Going on a cruise may give you an unforgettable experience, but a cruise accident can ruin the experience for you. Below are some of the potential causes of cruise ship injuries.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a common injury during cruises. For example, you may get food poisoning if the cruise crew fails to handle or prepare their food hygienically. This is a real risk given the cramped quarters and the huge number of people that the crew must serve every day. The fact that the ship must carry tons of food for long cruises also increases the risk of food poisoning.
Intoxication
Alcohol impairs judgment, interferes with stability, and also makes some people drowsy. Most cruise ships serve loads of alcohol, and in some cases, the flow of alcohol is nearly unlimited. This combination means lots of people get drunk on cruises, causing individuals to lose their footing and fall overboard, trip and fall, or bang their head on an object or part of the ship.
Rough Seas
Rough seas or bad weather can cause injuries in three main ways. The movement of the ship can cause you to fall, bang your body against the ship or other objects, or send other objects flying into you. A heavy chair flung against your leg as the ship heaves can easily leave you with a sprained joint or fractured leg.
Defects
Ship defects can also cause injuries. Things like defective handrails, escalators that don't work as well as they should, damaged carpet, and poor lighting can easily lead to accidents. For example, if you are returning to your cabin from the restaurant and the hallway is not lit, you are at a greater risk of injury due to falling.
Slip, Trip, and Fall
Slipping, tripping, and falling accidents may occur even without defect. For example, if someone spills something on the floor and the responsible crew member doesn't clean it up properly, you could slip on the wet surface and hurt yourself.
Assault
Although not common, assault injuries are not impossible during cruises. For example, a fellow passenger may assault you if they get into a heated argument when drunk. Or a member of the crew may assault you if they think you have disrespected them.
As you can see, there is a wide variety of injuries you might sustain during a cruise. You deserve compensation if anyone — from the cruise ship management to the passengers — is responsible for your injuries. Contact a cruise ship accident lawyer like those from Eduardo J. Hernandez, LLC to help you pursue your damages.