Accidents on cruise ships often occur on board. Most accidents occur within 48 hours of a passenger being on board. It takes time for passengers to adjust to their surroundings or “get their sea legs.” On an open ocean, ship surfaces can become slippery, and the cruise lines’ responsibility is to provide safe surfaces.
Overboard accidents
Overboard accidents on cruise ships are becoming more common. In the last year alone, 26 reported cases of passengers falling overboard. That’s a high number, but not as high as in recent years. In 2009, 17.2 million passengers boarded cruise ships. This year’s statistics are likely to be lower. But there is no reason for cruise-goers to take unnecessary risks.
Intoxication and negligence are common factors in overboard accidents on cruise ships. One man overboard incident happened while he was standing on a table. Another was a man who tripped over the railing while on a table. Several passengers on the same cruise ship itinerary have voiced their concerns. One woman is suing the cruise line, alleging that the crew allowed her to become intoxicated and took too long to rescue her. Florida’s dram shop laws hold restaurants liable for intoxicated guests.
Slips, trips, and falls
Slips, trips, and falls are common causes of accidents on cruise ships. These accidents occur on many surfaces and can lead to severe injuries. Unfortunately, these accidents are often due to the passenger’s negligence. Because passengers are not always aware of dangerous conditions, they can’t fully determine what caused them to slip. They also don’t have time to gather information after an accident because of a slip and fall trauma.
The majority of passenger injuries result from trips, slips, and falls. These wounds are frequently severe and might have been avoided with the proper safety measures. Fortunately, general maritime law requires ship operators to cover their passengers’ injuries.
Negligence of the ship
Negligence on cruise ships can cause serious accidents. In the case of a fall from a cruise ship, for example, the cruise line can be held liable for personal injuries caused by the company’s negligence. The Jones Act protects seamen by allowing them to recover compensation for their injuries from negligent employers. In addition, general maritime law also applies to passengers. For example, a passenger on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship sued the cruise line because they failed to warn him of a hole in the ground when he arrived at the port. He tore his MCL and filed a lawsuit against the cruise line.
Several different factors cause slip-and-fall accidents on cruise ships. For example, a poorly designed stairway or elevator could cause a person to fall and be injured. The cruise line may also be liable for a dangerous condition caused by improper cleaning or maintenance practices by its employees.
Bad weather
Bad weather is a significant cause of cruise ship accidents. Many cruise ships cannot avoid rough weather, and the crew and captain must be prepared to handle any situation. In 2010, the cruise ship Louis Majesty was struck by a massive wave that reached 26 feet high. Many people died or were injured. Another cruise ship, the MS Marco Polo, was struck by a massive wave in 2014. Although massive waves do not happen very often, they can get caught in an unexpected storm.
During bad weather, passengers should stay in their cabins. They should close their curtains to keep out the rough weather. The captain is concerned about bad weather; they will alert the ship’s departments to prepare for it. The captain may change the ship’s itinerary if a storm is approaching.
Cardiac-related deaths
The problem of cardiac-related deaths on cruise ships is not new. While the infirmary on cruise ships is relatively basic, most critical cases are airlifted to nearby hospitals for more comprehensive care. Unfortunately, in this case, the man died due to substandard care. Cruise lines have tried to minimize these incidents by ensuring their ships are well-stocked with the appropriate medications.
However, there are concerns about the safety of medical personnel on cruise ships. Some critics have raised concerns that cruise ships lack trained medical professionals and the medical staff is under-trained and ill-equipped to handle life-threatening situations.
Unreported incidents
Cruise ships are not required to report incidents and crimes. Instead, they report them piecemeal to individual port states and flag states, and the industry is notorious for not centralized reporting. These statistics are based on incidents and crimes on cruise ships in 2019. If you’re concerned about cruise ship safety, consider hiring a maritime law expert. They can guide you through the legal procedure and offer helpful cruise safety advice.
Accidents on cruise ships can occur for many reasons. A single cause could be a faulty generator, or it could be a flaw in the design of the ship. One cruise ship, the Carnival Triumph, suffered a generator failure that rendered the ship unable to run its services for days. A human error by the crew could also cause an accident. In the case of Costa Concordia, this was the case in 2012. Unfortunately, 32 people died as a result of the accident.
Training of passengers
Cruise ships have numerous attractions for passengers to enjoy. Some cruise ships offer rock climbing walls and slides. Skydiving is available on select cruise lines. Cruise staff receives extensive training to ensure passengers are safe.
There are many reasons why cruise ship accidents can occur. Some of these accidents are related to faulty design. In some cases, crew members fail to remove hazards around the ship. It could cause a trip and fall accident. Equipment failure, such as with towboats, is another factor. These may result in harm or even fatality.
