Cruise Ship Owner’s Responsibility
A cruise ship has a duty to ensure safe transportation. Every country has its own vessel inspection laws, and inspection laws require a cruise ship to adhere to them. If the cruise ship is picking up passengers in U.S. ports, those cruise ships must adhere to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). This convention has strict requirements for crew competency and training, as well as numerous requirements for vessel seaworthiness.
Additionally, the Shipping Act of 1984 demands a heightened duty of care when it comes to cruise ships. They must ensure that all passengers arrive safely and owe a special duty of care to protect their passengers from criminal attacks.
If a passenger disappears from a cruise ship, the cruise line has a duty to perform a reasonable search and rescue, return to the place the passenger was last seen, and report the disappearance.
Cruises Kept Sailing
Instead of docking the ships and proactively protecting passengers and employees, cruise ships downplayed the dangers to consumers and kept sending out ships. There were outbreaks on board and warnings from public health officials, but ships kept going.
In February, an outbreak on the Diamond Princess shows how quickly coronavirus can spread on cruise ships. Yet, March 1st, The Eclipse departs to Buenos Aires. On March 7th, top executives meet with Vice President Mike Pence. They argued how they could contain the virus while still sailing. It wasn’t until March 13th, that the cruise industry suspending operations for 30 days. The Eclipse is still sailing even though multiple passengers are reporting flu-like symptoms. The ship’s medical staff tells them it isn’t serious. In fact, they hold a packed celebration on the pool deck. The party honors health care workers battling the virus around the world. Instead of separating passengers, the ship holds more activities to keep people occupied.
By March 30th, the ship docks in San Diego and dozens have coronavirus. In fact, one passenger will die. This wasn’t the only ship that kept sailing while continually infecting people with the virus.
Don’t Wait to Get Help After a Cruise Injury
If you, your child, or your relative suffered a cruise ship related injury, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Once you disembark, your next step should be to get experienced legal help from a knowledgeable attorney.
At The Michael Brady Lynch Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience helping injured people get justice and full compensation for injuries caused negligence. Given that lawsuits against cruise ships are in a venue favorable to the cruise lines, it is incredibly important to have an experienced attorney with ample resources to prosecute your claim. The Michel Brady Lynch Firm regularly takes on the largest corporations in the world with a track record of proven success and results. Contact The Michael Brady Lynch Firm today, and our attorneys will review your case for free and help you protect your rights. For your complimentary consultation, call our office now.
Recent Comments