficient warning of their existence. Passengers that do not take many cruises may not be familiar with where these thresholds are located on the ship. If you fall over a threshold, take note of your surroundings — were there warning signs or labels alerting you to the threshold? If not, this could be considered negligence.
If you were injured while on a cruise and you believe the cruise ship was negligent, contact a personal injury law firm. They have experienced investigators that can help determine if you have a case for negligence against the cruise ship.
Source: Personal Injury Lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT, Rasmussen & Miner