Common Pool Accidents and Injuries Aboard Cruise Ships
Florida is well-known across the U.S. as a cruise ship destination for tourists. Many of the largest cruise lines in the world disembark from Florida shores. While cruising is fun and exciting, there are numerous perils involved as well. In this article, the Miami, FL cruise ship injury attorneys at Michael F. Guilford, P.A. will discuss pool injuries that occur aboard cruise ships.
Some of the most common cruise ship injuries occur in swimming pools or waterslides that are located on the vessel.
Cuts and bruises around pools
Bruises, cuts, and scrapes are all common injuries that occur around swimming pools on cruise ships. Even shorebound pools can present certain dangers to swimmers. The risk of a slip-and-fall injury is common. When you’re aboard a moving vessel, the stakes are raised even higher. Slip-and-fall accidents do occur and most often lead to cuts, bruises, and scrapes. When this occurs, it is important to seek medical treatment from the cruise line doctors immediately to avoid the risk of infection and ensure nothing is broken.
Broken bones
Pools present a slipping and tripping hazard to swimmers. Areas around the pools have a tendency to be wet and slippery. This can result in a falling accident. In some cases, a swimmer will sustain broken bones as a result of a slip-and-fall. If you have sustained a broken bone injury as a result of a wet pool, you may not be able to return to work right away. In these cases, cruise ships are responsible for placing warning signs to alert passengers as to the slipping hazard. In some cases, the deck itself is negligently designed and prone to creating a slip hazard. In these cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the cruise line for negligence.
Spinal cord injuries
An individual who slips on a wet pool deck or another area near the pool can sustain spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries are not necessarily common in slip and fall accidents, but they do occur. When they occur, the cruise line may be held liable for failing to put a sign out alerting the passenger to danger. It could also be that the pool deck is unreasonably dangerous for a different reason.
Head injuries
Head injuries do occur during slip and fall accidents. When they occur, they can be devastating. Concussions or traumatic brain injury can result from such accidents. The cruise line may be held liable for failing to put adequate signage out or maintaining the pool deck area in a negligent fashion.
Drowning
Drowning can occur in pools with inexperienced swimmers. In these cases, the cruise line is responsible for ensuring that adequately trained lifeguards are present to avoid such an occurrence. If the lifeguard is distracted or fails to help the swimmer in distress, the cruise line can be held liable for the drowning.
Talk to a Miami, FL Cruise Line Injury Attorney Today
Michael F. Guilford, P.A. represents the interests of those injured aboard cruise vessels. Call our Miami admiralty & maritime lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and we can begin discussing your allegations right away.
