Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer Blog

Insight from a Florida Cruise Injury Attorney: The Risks of Becoming Seriously Ill on a Cruise

September 20, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Cruises are supposed to be a fun vacation, an escape from work and stress at home. Unfortunately, for many cruise passengers, their dream vacation can turn into a nightmare if they become seriously ill on board. Many cruise lines have made the news when outbreaks of norovirus were reported onboard their ships. Norovirus is a highly contagious illness that causes nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and, sometimes, fever and headache. It is usually spread by physical touch, or it may also spread through contaminated water and food. In a cruise ship, where thousands of passengers may be staying in tight quarters for a week or longer, norovirus can spread quickly. If the ship’s crew has failed to properly clean and sanitize the ship, the cruise line may be liable for injuries. Our Florida cruise ship injury attorneys specialize in a wide range injury and accident cases such as crime on cruise ships to slip, trip and fall accidents.

MORE ABOUT CRUISE SHIP HEALTH CONCERNS

Legionnaire’s Disease is also not uncommon on cruise ships. The bacterium that causes the disease, Legionella, thrives in warm water. Hot tubs and the plumbing systems on cruise ships are often the perfect settings for these bacteria to grow. Legionnaire’s Disease is deadly. Roughly 15 percent of those who catch the disease will die. If hot tubs are not sufficiently heated on cruise ships, passengers are at risk of becoming ill. The bacterium is killed by hot water.

Cruise Lines Neglect Swimming Pool Safety Despite Tragic Drowning Accident

September 12, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Leading Cruise Lines Neglect Swimming Pool Safety Despite Tragic Drowning Accidents

When families elect to take advantage of the convenience and luxury of a cruise, the children predictably will spend lots of time in the pool. Many parents do not worry about the safety of their kids because cruise ships are filled with large staffs that often create an illusion of safety. What parents might not know is that several major cruise lines elect not to provide lifeguards for the safety of their guests. The failure to implement this basic safety measure is particularly troubling because the cruise industry has had its share of drowning and near-drowning accidents involving children. Given that approximately 1.5 million children travel on cruise ships annually, the investment in lifeguards to reduce the risk of drowning accidents seems to be a justified expense. Nonetheless, our cruise ship lawyers recognize that major cruise lines continue to gamble on the safety of their young guests by ignoring this obvious safety precaution.

Cruise Lines Continue to Place Saving Money Over Passenger Safety

Carnival Cruise Ship Passenger Goes Overboard on the Ecstasy

September 8, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

According to the United States Coast Guard, a Carnival cruise ship passenger fell overboard on a the Carnival Ecstasy over Labor Day Weekend. But if you ask Carnival cruise lines, they have already publicly stated that the passenger was witnessed jumping overboard. If Carnivals version is the truth, then this is poor public relations in my opinion. Regardless, these are certainly very different versions of what happened. The cruise ship passenger has been identified as Rina Patel, of New York. The vessel was located about 15 miles off Grand Bahama Island. Our cruise ship lawyers are monitoring the situation. According to reports, USCG “man overboard procedures” were initiated. However, it is unclear what procedures if any Carnival followed and if they did, when they were initiated. If the passenger in fact jumped, then there should be evidence to support Carnival’s public statement that the passenger was observed jumping. Yet, the USCG reports and other media outlets suggests negligence. However, what facts the investigation yields and what the CCTV cameras show will shed light on whether this was accidental or not.

As a maritime personal lawyer in Miami, Florida that has litigated many cruise ship cases against many cruise lines operators including Carnival, it is astonishing that Carnival would come out and publicly state that the passenger jumped or committed suicide before any of the investigation or facts or details are revealed about the investigation.

The Cruise Ship Vessel Safety and Security Act mandates that serious crimes including missing person incidents are reported immediately to the United States Coast Guard. However, there is no private right of action for failure to violate this important federal statute. So, while the guidelines by CVSSA are straight forward, there is virtually little in the way of a legal remedy in the event these rules promulgated by the US Congress are not followed.

Cruise Collision and Personal Injury

August 24, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

A personal injury that occurs on a cruise ship can have a number of causes. A collision with another ship, although relatively rare, is one such cause of personal injury that is rarely discussed. One report of a cruise ship that collided with a ferry has sparked interest among many in the legal community. Many maritime lawyers are expecting some type of legal action to take place against the cruise line, either from passengers or crew members, in relation to the event.

Seeking Legal Help for Cruise Ship Accidents

Cruise ships are supposed to be navigated and directed in a safe and efficient manner in an effort to avoid collisions. This did not happen with the UK-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages. A recent report shows that this cruise ship collided with a ferry. At this time, there are no official reports of injury, but it would not be surprising that a cruise ship collision did result in some type of injury for some of the passengers and crew on board.

When Cruise Ship Electricity Poses a Serious Threat

August 19, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Cruise ships can sometimes encounter unexpected situations, some of which may increase the risk for personal injury among passengers and crew. Power loss is one example. One cruise ship, the Princess Caribbean, had recently experienced both electrical as well as engine issues. These issues can undermine a cruise ship’s need to take care of their guests and make them feel safe during their stay.

Cruise Line Loses Power on the Sea

The loss of power on a cruise ship can be sudden and can cause passengers to lose balance and injure themselves. According to several passengers aboard the Caribbean Princess as it journeyed off the Irish coast, the cruise ship lost power without any warning. Many passengers took to Twitter to vent their frustration, tagging the cruise line as a means of notifying them of the issue. Subsequently, Princess Cruises acknowledged the power loss on Twitter.

Cabin Doors: The Dangers That Cruise Lines Fail to Communicate

August 12, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Being injured is not the first thing you want happening during a vacation, especially if you are on a cruise ship. Injuries on cruise ships do happen and seem to be occurring with greater frequency. A recent lawsuit against Disney Cruise Lines was filed by a man who alleged that his cabin door amputated his thumb as it slammed shut. Although there was a medical team on board, it did not seem to assist him with reattachment.

If you or a family member has suffered an injury on a cruise ship and are seeking compensation, you will need an experienced lawyer to assist you with your case. The Miami maritime lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA will work with you to help you receive the reward you deserve. Call us at 1-877-474-2905.

Cruise Lines and Personal Injuries

When Vacation Turns to Tragedy: Cruise Ship Drowning

August 5, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Injuries and deaths on cruise ships are not exactly the most top-rating news stories as of late, but they are nevertheless happening. Recently, an 8-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool on one of the most popular cruise ships in the world. While reports have yet to determine whether the ship was negligent in its prevention and/or response to the incident, there is speculation that the family of the boy will take legal action against the cruise line.

If you or a family member has experienced a personal injury or death on a cruise ship, you will need experienced legal assistance to handle your case. The Miami maritime lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA are here to help. Call us at 1-877-474-2905.

Cruise Ship Death: Accident or Negligence?

Being Threatened with Rape: A Psychological Personal Injury

July 29, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Cruise lines are in the business of making their guests feel safe, at ease, and protected. As many attorneys know (particularly attorneys experienced with maritime law), this is not always the case. A recent news report has shown that one cruise line failed to keep one of its passengers safe from its own employee. This passenger not only received threats by an employee, she also achieved very little headway with convincing local authorities of her plight.

Bahamas Cruise Line Passenger Threatened by Employee

A bachelorette party should be a joyous occasion, one filled with friends, excitement, and memory-making experiences. Unfortunately, this was not the case for one woman who went to celebrate her last few days of singlehood on the Bahamas Paradise Cruise. According to the report, a crew member threatened the woman with rape on numerous occasions. When she slammed the door in his face, he repeated the threats. After a period of a few minutes, the employee disappeared from outside her door.

Rapes and Sexual Assaults on Cruises

July 22, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Rapes and sexual assaults on cruise ships happen often. Recently, 1,700 young students boarded the Luxury MS Galaxy cruise ship on a trip to Finland. What was intended to be a rewarding experienced turned ended in tragedy. Eight male passengers between the ages of 18 and 19 were arrested when the cruise ship landed. Said men face charges of gang-raping a female student and aggravated rape. The attack occurred inside one of the ship’s cabins. One of these eight men has a prior criminal conviction. Two of these eight men are actually suspects in a separate high-profile murder case in Stockholm. Said murder occurred in November of 2015. As suspects to the murder case they were released pending trial and provided the opportunity to violently offend again.

If you or a loved one have been attacked on a cruise, it is imperative that you hire an attorney for your case. The Miami maritime lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA have the experience and skill needed for your case. For a FREE initial consultation, call (305) 371-6000 or toll free at (877)-475-2905. You can also contact us online at info@gslawusa.com.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Battery

The Occurrence of Sexual Assaults on Cruise Ships

July 15, 2016 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Though they do not often make the news, crimes on cruise ships do happen. Sometimes said crimes are serious and life-altering, such as sexual assault. Sexual assaults are, unfortunately, not uncommon aboard cruise ships. Recently, 25-year-old Karen Seechurn pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering the cruise ship cabin of a sleeping passenger and sexually assaulting her. In brief, Seechurn entered the victim’s cabin, groped her and threatened to burn the ship down if she told anyone of the incident. The cruise ship was reported as the Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas.

Again, sexual assaults aboard cruise ships are not uncommon. In 2014, alone, three of the leading cruise lines, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian reported 18 cases of sexual assaults and 27 cases of rape against cruise ship passengers.

Please note that cruise ships do not have law enforcement officials onboard. Yet, you are not without security personnel. Cruise ships employ other forms of security personnel who are typically trained to maintain the safety on cruise ships and to protect evidence of a crime. If you a rape victim of such an offense, it is critical that you report the incident to the FBI as soon as you reasonably can. Ask your cruise line to allow you to contact the FBI. Cruise lines are required to allow passengers to speak to the FBI upon request. Once reported, the FBI will investigate the incident. Of course, the cruise line will want to give the FBI their side of the story. Once your cruise ship has ported, you should visit the nearest rape treatment center.