Each year, thousands of cruise ship passengers suffer injuries at sea. While some of these injuries result from passengers’ own carelessness or poor choices, many result from cruise line negligence. When a cruise line’s negligence is to blame for a passenger’s injury, the passenger can file a claim for compensation with the help of a Fort Lauderdale cruise ship injury attorney.
10 Common Cruise Ship Injuries Caused By Cruise Line Negligence
Cruise line negligence can lead to all types of injuries. It can also lead to passengers suffering from various illnesses. The following are 10 common cruise ship injuries (and illnesses) for which passengers may be entitled to financial compensation:
- Back Injuries – Back injuries, including herniated discs, fractured vertebrae and lower back pain, are common fall-related injuries for cruise ship passengers. Cruise lines have a legal duty to prevent falls caused by slippery decks, spills in cruise ship restaurants and other onboard hazards.
- Bacterial Infections – Bacterial infections can result from improper maintenance of pools, water slides and lazy rivers onboard cruise ships. To prevent these infections, cruise lines should have qualified staff onboard monitoring their water quality at all times.
- Broken and Dislocated Bones – Broken and dislocated bones are also common fall-related injuries, but they can result from many other types of accidents onboard as well. This includes collisions with moving objects and other accidents that cruise lines can (and should) keep from happening.
- Communicable Diseases – TheCOVID-19 pandemic brought the risk of communicable diseases spreading onboard cruise ships into sharp focus. When cruise lines fail to implement adequate safety measures, they can (and should) be held liable.
- Concussions – Concussions are common injuries in all types of cruise ship accidents. Falls, dangerous roller coasters, falling objects, and collisions between guests and crew members are just a few examples of the risks against which cruise lines must adequately protect their passengers.
- Food Poisoning – Many cruise passengers suffer from food poisoning. Serving expired and unsafe foods can expose cruise lines to liability for their passengers’ food-related illnesses.
- Injuries from Medical Malpractice – When a cruise ship doctor commits medical malpractice, the cruise line can be held liable as the doctor’s employer.
- Near–Drowning Injuries – Near-drowning incidents can damage the brain, lungs and other organs. Cruise lines have a duty to prevent these incidents both onboard and in the open water.
- Nerve Damage – Nerve damage is another type of injury that can result from many different types of traumatic accidents. Once again, if a cruise line could (and should) have prevented a passenger’s accident, then the cruise line deserves to be held accountable.
- Soft Tissue Injuries – Soft tissue injuries fall into the same category as back injuries, broken bones, concussions and nerve damage—they are common injuries for which cruise ship passengers will often be entitled to financial compensation.
Speak with a Fort Lauderdale Cruise Ship Injury Attorney for Free
If you or a member of your family has been injured onboard a cruise ship, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation about your legal rights. Please call 800-499-0551 or request a free consultation online to speak with a Fort Lauderdale cruise ship injury attorney in confidence.
