What You Should Know in A Cruise Ship Accident
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What You Should Know and Do If You Meet with an Accident on a Cruise Ship
A passenger died following a fall aboard the Grand Classica cruise ship, according to a report filed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Grand Classica, a 1,680-passenger cruise ship owned by Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line was sailing between Florida and the Bahamas. The man met with the injury soon after the liner left the port of Palm Beach heading toward Freeport in the Bahamas.
Meeting the ship about 13 miles east of the port, the Coast Guard undertook a medevac operation to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where the man was declared dead by the hospital. The Grand Classica continued to its destination.
Even though going on a cruise with family and friends is one of the most enjoyable ways of spending a vacation, you need to be careful, as there is always a chance that an accident may mar your enjoyment. In case, an accident does happen while you are on the cruise, you need to be aware of several things.
International Maritime Organization rules will be applicable: All cruise ships are required to abide by the rules laid down by the IMO. The safety management system includes a section for reporting of the accident and its investigation that specifies all the actions that are required to be taken by the crew of the cruise ship in case of an accident on board.
Comprehensive documentation of the events surrounding the accident and the actions taken thereafter forms a vital step of the reporting.
Assumption of risk: Cruise ship managements are well known for arranging various activities onboard the liner for the entertainment and enjoyment of the passengers. Among the most popular activities are rock climbing, ziplines, water slides swimming, and much more. Since some of these activities involve an element of risk, it is common for the ship management to get the participating passengers to sign a form that certifies that they know and assume all the risks associated with participating in these activities and the cruise ship’s management shall not be held liable for any accidents. However, passengers need to know that under the maritime laws, the cruise ship management can’t escape the responsibilities arising out of negligence that results in accidents and personal injury to their passengers.
Be careful of what you say: In the event of an accident, the crew of the cruise ship will conduct an investigation and the medical staff will also generate a detailed report. Whatever you say then will be documented so you should be careful about what you say.
Typically, in the aftermath of an accident, it is natural for you to be confused and state things that may not be correct or forget to mention things that may be material. This makes it very important that you should consider very carefully about what you say.
Be wary of what you write down: It is common practice for the cruise ship crew to ask you to write down a report of the accident in your own handwriting. You should know that it is not an obligation on your part to do, especially if the incident has left you feeling unwell, shocked, or confused. Also, be careful about permitting a family member to write the report on your behalf as any inaccuracies may harm your ability to seek damages.
Be aware that the investigation aims to protect the rights of the cruise line: it is important to appreciate that any investigation being conducted by the liner company is not to just comply with the legal requirements but also to safeguard themselves from lawsuits.
This means that all statements, documents, pictures, etc. they gather from you or other sources will be used to defend themselves if they are sued. Rather than any care for your wellbeing, the crew is actually trying to establish that the accident is not due to any negligence on their part.
Be your own investigator: Since you will need all the evidence that you can gather to support a possible claim for compensation against the cruise liner company, you should also try to note down the names and contact information of other passengers and crew that have firsthand knowledge of the incident. Document what you were doing and you were wearing at the time of the accident and also take photos of the spot where the accident took place. If your case goes to court, even the smallest of details may be very useful in supporting your claim.
Get in Touch with An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer at the Earliest
If you or any of your family or friends have been involved in an accident on board a cruise ship, you should get in touch with a personal injury lawyer at the earliest possible. The experienced personal accident attorneys at Lavalle, Brown, Ronan & Schwencke, P.A can assist you to review the case and suggest the best options. Call us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.