If you’re looking to go on a cruise in California, chances are you will likely look into one of the most popular cruise lines in the country, Royal Caribbean. Internal company data showed that Royal Caribbean brought in $8.8 billion in revenue in 2022, spurred in large part to its many package offerings on its line of cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean cruise lines offer different trip plans from California to various destinations, giving travelers many vacation options. However, as with any trip, accidents can occur during these cruises, potentially causing injuries. If this happens while you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s important to understand what your options are.
Contact Our Experienced California Cruise Line Accident Lawyers
If you’ve experienced an accident on a Royal Caribbean cruise or other boat in California, you’re not alone. These accidents happen frequently and could leave you seriously injured. At Maison Law, our team of experienced California cruise line accident lawyers can help simplify the legal process for you and your family while you focus on healing. Contact us today for a free consultation if you’ve been injured on a California cruise.
How Could You Get Hurt on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?
The appeal of going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the many activities that take place while you’re onboard the ship and the many shoreline trips and activities that take place. While every cruise offers different packages, most Royal Caribbean cruises give you the chance to take part in the following:
- Poolside relaxation
- Broadway-style shows
- Dining experiences
- Adventure activities (rock climbing, zip lining, etc.)
- Spa and wellness treatments
- Sports and fitness options
- Nightlife entertainment
- Shore excursions at different ports
- Kids and family programs
- Casino and gaming
- Informative lectures and workshops
- Onboard shopping
While these activities are exciting, especially in a setting like a cruise, the reality is that there is the chance that you could be hurt in an accident. Some of the more common ways you could get hurt on a Royal Caribbean cruise include:
- Wet decks, uneven surfaces, and crowded areas can contribute to slips, trips, and falls. These are among the most common accidents on cruise ships.
- Accidents around pools and water areas can include slips on wet surfaces, diving accidents, and even drownings if proper precautions aren’t taken.
- While participating in shore excursions, passengers can be injured in various ways, such as water sports accidents, falls during hikes, or accidents during guided tours.
- Cases of food poisoning or gastrointestinal illnesses can occur due to improperly handled or prepared food.
- Drinking too much alcohol can lead to accidents, injuries, or altercations.
- Participating in activities like rock climbing, zip-lining, or surfing can lead to injuries if proper safety guidelines aren’t followed.
- While rare, assaults and other criminal incidents can happen on cruise ships.
Remember that accidents can happen on cruises, but companies like Royal Caribbean work hard to keep people safe. They have rules and plans to make things as safe as possible. On your end, you can also help by listening to safety rules, paying attention to what’s around you, and being careful. If an accident does happen, though, cruise ships usually have doctors and procedures to help right away.
What Should You Do If You’re Hurt on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?
While a Royal Caribbean cruise is exciting and a somewhat unique environment, it’s ultimately the same as any other place in terms of what you should do if you’re injured onboard–or on the shore. As soon as you realize you’ve been injured, you should:
- Seek medical attention – If your injury is serious, seek medical help immediately. You can go to the ship’s medical center for assistance.
- Report the incident – Let the cruise staff know about your injury. They will fill out an incident report, which is important for documenting what happened.
- Document the accident scene – If possible, take photos of the area where the accident occurred and any factors that might have contributed to it.
- Keep records – Keep track of any medical treatment you receive, including medications, tests, and doctor’s notes.
- Notify your insurance – You’ll want to notify your insurance company about the incident and your injury. If you have travel insurance, contact your provider and inform them about the incident, as well. They can guide you on how to proceed and what expenses might be covered.
- Preserve evidence – If you plan to make a claim, it’s important to gather evidence that supports your case. This can include statements from witnesses, videos, photographs, and any other relevant documents.
- Follow up – If your injury requires ongoing treatment or follow-up care, make sure to keep up with your medical appointments.
No matter what kind of accident you’re in, your health and safety come first. When you’ve been hurt during an activity, the cruise company should help you with what you need in terms of medical attention, unless your injury is more severe. Once your safety and health are squared away, you should consider contacting our team of California boat accident lawyers to learn more about your options.
How Do You Figure Out Who is Responsible For an Accident on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?
When there’s an accident on a Royal Caribbean cruise, someone–or something–is responsible for it. Just who is responsible depends on the nature of the accident and circumstances around what happened. Legally speaking, an accident that injures you requires determining liability. Under California law, liability has four elements:
- Duty of care – Royal Caribbean has a legal obligation to provide a safe environment for its passengers. They must take reasonable steps to prevent harm and accidents.
- Breach of duty – If the cruise line or its staff fails to fulfill their duty of care by not following safety regulations, maintaining the ship properly, or acting negligently, they might be considered in breach of their duty.
- Causation – There must be a direct link between the cruise line’s breach of duty and the accident. In other words, the negligence must have directly caused or contributed to the accident.
- Damages – You must have suffered actual harm or damages as a result of the accident. This could include physical injuries, emotional distress, medical expenses, or lost wages.
If you can establish these elements after an accident while you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s likely that the crew, individual, equipment manufacturer, and even the company at large could be held responsible for covering your injuries and other damage.
But there are two distinct elements that are involved when you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise that you’ll also need to address:
- Maritime law – Royal Caribbean and other cruise ships are considered “common carriers”, and are subject to maritime law when they’re out on the water. While this differs from state law somewhat, if you get injured, many of the same negligence laws that apply in California also apply to Royal Caribbean. Namely, the company, crew, and others have a duty to keep you and other passengers safe while on a cruise.
- Comparative negligence – In California, as in other places, comparative negligence rules also apply during accidents. Under this rule, your overall recovery and settlement could be reduced by the same percentage as your level of fault in the accident. For example, if you failed to follow safety rules while on the ship and you’re hurt, and are considered 10% at fault, your overall recovery will be reduced by the same 10%.
Damages Available in a Royal Caribbean Cruise Injury Claim
When you choose to move forward with a Royal Caribbean cruise accident claim, our team gets to work for you. We handle all the legal details and carefully organize your expenses. This ensures that you get the rightful support from the party responsible for the accident.
When you’re dealing with financial challenges and struggling to pay bills, our help allows you to seek the following financial assistance in a California Royal Caribbean cruise accident claim. Generally speaking the following damages are available in such a claim:
- Coverage for all medical costs related to the accident, including hospital bills, medications, surgeries, and needed devices
- Compensation for physical pain and suffering
- Reimbursement for lost income and future earnings you might have lost
- Help for mental and emotional distress, including issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Support for caregiving and transportation expenses
- Payment for the loss of enjoyment in life or companionship
- Assistance in covering costs for physical therapy and mental health treatment
- Reimbursement for damage to your property
Every cruise line accident case is different, and what happens depends on how your particular incident happened. Above all, you need to be patient because the claims process can take time and be challenging, especially going up against a large company like Royal Caribbean. But if you work with our experienced California boat accident lawyers, we’ll make sure your claim stays strong and you get the result you want.
Get in Touch with Maison Law After a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Accident
At Maison Law, we believe that Royal Caribbean should take responsibility if their carelessness causes accidents and injuries on their ships and cruises. Our experienced California boat accident lawyers are here to help you legally and guide you so that you get the financial support you need to recover from your injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.
