Category: Slip Fall

Each year, thousands of people set sail on cruise ships out of Florida. Most of these cruisers enjoy a wonderful vacation. Unfortunately, some people sustain serious injuries on their trip, often due to the negligence of the cruise line.

Now, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against a cruise ship operator just as you would any other negligent property owner. But such cases are often handicapped by the terms of the ticket that was issued before the cruise even began. If you have ever taken a cruise, you know what we are talking about. Most cruise tickets include, or refer to, a lengthy “ticket contract” that you must agree to beforehand, similar to a terms of service on a commercial website. These contracts often contain language that can restrict or even prevent you from bringing a personal injury claim should the need arise.

A recent decision from a federal judge in Miami provides a case in point. In Roberts v. Carnival Corporation, the plaintiff was a passenger on the defendant’s cruise ship. During the cruise, the plaintiff slipped and fell on the ship’s pool deck. She called the ship’s infirmary and was told someone would come attend to her at the pool. But nobody ever came, the plaintiff said, and she then had to walk to the infirmary herself, only further aggravating her injuries.