One of the best vacations you may ever take is a cruise. Even if you never leave the ship, you can have a great time. There are shows and activities. You get to eat as much as you want. You can even drink as much as you want if that’s your thing. But, sometimes, a cruise line can be a nightmare.
Some people go on a cruise and come back with more than souvenirs. Anything can happen when you’re out to sea. And without the convenience of a hospital a mile away, there may not be much they can do to treat your injuries.
If you get hurt while on your cruise, what are you supposed to do?
The first thing you should do is seek immediate medical attention. Cruise ships do have a medical facility on-board the ship. You also need to make sure you document your accident. Ask the cruise staff to give you an incident report to fill out. The last thing you want to do is wait until you get home to document your injuries. And finally, when you do pull into port, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia.
Your attorney can help file your claim against the cruise line’s insurance company. They’ll also negotiate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf.
If your claim is small, it’ll probably be paid right away. It’s usually cheaper for the company to pay your claim than it is to fight it. However, if your claim is large, the insurance company may be willing to take their chances in court.
Here are some examples of some of the most popular lawsuits ever filed against cruise lines in the U.S. Although we doubt your case will be anything like these, it’s good to have an idea of what you’re up against.
The Opposite of Cold Feet
Kurt Gies was on a Carnival cruise boat a few years ago. He thought it would be fun to enter the “Hairy Man” contest. It was being held on the ship’s outside “Lido Deck.” The boards were hot but the staff did what they could to cool them down.
Gies entered the contest and did not win. Afterwards, he claimed that the ground was so hot it burned his feet. He actually filed suit for mental and physical anguish. He argued that the incident left him with permanent scarring and disfigured feet.
Is a Cruise Ship Liable for Your Getting Drunk?
A lot of people like to enjoy a few cocktails while on vacation. This was the case for a young woman named Angel Holcomb. She was on a cruise with her husband. She decided to visit the casino and have a few drinks.
Apparently, Angel had more than just a few drinks. Her husband found her drunk and stumbling through the ship in the middle of the night. He took her to bed, but she woke up in the middle of the night thirsty.
She got a glass of water and, still inebriated, ended up dropping the glass. A large shard of glass cut her femoral artery and she bled to death. Her family filed suit against the Carnival Cruise line for wrongful death.
According to Holcomb’s mother, the ship’s staff was negligent in allowing her daughter to drink too much. She claimed that the staff should have monitored her daughter’s drinking better and prevented her injuries.
Man – or, Woman Overboard!
Carnival Cruise line seems to be infamous for litigious guests. A woman named Alexandra Kirby was on the Carnival Destiny. She got really drunk one afternoon and ended up falling over the balcony.
She was rescued by the Coast Guard and hour and a half later. However, she suffered multiple injuries, including a blood clot. While she did survive, she ended up filing suit against the cruise line.
Kirby’s personal injury attorney claimed that the casino had plied her to drink too much by offering $5 casino coupons with every drink she purchased.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia Today
If you get hurt while on a cruise ship, you may have a legal claim. Call and speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Ted A Greve & Associates today. They can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. The cruise line will have a team of lawyers working for them and you should too. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
