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Miami Cruise Ship Accidents

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Representing The Victims Of Cruise Ship Accidents

People who are injured on cruise ships have a shorter time period within which to file a personal injury claim than people who are injured on land. For this reason, it is critically important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible if you or a family member has been injured on cruise ship or an excursion. If you do not take action within the required deadline, you could lose all legal rights to compensation, even if the cruise line or cruise ship employees were unquestionably at fault.

Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP, located in Miami, represents Florida residents and out-of-state visitors who are injured on cruise ships. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients injured in a wide range of accidents.

When Are Cruise Ship Owners Responsible For Injuries?

Just like any property owner, the owner and crew of a cruise ship have a legal duty to provide a reasonably safe environment for passengers aboard ship and on cruise-sanctioned, off-ship excursions. If an employee’s negligence causes an accident, the cruise company may be held legally responsible.

At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP, our hallmarks are compassion for our clients and protective advocacy on their behalf. Our Miami lawyers have the necessary experience and resources to conduct thorough investigations into cruise ship accidents such as:

  • Slip-and-fall accidents on wet decks or gangways;
  • Swimming pool accidents;
  • Trip-and-fall accidents on stairways;
  • Injuries during embarkation or disembarkation on tenders;
  • Injuries to children in cruise ship accidents;
  • Negligent medical attention by shipboard medical staff or cruise line physicians;
  • Assaults by other passengers or by crew members hired without adequate background checks, or assaults due to inadequate security; and
  • Fatal accidents resulting in wrongful death claims.

Common Cruise Ship Accidents

Thousands of people travel to Florida every year to go on cruises so they can enjoy the sea and many fun activities. However, there are hazards on cruise ships that can affect tourist safety. Anyone who plans to take a cruise should make themselves aware of some of the common cruise hazardous situations that can occur so they can stay safe.

Fires

According to the NYTimes.com, from 2009 to 2011, the number of recorded fires that occurred aboard cruise ships is 79. There are many factors that can cause cruise ship fires. These fires do not have to occur in passenger rooms to affect their safety. For example, fires that break out in a cruise ship’s engine and control room can cause damage to other areas of the vessel that directly impact passenger health.  The ability to properly sanitize food utensils and keep food from spoiling and power loss that can cause the ship’s plumbing and sanitation systems to shut down, resulting in exposure to toxic and unsanitary conditions two major problems that can happen.

Slips and falls

Slip-and-fall accidents are very common on cruise ships. The weather and sea are both factors that often result in wet and slippery floors. Cruise lines monitor for rough weather so they can take actions to minimize its impact on their ships and passengers. But it is not possible for them to predict the behavior of rogue waves, states Condé Nast Traveler. The rocky movement of cruise ships can also result in some guests falling and sustaining injuries. Common injuries that guests may experience from falls that occur onboard cruise ships include scrapes, cuts, bruises, broken bones, joint dislocations and open wounds.

Cruise ship accidents can happen at any time, but many are preventable. People who take the time to research their options can make informed decisions to minimize their risk of accidents and injuries.

Death or Disappearance Aboard a Cruise Ship

Has a loved one died or gone missing while aboard a cruise ship? Cruise ship deaths are tragic but, unfortunately, not rare. This might surprise the reader, but hundreds of people have gone missing from cruise ships over the past 20 years. According to one tabulation in 2017, about 200 people have disappeared from cruise ships since 2000. The number has probably climbed since then.

Some of the more suspicious disappearances include:

Merrian Carver. The single mother booked a room aboard a Celebrity Cruise but, according to records, did not use her room after the first night. She was finally reported as missing to the FBI weeks after the event.
Rebecca Coriam. This British woman was working as a nanny when she allegedly fell overboard after climbing over a security wall. Her family suspects foul play.
Amy Lynn Bradley.  The 23-year-old went missing from her Royal Caribbean International Cruise in 1998. Witnesses claim to have seen her in the years following her disappearance.

Filing a wrongful death case is often necessary to get secretive cruise ships to open their records and disclose important information to family members, such as the presence of security footage or other informationIf we find out that the cruise ship is responsible for your loved one’s death, we can file a suit for compensation.

Our Florida Cruise Ship Accident Attorneys Can Help

Whether you are still in Florida or have returned home, call (305) 371-2692 or use our online contact form to schedule a complimentary case evaluation. We will listen to your experience and explain your legal options.

Contact Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein Today

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