Don’t Cruise Into Trouble: Know Your Rights On Your Next Cruise

Injuries and deaths on cruise ships are often attributed to negligence on the part of the cruise line. Despite reported injuries and deaths, cruise lines seem to take little precautions that protect passengers from harm.

Discover the truth about cruise ships’ lack of safety protocols and fundamental safety procedures. Learn your rights as a passenger and potential liability of the cruise ship before you book your next cruise. Be aware of the information on your “ticket for passage” issued by the cruise line, paying close attention to the statute of limitations in the event you need to bring a case against them (it’s usually 1 year by contract with a 6 month written notice requirement).

Negligence, Injuries and Deaths Aboard Cruise Ships

Laws and regulations require that cruise ships adhere to safety standards and protocols that protect passengers from harm. Yet serious injuries and deaths continue to occur aboard cruise ships.

MarketWatch reported that between 2000 and August 2017, nearly 300 individuals had ‘gone overboard’ from cruise ships or ferries. Citing data from Ross Klein from The School of Social Work at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, another 49 individuals went missing while aboard cruise ships.

One interesting note in the MarketWatch report is the fact that data released by a cruise industry consulting firm reported close to 30 fewer incidents of individuals going overboard. It’s in their financial interest to downplay tragedies that occur on these floating cities.

Although the Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights likely gives some individuals greater confidence, data shows that cruise lines continue to fail to keep passengers safe. Slips, trips, and falls are examples of the most common reported injuries. Some passengers experience sexual assaults or other crimes.

Children sometimes experience injury or die while aboard cruise ships. The Chicago Tribune revealed details of an eight-year-old girl that fell to her death while aboard a Carnival cruise ship docked at the Port of Miami in 2017.

Common Areas of Negligence on Cruise Ships

While cruise ships may not be responsible for every injury that takes place aboard their vessels, these are some of the areas in which they have been found to be legally negligent:

• Slipping on the deck
• Tripping on the threshold of a doorway
• Physical or sexual assault by a crew member
• Falling on the stairs (may be due to lack of handrails, risers too high or too shallow or water on steps)
• Catastrophic pool accidents
• Drowning in pools

Preserve Your Cruise Ship Legal Rights Related to Injury and Death

Attorney John Leighton, cruise ship and boating accident lawyer, works aggressively when representing victims and their families affected by cruise ship and boating injuries or death. Leighton Panoff Law, P.A. Trial Lawyers focuses on obtaining the highest recoveries possible for passengers that experience injuries and for families of loved ones killed due to cruise ship or boating disasters.

John Leighton, Esq., is a board-certified personal injury trial lawyer and managing partner of Leighton Panoff Law, P.A., with offices in Miami and Orlando. He represents seriously injured victims of negligence, sexual abuse, medical malpractice, violent crime, defective products and resort, travel, and vacation accidents. His lifelong passion is helping people who have had the worst thing happen in their lives.