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Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawyer
We Represent Passengers Who Were Injured in Slip and Fall Accidents on Cruise Ships
- Wet or Slippery Decks
- Spills and Foreign Substances
- Damaged or Uneven Flooring
- Torn or Loose Carpeting
- Stair and Stairwell Accidents
- Poor Lighting
- Inadequate Cleaning or Maintenance
We handle cases against all major cruise lines. Call today for a free and confidential case review at 1-305-271-8282.
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Free Case Review by Florida Cruise Lawyers
Call our lawyers today at 1-305-271-8282 or click here to contact us by email for your Free Case Review.
Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Accidents
A slip and fall on a cruise ship can turn a long-awaited vacation into a serious medical and financial problem. A wet deck, spilled drink, damaged flooring, loose carpet, poorly maintained staircase, or another dangerous condition can cause injuries ranging from broken bones to traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
If you were injured in a slip and fall on a cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation. But cruise ship injury claims are different from ordinary slip-and-fall cases. Maritime law can apply, your cruise ticket may contain important legal requirements, and the deadline for giving notice of a claim or filing a lawsuit may be much shorter than you expect.
At Waks and Barnett, P.A., our Miami cruise ship injury lawyers have represented injured passengers and crew members for more than 35 years. We understand how cruise lines investigate accidents, the types of evidence that can be important in these cases, and the legal issues that can affect your claim.
If you were injured after slipping, tripping, or falling on a cruise ship, contact us for a free and confidential consultation.
Why Do Slip and Fall Accidents Happen on Cruise Ships?
Cruise ships are large, constantly moving environments with thousands of passengers, crew members, restaurants, pools, bars, stairways, elevators, outdoor decks, and other public areas. Keeping these spaces reasonably safe requires regular inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and attention to changing conditions.
A cruise ship slip and fall may happen for many different reasons, including:
Wet or Slippery Decks
Pool areas, outdoor walkways, stairs, and other parts of a ship can become wet from rain, spilled drinks, pool water, ocean spray, cleaning activities, or other sources.
Water alone does not necessarily establish cruise line negligence. The important questions can include how the condition developed, how long it existed, whether the cruise line knew or should have known about it, whether crew members created the condition, and whether reasonable steps were taken to correct the hazard or warn passengers.
Spills and Foreign Substances
Passengers and crew members constantly carry food, drinks, luggage, cleaning supplies, and other materials throughout a cruise ship. A spilled beverage or another foreign substance on the floor can create a dangerous condition. Evidence showing when the spill occurred and whether cruise personnel had an opportunity to discover and clean it can become particularly important.
Damaged or Uneven Flooring
Passengers may trip or fall because of cracked tiles, damaged flooring, uneven surfaces, raised edges, defective thresholds, or other changes in elevation. These conditions can be especially dangerous in crowded areas where passengers may be watching where they are going rather than looking directly at the floor.
Loose or Torn Carpeting
Loose, torn, wrinkled, or improperly secured carpeting can create a significant trip hazard. Cruise ships contain extensive amounts of carpeting in hallways, stairwells, restaurants, theaters, and other areas. If carpeting is damaged or improperly maintained, the condition may become an important part of a slip-and-fall investigation.
Stairs and Stairwells
Staircase accidents can result in particularly serious injuries. Problems may include damaged steps, worn surfaces, inadequate lighting, improperly installed transition strips, defective handrails, or other design and maintenance issues.
Poor Lighting
Passengers may have difficulty seeing hazards when hallways, stairwells, bathrooms, outdoor walkways, or other areas are inadequately illuminated. Lighting conditions can be particularly important when investigating whether a passenger could reasonably have seen and avoided a dangerous condition.
Inadequate Cleaning or Maintenance
Cruise lines have systems for cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining passenger areas. If those systems are not followed – or if employees fail to address a known dangerous condition – the resulting evidence may be relevant to a passenger’s claim.
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Slip and Fall Injuries:
Broken hips and legs
Knee injuries
Broken ankles
Broken wrists and arms
Shoulder injuries
Broken ribs
Back and neck injuries
Spinal injuries
Herniated discs
Head injuries and concussions
Traumatic brain injuries
Internal injuries
Nerve damage
Soft-tissue injuries
Permanent disabilities
A fall that appears minor at first can result in significant injuries, particularly when the passenger strikes a hard surface or falls down stairs.
Some injuries may not become fully apparent until hours or days after an accident. Seeking appropriate medical attention is therefore important even when an injury initially appears manageable.
do you have a case?
Our Cruise Ship Lawyers can help
If you are confused about your rights – or have been injured on a cruise vacation and need to speak with a lawyer – you should not hesitate to reach out to a law firm. Our firm, Waks and Barnett, P.A. provides free consultations for any questions you might have. You can contact our office at 1-305-271-8282.
Were you injured on a cruise?
We Can Help You Sue The Cruise Lines and Get Compensation For:
Hospital and doctor bills
Lost pay and wages
Pain and suffering
Loss of future earnings
Long-term or lifelong disability
Call today for a free injury claim assessment at 1-305-271-8282.
Our success
What is Your Slip and Fall Injury Worth?
Below are just a few positive results we have gained for our clients over the years after they’ve been injured in a slip and fall accident while cruising or enjoying an excursion.
Shoulder Injury
On Cruise Ship
On Cruise Ship
$175,000 for 72 year old woman who injured her shoulder from slip and fall on wet deck.
Wet Stairs Leads
to Broken Wrist
to Broken Wrist
$150,000 for 61 year old woman who broke her wrist from slip and fall on wet deck.
Threshold Accident
Bimini Superfast
Bimini Superfast
$235,000 verdict on behalf of a 61 year old woman who tripped and fell over a threshold on the Bimini Superfast and broke her arm.
Head Injury
On A Cruise Ship
On A Cruise Ship
$5,500,000 for 14 year old boy who suffered a head injury in a fall on a stairway.
Injured during fall
On A Cruise Ship
On A Cruise Ship
$2.4 Million for two passengers seriously injured in separate accidents when they fell over a stair railing.
Herniated Disk
On a cruise ship
On a cruise ship
$1.2 Million recovery for hair stylist on cruise ship who suffered a herniated disc from fall on negligently maintained stairway.
Broken Ankle
Cruise Ship Bathroom
Cruise Ship Bathroom
$410,000 for 43 year old man who broke his ankle from slip and fall on wet bathroom floor.
Stairway Injury
On A Cruise Ship
On A Cruise Ship
$950,000 for 11 year old who suffered a mild head injury in a fall on a stairway.
Broken Ankle
On wet stairs
On wet stairs
$225,000 for 58 year old woman who fractured her ankle from fall on wet stairs.
Torn Ligaments
From Wet Deck Fall
From Wet Deck Fall
$212,500 for 39 year old woman who tore ligaments in her knee from fall on wet deck.
Broken Ankle
Fall on Wet Deck
Fall on Wet Deck
$210,000 for 47 year old man who broke his ankle from fall on wet deck.
Broken Wrist
On wet deck
On wet deck
$192,500 for 74 year old woman who broke her wrist from slip and fall on wet deck.
Broken Ankle
From Wet Deck Fall
From Wet Deck Fall
$185,000 for 56 year old man who broke his ankle in slip and fall on wet deck.
Wet Stairs Leads
to Broken Ankle
to Broken Ankle
$185,000 for 55 year old woman who broke her ankle from slip & fall on wet stairs.
Slippery Deck Leads
to Broken leg
to Broken leg
$185,000 for 58 year old woman who broke her leg from slip and fall on wet deck.
don't wait – contact us today
Free Case Review by Florida Cruise Lawyers
Call our lawyers today at 1-305-271-8282 or click here to contact us by email for your Free Case Review.
Where Do Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Accidents Happen?
A cruise ship slip and fall can happen almost anywhere passengers are permitted to go. Common locations include:
- Pool decks and areas surrounding swimming pools
- Restaurants and dining rooms
- Buffet areas
- Bars and lounges
- Casinos
- Passenger hallways
- Staircases and stairwells
- Elevators and elevator lobbies
- Public bathrooms
- Theaters and entertainment venues
- Outdoor decks and walking areas
- Embarkation and disembarkation areas
- Gangways
- Passenger cabins
- Areas around recreational facilities
The location of the accident can provide important information about what caused the fall and which cruise line employees or third parties may have been responsible for maintaining the area.
When Is a Cruise Line Responsible for a Slip and Fall?
Not every fall on a cruise ship means the cruise line is legally responsible. A passenger generally must establish that the cruise line or another potentially responsible party failed to exercise the level of care required under the circumstances. Maritime law recognizes a duty of reasonable care toward people lawfully aboard a vessel. The U.S. Supreme Court established this principle in Kermarec v. Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, holding that a shipowner owes those lawfully aboard a duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances.
That does not mean a cruise line is automatically liable whenever a passenger falls. An investigation may need to determine:
- What caused the passenger to fall?
- What created the dangerous condition?
- How long had the condition existed?
- Did cruise personnel know about it?
- Should the cruise line reasonably have discovered it?
- Had passengers previously complained about the condition?
- Were there prior incidents involving the same hazard?
- Did a crew member create the dangerous condition
- Was the area properly inspected?
- Was the hazard cleaned or repaired?
- Was an adequate warning provided?
- Was the condition consistent with the way the area was designed or maintained?
The answers to these questions can help determine whether a viable cruise ship injury claim exists.
How Do You Prove a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Claim?
Evidence can be critical in a cruise ship slip-and-fall case. Cruise lines have their own employees, security personnel, medical staff, incident-reporting procedures, surveillance systems, maintenance programs, and legal departments. A passenger should not assume that the cruise line’s investigation will preserve all of the evidence necessary to prove the passenger’s case. Important evidence may include:
Photographs and Videos
Photographs of the area where you fell can document the condition of the floor, stairs, carpeting, lighting, warning signs, handrails, or other potentially relevant conditions. If possible, photographs should be taken immediately after the accident, before the condition changes.
Surveillance Video
Cruise ships commonly use extensive video surveillance throughout public areas. Depending on the location and circumstances of the accident, surveillance footage may provide valuable evidence regarding what happened before, during, and after the fall. Because video may not be preserved indefinitely, identifying and preserving relevant footage can be important.
Witness Information
Passengers and crew members who saw the accident z- or who observed the dangerous condition beforehand – may have important information. Get names and contact information for witnesses whenever possible.
Incident Reports
Report the accident to the cruise line and ask that the incident be documented. Keep copies of any paperwork you receive. Do not assume that an incident report tells the entire story. An attorney may need to investigate additional evidence.
Inspection and Maintenance Records
Records showing when an area was inspected, cleaned, repaired, or previously reported can sometimes help establish whether the cruise line knew or should have known about a dangerous condition.
Medical Records
Medical records can establish the nature and severity of your injuries, the treatment you received, and the connection between the accident and your medical condition.
Physical Evidence
Depending on the accident, shoes, clothing, photographs, flooring materials, carpeting, or other physical evidence may become relevant. An experienced cruise ship injury lawyer can help determine what evidence should be preserved and what additional investigation may be necessary.
What Should You Do After a Slip and Fall on a Cruise Ship?
If you are injured in a cruise ship slip-and-fall accident, take steps to protect both your health and your potential claim.
1. Get Medical Attention
Your health comes first. Report your injury to the ship’s medical staff or seek appropriate medical treatment. Follow medical recommendations and continue treatment after the cruise if necessary.
2. Report the Accident
Notify the cruise line about the accident and make sure the incident is documented. Ask for a copy of any report or documentation you are asked to sign or receive.
3. Photograph the Accident Scene
If you are physically able to do so, take photographs or video of the condition that caused your fall. Photograph the surrounding area as well, not just the exact spot where you fell.
4. Identify Witnesses
Get contact information for anyone who saw the accident or the condition that caused it.
5. Preserve Your Clothing and Shoes
Do not immediately throw away the shoes or clothing you were wearing when the accident occurred. Depending on the circumstances, they may become relevant evidence.
6. Keep Your Cruise Documents
Save your cruise ticket, passenger contract, boarding documents, receipts, medical records, incident reports, photographs, correspondence, and other documents related to the trip and accident.
7. Speak With a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer
Do not wait until the deadline is approaching before learning what legal requirements apply to your case.
Cruise ship injury claims can involve short contractual deadlines and specific requirements concerning where and when a lawsuit must be filed.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall?
The damages available in a cruise ship injury case depend on the circumstances and severity of the injury.
Potential compensation may include damages for:
- Past medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent impairment
- Disfigurement
- Other losses permitted by applicable law
The value of a cruise ship slip-and-fall claim cannot be determined simply by looking at the type of accident. Two passengers can suffer seemingly similar falls but have very different injuries, medical expenses, employment losses, and long-term consequences.
How Long Do You Have to File a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Claim?
One of the most important reasons to contact a cruise ship injury attorney promptly is that cruise lines can impose contractual requirements concerning notice and lawsuits.
Federal law generally prohibits certain covered seagoing vessels from shortening the period for giving notice of a personal injury claim to less than six months or the period for bringing a civil action to less than one year. However, the precise requirements applicable to your case depend on the vessel, voyage, passenger contract, facts, and applicable law.
Do not assume that you have several years to pursue a cruise ship injury claim simply because that may be the deadline in another type of personal injury case. Your cruise ticket contract may contain additional requirements concerning notice, venue, arbitration, or where a lawsuit must be filed.
If you were injured on a cruise ship, contacting a lawyer as soon as possible can help ensure that important deadlines are identified before they expire.
Can You Sue a Cruise Line for a Slip and Fall?
Yes, potentially. A passenger may have a claim when a cruise line’s negligence or failure to exercise reasonable care caused or contributed to an injury. But falling on a cruise ship does not automatically establish negligence.
The circumstances surrounding the accident matter. An attorney may need to investigate the dangerous condition, determine who created or controlled it, establish how long it existed, identify witnesses, obtain relevant records or video, and evaluate the cruise line’s potential defenses.
The investigation may also reveal that someone other than the cruise line contributed to the accident.
What If the Cruise Line Says You Were at Fault?
Cruise lines and their insurers may argue that a passenger caused or contributed to an accident. They may point to issues such as:
- Failure to watch where you were walking
- Footwear
- Alcohol consumption
- Ignoring warning signs
- Failure to use available handrails
- Walking through a restricted area
- Failing to take reasonable precautions
The fact that a cruise line raises one of these arguments does not necessarily mean you cannot recover compensation. The relevant facts need to be examined carefully. Photographs, surveillance footage, witness testimony, medical records, incident reports, and other evidence can be important in responding to allegations that the passenger was responsible for the accident.
What If Another Company Caused the Hazard?
Cruise ships are not operated solely by the cruise line’s employees. Restaurants, shops, entertainment operations, concessionaires, medical providers, excursion companies, contractors, and other businesses may operate on or in connection with a cruise ship.
As a result, identifying the potentially responsible parties can be an important part of a cruise ship slip-and-fall investigation.
For example, if a passenger slips because of a condition created or controlled by a third-party concessionaire, the appropriate defendant may not be limited to the cruise line.
Our attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident rather than assuming that the identity of the cruise operator automatically answers the question of responsibility.
Why Are Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Cases Different?
A cruise ship injury case is not simply a Florida premises-liability case that happens to occur on a boat. Maritime law may govern the claim. The passenger’s ticket contract can contain provisions concerning deadlines, litigation, arbitration, and venue. The location of the accident may be outside the United States. The cruise line may be headquartered in another country. And evidence may be controlled by a large corporation operating internationally.
Cruise lines also have substantial experience defending passenger injury claims. That combination makes early investigation particularly important. An attorney handling a cruise ship slip-and-fall claim should understand not only personal injury law, but also the maritime and contractual issues that can affect the case.
Why Choose Waks and Barnett for a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Claim?
At Waks and Barnett, P.A., cruise ship injury law is not simply one type of case among many.
Our firm has focused on representing injured cruise passengers and crew members for more than 35 years. We are based in Miami, Florida, one of the world’s major centers for the cruise industry, and we represent clients from throughout the United States and internationally.
Our attorneys understand that a successful cruise ship injury claim often begins with a thorough investigation.
We work to determine what happened, why it happened, who may be responsible, and what evidence can support the claim. Depending on the circumstances, that may include investigating surveillance footage, witness statements, incident reports, maintenance records, medical records, photographs, cruise documents, and other evidence.
We also understand the importance of acting promptly when a passenger has been injured. Cruise ticket contracts can contain strict requirements that affect a passenger’s rights.
If you were injured in a slip and fall on a cruise ship, you do not have to determine your legal options by yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Claims
Can I sue a cruise line if I slipped and fell on a cruise ship?
Possibly. A passenger may have a claim if the cruise line or another responsible party failed to exercise reasonable care and that failure caused the accident and resulting injuries. The facts of each accident must be investigated individually.
What should I do immediately after a cruise ship slip and fall?
Get medical attention, report the accident, photograph the area if possible, identify witnesses, preserve your shoes and clothing, keep your cruise documents, and contact a cruise ship injury lawyer promptly.
How do I prove that the cruise line knew about the dangerous condition?
Evidence can include surveillance footage, prior complaints, inspection and maintenance records, incident reports, witness statements, photographs, and evidence concerning how long the condition existed.
What if there was no warning sign?
The absence of a warning sign can be relevant, but it does not by itself establish liability. The circumstances surrounding the hazard, the cruise line’s knowledge, and whether reasonable precautions were taken must be evaluated.
What if another passenger caused the spill?
A passenger-caused spill does not necessarily end the investigation. The timing of the spill, how long it remained on the floor, whether crew members observed it, and whether reasonable procedures were followed to identify and clean hazards can all be relevant.
Can I still have a claim if I did not report the accident while I was on the ship?
You may still have legal options, depending on the circumstances. However, failing to report an accident can create evidentiary and contractual issues. If you were injured, speak with an attorney as soon as possible rather than assuming that it is too late.
How long do I have to file a cruise ship injury lawsuit?
The deadline depends on the applicable law and your cruise ticket contract. Federal law establishes certain minimum periods for covered seagoing vessels, but individual contracts can contain important requirements concerning notice and litigation.
What if I was injured on a cruise outside the United States?
You may still have a claim. Cruise injury cases can involve federal maritime law, contractual provisions, international law, and the laws of other jurisdictions. The location of the accident is only one factor in determining what law and legal requirements apply.
Where will my cruise ship injury lawsuit be filed?
The answer depends on the cruise line, passenger contract, applicable law, and circumstances of the voyage. Cruise ticket contracts frequently contain forum-selection or arbitration provisions that can significantly affect where a claim must be pursued.
How much is a cruise ship slip and fall case worth?
There is no standard value for a cruise ship slip-and-fall claim. The potential value depends on factors including the severity and permanence of the injury, medical treatment, lost income, future medical needs, pain and suffering, and the evidence establishing liability.
Injured in a Slip and Fall on a Cruise Ship? Talk to an Experienced Cruise Injury Lawyer.
A cruise ship slip and fall can result in much more than a bruised knee. Serious falls can lead to surgery, rehabilitation, missed work, permanent disability, and significant changes to your quality of life.
If your accident was caused by a dangerous condition or another party’s negligence, you may have a legal claim for compensation.
Waks and Barnett, P.A. has represented injured cruise passengers and crew members for more than 35 years. Our Miami cruise ship injury attorneys understand the unique legal and practical issues involved in pursuing claims against cruise lines.
Our clients need help! It’s why they turn to us investigate their injury claims and file lawsuits on their behalf against the cruise lines for slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, cases of medical negligence, rape and sexual assault and crew member injury claims. If you or your family have questions about a cruise injury, accident or medical issue, please call us at this number, 1-305-271-8282.
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