Dangerous Cruise Leads To Injured Passengers Among Storm
February 19, 2016
Who should be at fault in a case of nature-versus-man? If you’re hurt while you’re on a cruise, you may be seeking out international help from your attorney, because these cases can involve many different governments.
When it comes to a cruise where the captain and others on board can tell that bad weather is approaching, it comes to the question of whether or not those individuals should be held responsible for failing to either cancel or reroute the cruise. According to a news report, four people who were injured during a storm while aboard a cruise are likely to file lawsuits for those injuries. They claim that 30-foot waves thrashed the ship, while winds of up to 120 mph rocked the ship. The ship suffered what the cruise line is calling superficial damage, but the passengers aren’t feeling as positive.
The question in this case comes down to who is responsible for the injuries. Should the ship’s owner be liable for the captain running into bad weather?
Hearings are expected in the case, which will likely be held in front of the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board. This is a major industry, and it has a responsibility to keep passengers safe. During the height of the storm, passengers were confined to their cabins; they were confined for around 12 hours while they waited for the waves and winds to abate.
A senator who called for the investigation has serious questions about why a ship would leave port when the staff is aware that a major storm, potentially a hurricane, is going to be in its path. That may have put the lives of many at undue risk.
Source: Asbury Park Press, “WATCH: Who’s at fault for cruise from hell?,” Mike Davis, Feb. 13, 2016
