You could be at risk of soft tissue injuries going about your average day at home, so it stands to reason that you could suffer this type of trauma while enjoying an action-packed cruise vacation. Soft tissue injuries are quite common, as they can impact almost any muscle, muscle group, ligament, or tendon in the human body. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine define numerous conditions in the category of soft tissue injuries, including:
- Bruises;
- Ligament sprains;
- Strains to muscles or tendons;
- Tendonitis;
- Bursitis;
- Herniated and bulging spinal discs; and,
- Many others.
While nothing on this list is likely to be life-threatening, soft tissue injuries can ruin your cruise experience and lead to more serious medical conditions if not properly treated. Knowing that cruise operators have a duty to protect passengers, you may wonder about your legal options if you were hurt. Though it is possible to pursue the company for compensation, it is wise to trust an experienced Miami cruise ship accident lawyer to overcome numerous challenges involved with soft tissue injuries.
A plethora of cruise activities and excursions can lead to soft tissue injuries.
The majority of attractions and amenities available onboard focus on physical activity, interaction, and participation. You can imagine how frequently accidents can occur when these strenuous activities are taking place around pools, waterslides, playgrounds, and while on shore-based excursions.
Soft tissue injuries are not open and obvious.
From the above list, you can see that many forms of trauma may not be visible and even bruises may take time to develop. As a result, it can be difficult to explain soft tissue injuries to cruise ship health care providers and convince them that you are in pain. Plus, cruise ships often do not have proper equipment to assess soft tissue injuries. Failure to provide a proper diagnosis means you will not receive necessary treatment, and you could even exacerbate the trauma without essential care.
There can be delayed implications of soft tissue injuries.
It is common for victims of soft tissue injuries to not realize they were hurt or underestimate the severity of the trauma. Under the circumstances, you might not think that you need to seek medical care right away. It is important that you visit the onboard medical professions regardless of whether you think your injuries are minor, as delays could affect your health and your rights.
Waivers prevent injured passengers from seeking legal relief.
You may recall some language in your cruise vacation documents that limits liability on behalf of the cruise company. This may seem to prevent you from seeking your legal remedies, but there are strategies for overcoming this challenge related to seeking damages for soft tissue injuries.
Set Up a Free Consultation With a Miami Cruise Ship Accidents Attorney
For more information on your legal remedies after suffering soft tissue injuries on a cruise vacation, please contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA. We can schedule a no-cost case evaluation at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL.