Nobody goes on a cruise ship intending to be hurt. However, cruise ships, like any other site, have had their fair share of accidents. More than 13 million passengers cruise each year, with around 10 million of them leaving from a port in the United States. In this article, we will go over the major steps you should follow if you suffer an accident while on a cruise line.
#1 Report Your Injury and Accident
The International Maritime Organization establishes rules that regulate cruise ship operations. Every cruise line is required to develop its safety management systems. These systems, on the other hand, must have an option for accident investigation and reporting. That is, they are expected to develop a standard operating procedure that they will follow if a passenger is injured. Ensure that your accident is documented and reported.
#2 Seek Medical Attention
If a passenger or member of the crew sustains an injury while still on board and in navigable waters, the standard course of action is to seek medical attention at the ship’s medical facility. This provides opportunities for both the documentation of the event and the explanation of the procedures that led to the occurrence of the incident. One of the most prevalent defenses used by cruise lines to avoid paying for damages and losses in the case of a claim for an accident on a cruise ship is that the passenger neglected to seek medical attention while on board.
#3 Collect Evidence
It is your job to ensure that you record all the information regarding the accident that you can recall. This includes the time, location, witnesses present, and the activities taking place around you. If there are any security cameras in the neighborhood, make a note of the identification numbers shown on the cameras. The opportunity to request that a certain video be stored will be made accessible to you.
#4 Notify the Cruise Line of the Accident
Accidents aboard cruise ships should be reported as quickly as possible to the crew (at the management level). If you do not report the accident to the cruise line, your ability to get financial compensation may be hampered.
#5 Obtain a Copy of the Incident Report
After an accident or injury, ship crew members fill out an “incident report,” which is a passenger injury statement form. When conducting the investigation on board the ship, it is essential to provide the officer in charge of the investigation with accurate and genuine information about the events that occurred. Take notes on the conversation if possible. If malfunctioning equipment was involved, you should explain to the officer how it contributed to the incident. If you experienced a slip and fall, be sure to note the fact that you slipped on a wet floor in your passenger injury statement. Passengers who have been injured legally have the right to a copy of their recorded remarks, medical records, and the incident report.
#6 Avoid Underestimating Your Injuries
Even if you are in excruciating pain, it is normal to downplay the severity of your injuries at times. Passengers who have been injured, for example, might declare that they are “fine” or that they “don’t think it’s that serious.” However, there is a chance that these words may be used against you if you seek monetary compensation for your injuries. Although it may seem to be a minor injury at first, it may be more dangerous than you realize. Some internal injuries, for example, may produce considerable symptoms, yet they may be difficult to identify at first.
#7 Approach Written Statements with Caution
After you have notified the cruise line of your injuries, they will most likely require that you provide a written statement in which you describe the circumstances that caused your injury. If you are uncomfortable, you can decline to provide the statement. Furthermore, even if a friend or family member was there during the event that caused your injury, you should not authorize them to provide a statement on your behalf. When writing a written statement, it is critical to keep it short and to the point. It is conceivable that the circumstances of your accident may become increasingly difficult to remember as time passes. It is not a good idea to add any material to your written statement that may be difficult to recall later. Instead, provide a comprehensive summary of your injuries and why you believe the cruise company is to blame for everything that transpired.
#8 Contact a Lawyer for Assistance
One of the most important things you can do if you need help is to engage a cruise ship lawyer. Your attorney represents you in legal proceedings and negotiations with the defendant. They will undertake a thorough investigation into the sequence of events that led up to your accident to identify the persons or organizations who must be held accountable.
