Cruise ships were built for fun, but there are a lot of areas on a cruise ship that can also set the stage for an accident. Slippery decks and areas that are not cleaned properly can often lead to slips and falls, and sometimes that can mean a bad injury.
What can you do if you were recently injured while onboard a cruise ship? Here are some of the things that you need to know.
Reporting Your Injury
Do not wait to report your injury. As soon as you fall, look around you and get the names and numbers of those people that saw you fall. If any crew members witnessed the fall, ask for their names and numbers as well. It’s also not a bad idea to take some pictures of the accident site. The more evidence that you can collect, the stronger your case will be.
If you look at the back of your ticket, you will likely see information about filing a claim. Make sure to file your claim within that time limit. If you live in Florida, you will (usually) have just one year to make a claim, so don’t wait.
Getting Help
Make sure that you receive adequate medical attention for your injuries right away. Cruise ships have a medical team on board, and getting your injury looked at can also help your case (while making sure that you are okay to continue your trip). If you have fallen or had any other kind of accident, do not wait to seek medical attention.
Sometimes, an injury might not look like anything important but can worsen drastically with time. In addition to “slip and fall” injuries, there are various other types of accidents that can happen while on a cruise ship as well.
Types of Injuries
While slip and fall accidents are the most common cruise ship incidents to occur, there are a number of other possible accidents that can happen as well including:
- Food poisoning
- Missing person
- Accidental death
- Assault
If anything has gone wrong while you were onboard a cruise ship, you may have a limited amount of time to file a claim, but it’s not all black and white. Going up against a large cruise ship company can be tricky, and you will need to have a qualified attorney on your side. Going on a cruise is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, but if something goes wrong while you are at sea, you are not helpless.
If you have just returned from a cruise with an injury and want to speak with a qualified attorney, call us for your FREE Case Evaluation today at (800) 391-4337.
