Most people take cruises in order to reward themselves and in order to enjoy a great vacation. For most travelers, this is exactly what happens. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong it can be challenging for passengers to get answers and justice. According to safety experts, cruise ship injuries and even crimes on board cruise ships can hamper vacations and can lead to fatalities or life-long injury.
Personal injury attorneys in Miami and across Florida understand that currently there are laws protecting cruise ship passengers. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong on board, passengers may face a number of obstacles. They may not be able to call authorities for help because cruise ship lines are in charge of handling things. This can make it hard to get answers right away, since cruise ship lines and crew are usually acting to protect the cruise line as well as the passengers.
Many attorneys strongly support legislation that would require cruise lines to report crimes and instances of people falling overboard. Congress has pressured the larger cruise lines to report crime statistics online. According to these statistics, in 2013 the four largest cruise lines reported 78 crimes, including 29 rapes, 14 thefts, and 19 sexual assaults. According to attorneys and safety advocates, however, currently no one is checking those numbers since they are self-reported. There is some concern that actual numbers may be higher. The problem is even more significant when public records show that over a one year period since 2013, police were called to five ports in Florida more than 300 times.
Some safety advocates would like to see better record-keeping of crimes on ships, more transparency on the part of cruise lines, and more video surveillance to keep guests safe. So far, it is unclear whether any firm action will be taken, despite concerns expressed.
In addition to crimes on ships, there is also a concern about injuries. While cruise lines provide first-aid training for crew as well as plans for guests who become injures or sick, injuries do still occur on ships. Slip and fall accidents on Miami ships and other common cruise ship injuries in Miami and across the country’s coasts cause severe pain and suffering and in some cases lead to fatalities.
The Cruise Line International Association notes that traveling by cruise ship is still a safe option and notes that the industry does all it can to keep passengers safe. Safety experts agree that cruise ships can be a safe option but warn passengers to carefully research their cruise lines before booking their vacation and advise passengers to check carefully to make sure they understand safety procedures for the ship. If a crime or injury does occur on board, they recommend following up with a personal injury attorney at home in order to find out what options may exist for reporting the incident and seeking fair compensation for the injuries.
If you have been injured while on a tour boat, cruise ship, amusement ride, or in another location, contact the attorneys at Flaxman Law Group. Flaxman Law Group is a full-service law firm and our attorneys have more than six decades of experience helping plaintiffs recover compensation for their injuries. Your first consultation with us is free and comes with no obligation, so contact us today to review your potential case.