Several passengers injured in cruise ship accident

Getting hurt on a cruise can ruin an otherwise enjoyable trip. Passengers on cruises look forward to relaxing, eating and checking out all that the luxury ships are supposed to offer. When people go on a cruise, they don’t expect to have to watch out for negligence or worry about mechanical errors.

Recently, several passengers aboard a cruise ship were injured in a careless accident when the boat was returning to the dock. While none of the injuries were catastrophic or fatal, many people were still put in danger unnecessarily.

The accident happened one afternoon when a boat was pulling into the dock after a trip. Those on board were suddenly thrown from their seats and tossed into equipment on the boat when the ship crashed into the dock. Two people had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance with injuries, while many other injured passengers received medical treatment on the scene.

Officials are investigating the accident, and are so far unsure if the crash into the dock was caused by a mechanical defect or possibly human error. Determining the reason for the crash is important for a number of reasons. First, an investigation may uncover any negligence or faulty equipment that needs to be stopped or repaired for the safety of passengers. It is also important to determine liability so that injured victims may choose to pursue financial compensation from the responsible party. For those victims who were sent to the hospital and those who suffered long-lasting injuries, this compensation can be very helpful after dealing with medical bills and lost wages.

Cruise ships travel to and from Florida all year. It’s essential that these vessels are safe and properly operated so that people are not hurt. In a serious accident that results in offshore injuries, different laws may apply so it’s important to speak with a maritime attorney.

Source: cp24.com, “Two sent to hospital after Barrie cruise ship accident,” Joshua Freeman, Sept. 2, 2012

• Our firm has extensive experience working with people who have been seriously injured in offshore accidents. For more information, please visit our Miami Maritime Injury page.