Who’s Liable for Great Lakes Cruise Injuries?
A person who has sustained injuries in an accident caused by a Great Lakes cruise line’s negligent actions or failure to keep the accident from happening can bring a lawsuit against the liable cruise line. Through this lawsuit, the injured person can obtain financial compensation for damages suffered because of the accident. However, they must demonstrate that the cruise line was aware or should have been aware of the safety concern and failed or refused to take reasonable measures to fix it.
When Can A Cruise Line Be Liable for Injuries Suffered by Passengers?
Staircase Fall Liability
It is fairly common to see passengers trip and fall on stairs while traveling on Great Lakes cruise ships. While some falls may be due solely to passenger inattentiveness, careful examination of the premises may show that poorly lit or poorly maintained staircases contributed to the fall.
A staircase fall victim should try to take pictures of the scene, conditions that may have caused the accident, and any personal injuries sustained. Besides gathering witness testimony, the fall victim should report the incident to the cruise line and get a copy of the incident report. A personal injury attorney can use the time-stamped pictures, incident reports, witness statements, and other evidence to build a strong claim against the cruise line that will help the injured passenger recover maximum compensation.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents frequently happen on the deck because of water presence. Cruise lines have a legal duty to offer non-slip surfaces all the time or provide noticeable signage that caution passengers regarding risky areas.
Assault and Sexual Assault
To obtain favorable outcomes in these cases, victims just need to prove that the rape or assault took place and was not consensual. Victims must also document the full extent of their damages.
Food Poisoning
Passengers can also develop food poisoning in cruise ships if they eat mishandled or poorly cooked food. A passenger can recover pain and suffering damages by filing a food poisoning lawsuit against the cruise ship.
Filing a Cruise Line Lawsuit
Injured passengers have a limited timeframe to file a lawsuit for injuries and deaths caused by a cruise ship’s negligence. The contract is usually in the ticket package and requires a claim notice to be submitted to the cruise line in six months and start a lawsuit in a year.