In the last few years, vacations on cruise ships have become very popular. Everything from bachelor parties to honeymoon travels and family summer vacations is being planned on cruise ships. To be honest, traveling, sleeping, eating, and exploring foreign exotic lands on a ship can be a great way to relax, unwind and party. While cruise ships can be the ultimate holiday destination for travelers, multiple dangers are involved. For starters, the stats of individuals getting injured seriously or even dying aboard cruise ships have gone up. In this article, we speak to a leading cruise ship accident attorney. We ask them about five important things to know if you have injured on a Cruise Ship.
What kind of injuries can you Suffer from in a Cruise Ship Accident?
The range of injuries in a cruise ship accident is extensive. From small bruises to outright death, here are the major injuries individuals have suffered from on cruise ships over the last 10 years.
- Fractures and broken bones
- Spinal Cord injuries
- Brain damage and mental trauma
- Burns, Skin Peeling, and Severe Bruises
- Stomach Upset, Food Poisoning, Vomiting and Diarrhoea
- Drowning
- Internal Injuries, Organ Rupture and Bleeding
- Death
While this list covers most of the standard kinds of injuries that are experienced in cruise ship accidents, this is not a comprehensive list. There might be exceptions regarding the injuries as well. If you feel we have left anything out, let us know in the comments below.
Things to know if you have been injured on a Cruise Ship
1. Seek Immediate Medical Help
The first and foremost thing you need to do is get medical help. If you have been injured on a cruise ship, you need to request the authorities to airlift you to a medical institution. Most cruise liners have first aid support available. However, if the nature of the injuries is severe, it is best to be requested to be airlifted or ask the coastal guard to intervene.
2. Get Support from an Expert Legal Attorney
It is the responsibility of the cruise ship, authorities, and owners to ensure the safety of all passengers on board the ship. If they have been negligent in their duties and you have suffered an accident because of the same, you can always file a personal injury lawsuit. You are entitled to receive financial compensation for your treatment and recovery. A lawyer will be of help.
3. Make sure you are careful of what you say
When it comes to businesses like the cruise ship, one small accident and the same getting public can cause them irreparable damage. Everyone from the Captain to the Medical Representative on the ship will interview you and try to prepare a report. Make sure you choose your words carefully or request that you will only speak in front of a legal attorney.
4. Record and Report Everything
Almost all of us carry smartphones. If you or your family member has been injured record everything as evidence. This can be anything from a faulty stairwell to a slippery floor and even a dirty pool. All these things will be invaluable when you are building your injury lawsuit case. Make sure you are doing this secretly as the ship authorities will not like this.
5. Know the Timelines for Filing a Lawsuit with your legal attorney
Most cruise ship accident attorneys recommend that a case should be filed within 6 months. The simple reason is that almost all cruise liners mandate on their tickets that any claim should be filed within 6 months. Post that, the same will not be entertained. After you seek medical attention you should get in touch with your legal attorney.
The Bottom Line
While no one plans a vacation on a cruise ship thinking about getting injured, you should always be prepared for the worst. If you are, this will help aid your recovery process. Hiring the best cruise ship accident attorney, recording evidence, and filing the lawsuit within the stipulated period is essential. If you wish to know more about cruise ship accidents and injuries, let us know in the comments below.
