Cruise Ship Lawyers Blog
A cruise ship nearly hit a pontoon boat in Tampa Bay this week after the boat had mechanical issues and drifted into the ship’s path, according to Cruise News Today.
The boat was disabled due to a line wrapping around its propeller. About four minutes later, a cruise ship sailed by, causing Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies with the agency’s marine unit to perform an emergency tow of the boat. At least six adults were rescued from the pontoon boat. Deputies stayed with the boat until it was operable.
Last year, a couple was stranded in the Tampa Bay awaiting help after a cruise ship caused a wake that overturned.
Luckily, a tragedy was averted in both of these cases. Modern technology and safety measures have made these incidents infrequent, though they, and similar incidents, can still occur. Cruise Mapper, a site that tracks cruise ship incidents, recorded at least seven collisions with other vessels and allisions with fixed objects in 2024. Data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) shows that from 2009 to 2019, around 18 “significant cruise ship accidents” occurred.
Leesfield & Partners
Despite data showing that these incidents are few and far between, there are plenty of other harmful events that can occur on cruise ships. In nearly five decades of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have represented clients in wrongful death and severe injury resulting from negligent security, premises liability, negligent shore excursions and medical malpractice at the hands of inept cruise ship doctors. In that time, our attorneys have developed cutting-edge trial techniques to pursue the best, possible outcome for injured clients.
Cruise lines are considered common carriers, meaning they are legally obligated to ensure the safety of their passengers. This includes maintaining safe conditions aboard the ship to avoid accidents, providing adequate medical care in case of a medical emergency, and addressing criminal incidents. The legal terms and conditions that apply to such claims are often outlined on the cruise ticket contract, which passengers agree to when booking their trip. This contract lays out conditions such as where the case will be heard and the statute of limitations for making such claims.
With offices in Key West, Orlando, and Miami, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have returned numerous record settlements and verdicts for injured clients and grieving families. Our skilled trial attorneys work tirelessly to ensure that the best possible result is secured in every case.
Shore Excursions
The lives of a mother and daughter who were on a cruise and purchased a parasailing excursion on their ship were forever changed when a rope suddenly snapped while they were hundreds of feet up in the air. The two fell rapidly toward the water and the mother was killed while the daughter suffered life-altering injuries.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys obtained a $7.25 million settlement for their families.
In a banana boat excursion that caused severe injuries including a fractured femur to a 68-year-old client, Leesfield & Partners obtained a six-figure settlement.
The firm also handled a cruise-sponsored shore excursion involving all-terrain vehicles that caused serious injuries to multiple cruise ship passengers. The ATV in that incident rolled over.
The firm secured a $1.28 million settlement in that case.
In the case of a special needs adult traveling with his family on a cruise ship who was killed in a shore excursion bus crash, Leesfield & Partners secured nearly $3 million for the grieving family.
Medical Malpractice
When medical emergencies arise on a cruise ship in the middle of a voyage, thousands of miles from shore, cruise ship doctors are expected to have the training and facilities needed to address the passenger’s illness or injury. Oftentimes, however, these doctors are not up to par with U.S. standards, an issue that often results in further injury to their patients.
Previously, Leesfield & Partners represented a woman who needed a blood transfusion while aboard a cruise ship. The ship’s medical staff failed to test the blood she was given for HIV and the woman was given HIV-positive blood.
The 72-year-old retired nurse was infected with the virus as a result. Leesfield & Partners obtained a $4.25 million settlement for the woman in that case.
A cruise ship failed to evacuate a 65-year-old woman who was suffering from a stroke. The firm secured a $4 million award for her and her family.
A 9-month-old baby who was suffering from meningitis was misdiagnosed with a stomach bug by cruise ship doctors. Despite the infant’s clear symptoms, doctors did not administer the antibiotics needed to combat the meningitis. As a result, the baby underwent multiple amputations.
The firm recovered $5.5 million for the 9-month-old and her family.
Other Cruise Ship Incidents
As common carriers, cruise lines have a non-delegable duty to protect their passengers. While this legal principle – which refers to the higher duty of care – is generally accepted, Leesfield & Partners has seen time and time again how cruise lines attempt to shift blame onto others as a way to escape liability.
For a passenger who slipped and fell due to an unmarked step in a cruise ship restaurant, Leesfield & Partners obtained a $350,000 recovery.
A cruise passenger who suffered a fall in a cruise ship’s slipper public restroom, causing a severe knee injury, the firm secured a $425,000 settlement.
In the case of a catastrophic brain injury to a 9-year-old playing basketball on a cruise ship, Leesfield & Partners obtained a multi-million-dollar recovery for the child. This incident occurred when the minor dove for an out-of-bounds ball and hit a steel-unpadded grommet on the ship.
In a similar case involving a man, 62, who hit his head while playing pickleball on a ship, the firm secured a $500,000 settlement.
