Slip and Fall Injuries aboard Ships & Vessels
A cruise ship slip and fall or slip and fall aboard a vessel for recreation or employment can occur anywhere and for a variety of different reasons. No matter the area of the vessel (on a gangway, on deck, near the pool, at a restaurant, on a ladder or stairwell, on a tender, etc.) or the flooring surface, the ship and its crew owes the legal duty to its passengers to use reasonable care in maintaining the ship. This duty includes correcting dangerous conditions, marking or indicating areas where foreign or slippery substances are present, and providing passengers with visual or verbal warnings of dangerous areas. If the foreign substance or dangerous condition is not corrected or marked within a reasonable amount of time, regardless of who created the condition, the ship will be responsible for any resulting injuries. If you are the victim of a slip and fall aboard a cruise ship or other vessel, it is vitally important to your claim to document the surrounding circumstances. This includes taking photographs or video of the scene, and getting the name(s) and contact information of any witnesses or crew members present at the scene who have observed the dangerous condition or other circumstances of your fall. If you have been injured during travel as a cruise ship passenger aboard a cruse ship, aboard a tender boat at a visited port of call, or during a shoreside excursion, hiring a law firm that specializes in the maritime field, like Munch and Munch, P.A., is essential to protecting your claim. A cruise ship passenger who has suffered serious injury may be eligible to recover compensation for past and future medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost past and future wages, and compensation for pain and suffering; whereas a Jones Act Seaman who has suffered a slip and fall during the course of his or her employment will have very different legal rights and remedies. An experienced Florida maritime lawyer will help you determine what type of claim you may have, and how to protect your rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a slip and fall on a cruise ship or other vessel, call 813-254-1557 or email us at Munch and Munch, P.A.