liability

$21.5 Million Verdict Against Holland America Cruise Line for a Faulty Door

December 11, 2015 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

A US District Court in Seattle awarded $21.5 million in damages to a man from Illinois who suffered injuries from a faulty door on a Holland America cruise ship. The man received a minor brain injury after a sliding glass door closed on his head. The sum was awarded by a unanimous decision by a jury after a nine day trial. If you were injured or lost a loved one aboard a cruise ship, consider contacting a Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney.

The attorneys for the injured man were able to provide evidence to the court that other passengers had been similarly injured by sliding glass doors in multiple Holland America cruise ships. Faulty sensor settings on the door allegedly are what contributed to these accidents.

The Illinois man was traveling with his family on a 280-day world cruise aboard Holland America’s Pacific fleet flagship, the M/S Amsterdam. The ship was in open water, approaching Hawaii, when the man followed cruise ship employees through the sliding glass door, which automatically closed when the man was half way through, striking him in the side of the head and face. Holland America argued in court that the man had walked into the closing doors and that the doors did not close on him. The closing doors gave the man a facial contusion, concussion and chipped tooth. Despite his injuries the man was still able to finish the entire cruise journey.

FBI Investigating Falling Death of Woman on Miami Cruise Ship

November 20, 2015 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

The FBI is investigating the death of a South Carolina woman after she fell from the deck of a cruise ship into the ocean off the coast of Cuba and was not found by the coast guard and cruise ship personnel. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel was on a course from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico when the accident occurred. Authorities searched over 600 nautical miles for the woman before giving up search and rescue efforts. The FBI was called in to determine if there was any foul play or negligence that could have caused the incident. If you were hurt or lost a loved one aboard a cruise ship contact a Miami Cruise Ship Accident Attorney.

Can the Cruise Line be Held Responsible?

While not all the facts regarding this case have been discovered, could cruise liners hypothetically be responsible in these types of situations? In most cases, cruise ships are considered “common carriers,” which means that they have a responsibility to their passengers beyond just reasonable care. Cruise liners must take a very high degree of precaution to prevent injury or deaths aboard their ships and failure to do so could land them with a personal injury or wrongful death suit.

Cruise Ship Death Remains a Mystery

October 16, 2015 | by Gerson & Schwartz, P.A.

Wendy Lewis was enjoying a trip with her husband on the 650-foot luxury cruise ship Seabourn Quest. Unfortunately, reports indicate that Mrs. Lewis fell from the cruise ship and died. Her body was discovered in the waters of Cape Ann. Our team of cruise ship wrongful death lawyers are deeply saddened to read about another life lost on a cruise ship. To make matters worse, her death certificate states that the cause of her death remains “pending,” according to the Gloucester Times.

The FBI continues to investigate the tragic death of Mrs. Lewis. Kristen Setera, speaking for the FBI, stated that the case remains an “ongoing investigation,” and that Agency continues to have “no comment at this time” regarding the woman’s identity or the circumstances of her tragic passing.

The Larger the Cruise Ship, the Larger the Mystery