What Happens When You’re Injured on a Cruise Ship? 3 Things Every Traveler Needs to Know

Abstract: Whether you’re going on a personal family vacation or an excursion with business associates, you want your cruise experience to be unforgettable: not full of frustration or disappointment. Unfortunately, personal injuries can occur even on cruise ships. Here’s what you need to know.

What Happens When You’re Injured on a Cruise Ship? 3 Things Every Traveler Needs to Know

Cruise vacations are supposed to be spent lounging by the pool, playing on the beach, and watching incredible on-board shows. They aren’t supposed to be spent worrying, feeling sick, or nursing an injury. Unfortunately, it’s possible to experience a personal injury even while you’re cruising. Many adults are uncomfortable with the idea of getting injured while on a cruise vacation and aren’t sure how to handle the experience. Fortunately, no matter what type of injury you experience while on your cruise vacation, it’s possible to seek legal compensation for the accident. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Understand that there different types of personal injuries on a cruise ship
   Getting sick on a cruise ship doesn’t necessarily constitute a personal injury. For example, if you get sea sick or develop an upset stomach while on the water, this probably won’t be considered a personal injury and typically isn’t something you can seek compensation for. For most travelers, a little bit of seasickness is typically considered normal. If you experience food poisoning, however, this is an unusual situation and may be considered a personal injury. Other types of injuries on a cruise ship include slip-and-fall injuries due to unsafe conditions on the ship or assault injuries by a crew member or other passengers.
2. You need to document your injuries right away
   Make sure you document the injury as soon as you possibly can. This includes taking pictures of both the injury and the location where the injury occurred. For example, if you slipped and fell, but there was no warning sign to notify you of potential danger, take a picture of the location and the absence of a sign. You should also photograph your injuries so you can show these to your attorney. You may also need to report the injury to the cruise line.
3. It’s important to seek medical care as soon as you can
   You’ll need to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Typically, this will happen as soon as the injury occurs. Seeking medical care will help reduce the severity of the injuries you experience. A doctor will also create a medical record that documents the injury, as well. This will help you should you choose to seek compensation for the accident since it will detail exactly what happened and how severe the injury was.

If you or someone you love has been injured on a cruise ship, it’s time to reach out to a personal injury attorney who understands how to help you move forward and seek the compensation you are entitled to. Call today to schedule your initial consultation with a lawyer you can count on.