Slip and fall accidents are the most common accidents on cruise ships. From wet surfaces on deck to losing balance, there are many ways slips and falls can occur on cruise vacations. Sometimes, these accidents cause serious injuries. You could receive compensation if the cruise line’s negligence caused your injury. Below, we discuss everything you need to know about handling slip and fall injury claims on a cruise ship.
Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents on Cruise Ships
Slip and fall accidents often occur within the first few days of sailing. Here are some common reasons slip and fall accidents occur on cruise ships:
Slippery Surfaces
Many exterior and interior surfaces become slippery on cruise ships and cause injuries. Some places that can get the most slippery are outside on lower decks, where ocean water can splash onto the floor. Other slippery places include pool decks where guests can track dripping water onto interior floors. Newly cleaned surfaces in dining areas and lobbies can cause slips and falls, also. Cruise lines may be liable if they don’t warn guests about the slippery conditions.
Improper Maintenance
Poorly maintained floors, ceilings, decks, and faulty equipment can cause slips and falls. For instance, a leak can cause a floor to become slippery, or a broken handrail can fail to help prevent a fall.
Uneven Flooring
Flooring transitions are another place where slips and falls occur. Areas such as the transition from the carpet on a deck floor to the metal entrance of an elevator can cause accidents.
Unsecured Objects
Stateroom hallways are notoriously narrow aboard cruise ships, which can lead to accidents. Whether you trip over luggage sitting in a hallway or a housekeeping cart, the accident may have been preventable.
What To Do If You’ve Been Injured on a Cruise Ship
If you’ve been seriously injured while vacationing on a cruise ship, here’s what you should do:
Seek Medical Care
Sometimes the desire to return to your vacation can prevent you from seeking adequate medical attention. However, failure to get medical care can affect your ability to receive compensation later. The cruise line may claim that your injuries weren’t as severe as reported since you continued participating in the activities on board. After slipping and falling on a cruise ship, you should seek medical attention from the ship’s first aid station.
Document and Report the Incident
An accident report may be filed once you receive medical attention, where you’ll be asked questions about the incident. Ask for a copy of the report and any other notes that are made. If you can, document the accident on your own, including pictures and videos of the area. Look to see if any security cameras may have caught the incident. You’ll also want to gather the contact information of any eyewitnesses.
Consult an Attorney
After you’ve departed the cruise ship, contact a personal injury attorney to help you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. You could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and lost wages if the cruise line were negligent. You could also receive compensation for vacation expenses you couldn’t enjoy due to your injury.
File a Claim Against the Cruise Line
Many cruise lines have a venue clause specifying that legal disputes must be resolved in certain states. Due to the many cruise ports in the state, Florida is often listed as a part of many major cruise lines’ venue clauses. Your cruise ship accident attorney will walk you through the steps to file a claim for your injuries.
We Help Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Victims
We provide legal representation for anyone who’s suffered an accident on a cruise ship or at a port. We strive to hold cruise lines accountable for their negligence that resulted in serious injuries. If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship, contact the Michael Brady Lynch Firm at 888-585-5970 to discuss your options.
