Cruise Ship Injuries

Attorneys Helping You Get Compensation From Injuries on a Cruise Ship Vacation

Over 10.29 million North Americans cruised in 2009 alone – many choose a cruise over another vacation because they believe cruise ships are a safer option than hotels or theme parks.

While most people aren't hurt during their cruise ship vacation, injuries do happen. From food poisoning to slip and fall accidents, there are several ways you can be injured on a cruise ship. For many cruisers, injuries don't just ruin a vacation. These injuries can be permanent, result in piles of medical bills, and ruin lives.

If you, or a family member, suffered serious cruise ship injuries, you may have a case. Our experienced attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates are ready to help you get compensation for your injuries.

Types of Cruise Ship Accidents & Injuries

Cruise ships are like cities that float on water. They can have dozens of floors, elevators and escalators, thousands of rooms, rock climbing walls, shopping centers, theaters, restaurants, pools and hot tubs, chemicals and fuel, and more. While they make for a potentially fabulous and fun-filled vacation, they also create accident and injury hazards.

Cruisers run the risk of being injured by any of the following:

• Food poisoning
• Slip and fall accidents – any type of situation where you slipped, tripped, or fell because of dangerous surfaces, stairs, or objects in walkways that had no warning signs
• Swimming pool accidents
• Elevator and escalator accidents
• Injuries from chemicals on the cruise ship
• Recreational accidents – if you were injured while rock climbing or participating in an activity run by the cruise line, and an unsafe product caused your injuries
• Legionnaires' Disease – a pneumonia-like condition caused by bacteria and commonly spread via hot tubs and swimming pools
• Broken railings and other fall hazards
• Cruise ship fires
• Bed bug injuries - bites and scars
• Unsecured objects – that typically fall from overhead
• Wrongful death
• Negligence by cruise ship staff or officials – any type of incident that could have been prevented with proper procedures, maintenance on the ship, etc.
• And more

Steps to Take if You're Injured on a Cruise Ship

If you're seriously injured on a cruise ship, it's important to take the right steps to protect your legal rights:

1. Seek medical help right away. Cruise ships are required to have trained medical staff on board, or in serious circumstances have arrangements to transport you to a hospital. Because you're not visiting your own personal doctor's office or the hospital in your town, remember to get copies of your medical records. You'll need documented proof of your injuries to receive compensation for your medical bills from the cruise line.
2. Report the incident to the cruise line. They should document the accident, when it occurred, your injuries, and any other details about the situation. If they tell you they will pay your medical bills, be careful. Don't sign anything until you consult with an experienced attorney. You could sign papers that state you won't file a claim against the cruise line, as long as they pay your medical bills. However, these medical bills may only cover the initial costs of your injuries. You may have permanent injuries or need surgery in the future, or you may have to miss work because of the accident.
3. Take photos of the exact location where your injuries or accident occurred. If you're seeing a doctor and a friend or family member witnessed your accident, have him or her take photos of the scene as quickly as possible.
4. Take photos of your injuries and any other details that may be important for your cruise ship injury case. For example, if you slipped on a surface that had no "wet floor" sign, you should take photos of the shoes you were wearing – if your shoes had tread on them. That way, you can help prove that your fall was the result of the slippery surface, and not your footwear.
5. Gather any other evidence that may help prove your case. For example, if you suffered from food poisoning and you know the type of food you ate and still have it, put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the room refrigerator – if possible. Or, if you know the restaurant that was to blame, keep any proof that showed you ate there. Write down when your symptoms began to appear. If an object contributed to your injuries – such as if a broken handrail caused you to fall down a staircase – take photos of the object, the broken handrail, and the staircase.
6. Collect contact information from any witnesses who saw your accident.
7. Contact an attorney who handles cruise ship injury cases. Most cruise ships have phone and Internet access on board, so it's good to get a free legal consultation and learn your legal options immediately after a cruise ship accident.

Injured on a Cruise Ship? Need Legal Help From an Accident Attorney?

Cruise ship accidents aren't as common as car accidents, but they do occur. They also can be very complicated, because cruise lines are large companies protected by insurance companies that know how to offer as little compensation as possible – if they admit fault at all for your cruise ship injuries.

Basically, you need an attorney to protect your legal rights, gather evidence and information for your cruise ship case that you can't get on your own, use resources and hire experts when necessary, and navigate the legal system. If you try to handle a cruise ship injury case on your own, you won't get the compensation you truly deserve.

At Edgar Snyder & Associates, we are available 24/7, because we know accidents happen on vacation – including on cruise ships. Our attorneys have the experience and resources necessary to handle a cruise ship injury case, determine who's to blame for your injuries, go up against the cruise line, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

At our law firm, there's never a fee unless we get money for you. If we don't win your case or settle the case in your favor, you won't owe us a penny – we guarantee it.

Get a Free Legal Consultation of Your Cruise Ship Accident Injuries Today

If you, or someone you love, were injured while on a cruise ship, contact the law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates today. We know you couldn't have prevented your injuries, and your life may have been turned upside down by what was supposed to be a fun cruise.

Call 412-394-1000, or fill out the form at the top right of this webpage for a free legal consultation. There's no obligation to use our services, so you have nothing to lose. You owe it to yourself to learn your legal options and protect your rights as a cruise ship injury victim.