Christopher McGrory, 29, was onboard the Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica for his bachelor party. What should have been a fun trip before his nuptials ended tragically. McGrory fell from an upper deck, landing on a lower portion of the vessel. He did not fall overboard. He was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Riviera Beach Fire-Rescue. The cause of McGrory’s fall is unknown, and the U.S. Coast Guard is investigating.
Unfortunately, McGrory’s story is not as rare as it should be. Falls on cruise ships occur frequently, though they are not always fatal. Many falls result in serious injuries.If you fell and suffered an injury on a cruise ship, or you lost a loved one in a significant fall, do not hesitate to contact a Miami cruise ship attorney from Gerson & Schwartz P.A. We are highly experienced cruise ship attorneys. If the fall was due to a defect or a dangerous condition on the vessel, we can represent you in pursuit of fair compensation. Call us at (877) 475-2905 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Cruise Ship Falls May Be Due to Crew Member Negligence
Cruise ships are not simply boats. They are like small, floating city blocks. There are many different areas passengers can be in—their cabins, poolside, one of several restaurants, a theater, a casino, bars, and shops—just to name a few. All of these different areas need to be maintained so that they are as safe as possible.
Unfortunately, on busy cruise ships, crew members can become careless, sloppy, or rushed in their work. They may not inspect the premises as often as they are supposed to, which means they fail to notice a hazard right away. A spilled beverage may remain on a deck or garbage may have been left on a carpeted area for hours longer than necessary.
When crew members notice problems, they may delay in correcting the issue or putting up warning signs. They may attend to other duties before addressing a hazard that could cause someone harm. They may even think someone else will notice the issue and fix it.
Or, crew members may partially correct the problem, still leaving a heightened risk that a passenger will slip or trip and fall. For instance, a crew member may mop up a spill, yet leave the floor wet without a warning sign nearby.
Common Causes of Slip and Falls or Trip and Falls
These acts of negligence can result in common slip and fall or trip and fall hazards, such as spilled liquids or food, recently mopped and slick floors, cords or debris on the ground, ripped or loose carpeting, or loose or missing handrails.
Another potential issue is design defects on the ship, which increase the risk of a passenger slipping or tripping and getting hurt in a fall. A cruise ship may have rugs or mats without non-slip backing. Different flooring materials in various areas may often become slippery when wet, which is especially dangerous near pools and spas. Areas, including stairs and steps may be poorly lit.
Most significantly, there may be areas that do not have appropriate handrails. The handrails may also not be designed as high as they should have to avoid accidents. Or, the handrails may be shorter than is safe.
Call a Miami Cruise Ship Attorney After a Fall Onboard
If you or a loved one fell onboard a cruise ship and you believe it was because of a defect or hazard on the vessel, do not hesitate to contact our highly experienced cruise ship lawyers in Miami. At Gerson & Schwartz P.A., we have represented many individuals in cruise ship trip and fall accidents. We will thoroughly investigate what happened to determine why. If we find evidence of another party’s negligence, we will recommend the best next steps. While we may pursue compensation through an insurance claim, we also may advise filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the cruise line. To learn more about your rights after a fall onboard a cruise ship, contact us at (305) 371-6000 or use the online form to request a free consultation.