How Common Are Cruise Ship Accidents? 

Vacationers consider a cruise a luxurious escape, promising relaxation and adventure on the open seas. However, while relatively rare, cruise ship accidents occur and can have serious consequences. 

A maritime lawyer with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP is ready to help if you’ve suffered an injury while on a cruise ship due to an accident that wasn’t your fault.

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Frequency of Cruise Ship Accidents

Cruise ship accidents are not as frequent as other types of travel-related incidents, but they do happen. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the likelihood of being involved in a significant cruise ship accident is low. The CLIA reports an average of about 18 incidents occurred yearly between 2009 and 2019. 

Types of Cruise Ship Accidents

Even though they’re rare, when accidents occur, they can result in significant injuries and even fatalities. These are some types of accidents that can happen on a cruise ship:

• Collisions and groundings: These accidents involve the ship striking another vessel or running aground, which can lead to severe damage and passenger injuries. For example, a grounding incident may cause the ship to tilt or become stranded, endangering the lives of those on board and necessitating complex rescue operations.

• Onboard Injuries: Slips and falls, food poisoning, and recreational activity accidents sometimes occur on cruise ships. Poor maintenance, wet surfaces, and inadequate safety measures often contribute to these incidents. Passengers may slip on wet decks, suffer foodborne illnesses from improperly stored food, or get injured during onboard activities like swimming or rock climbing.

• Fires and explosions: Mechanical failures and electrical issues can result in fires or explosions, posing a significant risk to passengers and crew. A fire on a cruise ship can spread quickly, creating panic and leading to potential evacuations. Explosions, though less common, can have catastrophic consequences, causing severe injuries and extensive damage to the vessel.
• Medical emergencies: Inadequate medical facilities or delayed response to medical emergencies can worsen health issues for passengers. Cruise ships often have limited medical resources, and in the case of severe medical conditions, the delay in reaching advanced medical care can worsen the prognosis for affected passengers.

Legal Help for Victims

Cruise ship accident victims often face legal complexities that are too challenging for a non-attorney to overcome. However, a maritime injury lawyer with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP can handle the complications and work to help a victim obtain fair compensation. These are just some of the ways:

• Gathering evidence: Your Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP maritime attorney will collect necessary evidence such as medical records, accident reports, and witness statements. This documentation is essential for building a solid case.

• Filing claims: Cruise ship accidents may involve multiple jurisdictions, making timely and accurate filing critical. We file claims within the appropriate jurisdiction and meet all deadlines. 

• Negotiating settlements: We’ll advocate for fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We’ll also negotiate so you receive the money you deserve without going to trial.  
• Court representation: These types of cases rarely go to court. But if yours does, we’ll present a convincing case and protect your legal rights.  

We’re Ready to Work for You, Contact a Houston Maritime Injury Lawyer Today

While cruise ship accidents are not highly common, their impact on victims can be profound. An experienced maritime injury lawyer with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP will do everything possible to help you achieve justice. Please contact us online or call 832-402-6637 for a free case review.

C.J. Baker

C.J. Baker represents victims with serious injuries and he won’t let any corporation or insurance company stop his clients from getting complete justice. He has won millions of dollars for victims of 18-wheeler crashes, oilfield equipment failures, offshore platform explosions, and defective medical devices. Our lawyers have 25+ years of combined experience.

Get in touch with C.J. Baker now.