An Injury Can Disrupt Your Cruise
New Orleans is a popular cruise port, especially for cruises exploring the Caribbean. Many people fly into The Big Easy to meet their cruise ships and perhaps even spend some time exploring the city. While these trips are fun for the entire family, many things can happen on a cruise that can disrupt your vacation. Accidents and injuries are more common than you may think aboard cruise ships, and may be serious. Statistics on cruise ship injuries include:
- 448 “major” cruise ship accidents reported from 2005 to 2013
- 101 fires occurred onboard cruise ships from 2005 to 2013
- 79 cruise ships were involved in collisions from 2005 to 2013
- 66 cruise ships ran aground from 2005 to 2013
- 15 cruise ships sank from 2010 to 2013
- An average of 19.3 people per year fell overboard from 2005 to 2014
- About 50 crimes are reported on cruise ships per year
Those statistics involve serious accidents and do not include more minor accidents that may nonetheless cause serious injuries. Common cruise ship accidents also include:
- Slip and falls
- Swimming pool or hot tub accidents
- Food poisoning
- Staircase accidents
- Elevator or escalator accidents
- Accidents embarking or disembarking
- Fitness center accidents
- Recreational accidents (climbing walls, water slides, etc.)
- Alcohol-related injuries
- Accidents on cruise-owned properties
These accidents often result in injuries including broken bones, concussions, spinal cord injuries, soft tissue injuries, and more. Such injuries may require immediate medical attention and a long recovery time. You may not be able to participate in any additional activities on vacation and you may have to miss work for a period of time when you get home. Serious cruise ship accidents may even result in permanent injuries that change your life.
If you suffered injuries in an accident on a cruise, the cruise ship company may be legally responsible for your injuries and losses. The best course of action is to discuss what happened with an experienced cruise accident attorney. Cases involving accidents on the water may be governed by different laws than those involving accidents on land and you need a law firm that regularly handles these types of cases. Cruise ship companies may be liable for accidents caused by:
- Negligence
- Inadequate security
- Malpractice by cruise medical staff
- Dram shop liability
- Premises liability
- Products liability
You should always have a skilled lawyer fully evaluate your legal options after an injury on a cruise ship.
Discuss Your Injuries with a New Orleans Cruise Accident Law Firm
Cruise ship cases can be complicated and cruise lines typically have attorneys working to limit liability for passenger accidents. If you were injured on a cruise, you should consult with an experienced cruise accident attorney about whether you may be entitled to recover compensation from the cruise line for your injuries. The law office of Egenberg, APLC knows how to handle cruise ship accident cases and we can advise you of your rights. Contact us online or call 504-229-5700 today to schedule your free consultation.