According to a report from Law.com, a Carnival Cruise Line—an international cruise company with main headquarters in South Florida—is facing a maritime injury lawsuit over a slip and fall accident. The complaint alleges that a serious injury was sustained by a cruise passenger because Carnival failed to properly install a “non-slip” mat at the entrance/exit point of a hot tub.
Cruise line operators have a legal responsibility to ensure that they are providing safe conditions for customers and crew members. Slips and falls are among the leading causes of serious injuries on cruise ships. Here, our Houston cruise ship accident lawyers provide an overview of the key things to know about maritime slip and fall injury claims.
Cruise Line Injuries: Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are a significant safety issue on land. The National Floor Safety Institute (NSFI) reports that more than one Americans seek emergency medical assistance for slip and fall accidents on an annual basis. The risk of slip and falls and trip and falls is heightened on cruise ships. On a cruise liner, you will find virtually all of the same slipping and tripping hazards that you will find on land. Beyond that, there are a number of other different risks, including:
- Unusually tight hallways/walkways;
- Poor lighting in parts of the ship;
- Maritime equipment; and
- Floors that are often wet and slippery.
Liability on Cruise Ships
A cruise ship company can be held legally liable for a slip and fall accident—but it is not automatically liable. As well articulated by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Chapparo v. Carnival Cruise, a cruise ship operator is only legally responsible for a passenger’s slip and fall accident injuries if they can prove fault. Specifically, an injured victim must establish the following four things in a cruise ship slip and fall accident claim:
- The cruise line owed them a duty of care;
- The duty was breached through negligence;
- The breach of care was the cause of the victim’s injuries; and
- The victim sustained actual harm in the slip and fall.
All serious cruise line accidents should be investigated by an experienced Texas maritime injury lawyer. You deserve full and fair financial compensation for your losses. Money damages may be available for medical expenses, physical therapy, loss of current and future income, pain and suffering, and permanent/long-term disability.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Texas Cruise Ship Accident Attorney
At the Kolodny Law Firm, our Texas cruise ship accident lawyers are compassionate, reliable advocates for injured victims and their family. If you or your loved one was hurt in an accident on a cruise ship, we can help you recover compensation. Call us now or reach out to us using our online contact form to set up a free consultation. We handle maritime injury claims throughout the Gulf Coast region.
Alan Kolodny is committed to representing injured clients in Texas and throughout the United States. Alan earned his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
He focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving the following matters: maritime and offshore accidents, including those under the Jones Act; automobile and 18-wheeler truck accidents; and industrial site accidents, work-related accidents, and claims for injured railroad workers under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
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