Cruise Ship Company Responsibility for Passenger Safety

Cruise ship companies are subject to many federal laws that regulate vessel and passenger safety. Personnel on passenger ships are required to have specific safety and emergency training. Cruise ships are obligated to return their passengers to port safely.

Under maritime law, a shipowner owes passengers a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances. Also, cruise ships are considered common carriers, which means they are held to a standard of care to ensure the safety of their passengers.

The Legal Obligations of Cruise Ship Companies for Passenger Safety

Because passengers are paying guests of cruise ships, the cruise ship line and its employees have an overriding duty of care throughout the cruise to keep them safe. They must regularly inspect the ship, remove any hazards, and inform passengers of any remaining threats.

Cruise ships must maintain surveillance systems to detect criminal activities. Cruise ships must also use video technology to detect passengers who fall overboard. When a crime occurs, the cruise ship must report it to the FBI immediately.

Federal law requires operators of vessels carrying 50 or more passengers from a U.S. port to have the financial capability to pay claims arising from passenger injuries or death. However, the law requires the customer to initiate legal action against the cruise line if any of these events occur.

How to Prove Negligence in a Cruise Ship Injury Case

Negligence arises when someone has a duty of care to others. The duty is what a reasonable person would do under the circumstances. If a person fails to meet that duty, they may be liable for negligence. A cruise ship line owes its passengers a duty of care to keep them reasonably safe from foreseeable dangers. If your injuries resulted from the cruise line's negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for the losses related to your accident. You must prove the elements of negligence by showing that the cruise line failed to perform a duty imposed by law.

One example of cruise ship negligence is the failure to adhere to an appropriate safety policy or procedure. Another example is the failure to maintain the ship in a reasonably safe condition. For example, the cruise ship and its employees must keep the ship decks dry and safe for passengers to walk on. If they fail to do so, and a passenger slips, falls, and gets a head injury, the cruise ship line may be liable.

How to Hold Cruise Ship Companies Accountable

Never hesitate to assert your legal rights when you have suffered an injury aboard a cruise ship. If you sustained injuries as a result of the cruise line's negligence, you must hold it accountable. You deserve compensation for the losses caused by the cruise line’s failure to act.

The best way to hold cruise ships accountable for an accident that causes harm is to file an injury claim. A seasoned and knowledgeable cruise ship injury lawyer can help with this. They can ensure that you meet all deadlines and file your claim in the proper court.

The contract terms in your cruise ticket likely only give you one year to file a lawsuit for your injuries. Do not hesitate to act if you were injured on a cruise ship due to the cruise line’s negligence. Taking the time to contact an attorney from the ship immediately after you suffer an injury is in your best interest.

The Role of Safety Standards and Regulations in Cruise Ship Injury Cases

Cruise ships are subject to a long list of federal safety standards and regulations. If cruise line vessels do not adhere to these standards or regulations, this failure to act can serve as evidence of a breach of duty or negligence. If you can prove that the incident that caused your injury is the result of the violation of safety standards or rules, your chances of receiving compensation are substantially better.

An experienced cruise ship injury lawyer familiar with the applicable federal safety rules and regulations can determine when and if a cruise line has violated these standards, has acted negligently, and is potentially at fault for causing an injury.

The Louis A. Vucci P.A. Legal Team Can Help You

If you or a loved one suffered injuries aboard a cruise ship, the legal team at [firm-name] is here to help. We offer years of experience handling cruise ship cases. Our legal team is standing by to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call [phone-number linked="true"] today to schedule a free consultation.

Related Posts:

Request a Free Consultation

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Message(Required)

Types of Claim

There are many things for which a passenger may make a claim, some of which include:

Slip and Fall Accidents

Water Slide / Wave Pool Accidents

Swimming Pool Accidents

Contaminated Food

Norovirus Outbreaks

Fires

Falling Overboard

Physical Assault

Jack

Firstly, I want to say a massive thank you to everybody at the Vucci Office! In particular - Karl, Millie and Raul . I was visiting from England and they couldn’t have made me feel more welcome; They worked perfectly as a team to make me feel assured and made a hard time much easier.

Louis Vucci was recommended to me by a friend from my previous career and after using him, I can safely say I have no regrets.Louis was consistently honest with me which I greatly appreciated. He spent an endless amount of time on my case and his passion was so genuine - I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I couldn’t recommend them anymore.
Once again, thank you!

Albert L.

I was injured on a cruise ship – I slipped and fell and injured my shoulder. I was not sure about the process and needed help. I had no idea about the difficulty in dealing with a cruise line. My attorney, Louis Vucci, handled my claim from beginning to end and guided me throughout. He and his staff were courteous and attentive and obtained a great result on my behalf.

Betty A.

I had to have hip repair surgery because of a slip and fall on a cruise ship. Louis was very kind and professional. This was my first experience working with an attorney. He never tired of all my questions and answered truthfully and respectfully. He honestly understood my concerns and addressed every single one. I could not have asked for a better attorney. He and those in his office were wonderful. He settled my case in a timely manner and I was very happy with the outcome.

Andrew Somer

I worked with Louis and The Vucci Law Group from an incident I had aboard a cruise ship. Louis was very candid, honest and sympathetic to my situation. He was thorough and worked on my behalf with the cruise line, insurance and medical companies. He kept me fully updated and informed every step of the way. He made this very challenging time a little easier to handle. Highly recommended.

Denise Grosdanof

My son broke his arm while participating in the onboard child care program. I approached other lawyers who turned down my case. I was about to give up and I decided to try one last time. I found Louis and I could not be happier that I did. Not only did he sympathize with my case he was well versed on legal responsibility the ship has to ensure safety of children while in their care. He responds to inquiries and emails immediately and takes you through the steps to file a claim. We were extremely happy with the outcome! I highly recommend working with Louis, he is knowledgeable friendly and easy to approach. The whole process was painless.

K. K.

I broke my C4 vertebrae after suffering a fall on a Flow Rider excursion sold by Carnival Cruise Line. I was very fortunate to have Louis Vucci represent me in my personal injury lawsuit. Louis was extremely professional, knowledgeable and tenacious. He did an excellent job of asserting my claim against all responsible parties (including the Flow Rider operator in Grand Turk), anticipating and addressing their defenses, and securing a very favorable settlement. Along the way, Louis always kept me informed about the status of my case and minimized any inconvenience to me, which I very much appreciate since I live in New Jersey. Thank you Louis for your good counsel and determination to obtain a fair and just resolution.

Ryan Bockiaro

Louis is down-to-earth and will go out of his way to help you

See all Testimonials

(786) 375-0344