A cruise can be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. However, it can turn into a nightmare for some passengers. A cruise ship tender boat accident can lead to injuries, resulting in medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Ehline Law and our cruise ship tender boat accident attorneys have successfully represented many injured passengers, holding the cruise companies responsible for their negligence and recovering compensation.
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If you suffered injuries on a tender boat due to the negligence of a cruise company, it is crucial to reach out to our law firm to learn more about your rights as an injured tender boat passenger from a cruise ship accident attorney today.
What Is a Tender Boat?
Tender boats are small boats cruise ships use to transport passengers or their cruise members to and from a port or a travel destination.
Why Do Cruise Ships Use Tender Boats?
A vessel may use a tender boat when there is not enough space at the port for the cruise ship to dock or when the port is small to accommodate large cruise ships.
Sometimes, the water levels at a travel destination might be too shallow to dock a large cruise ship safely, prompting cruise companies to use tender boats to carry cruise ship passengers.
Cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and many others often use tender boats to transport their passengers for shore excursions and other activities.
Why Do Cruise Ship Tender Boat Accidents Occur?
There are several reasons why a tender boat accident may occur. Most of the time, tender accidents occur during embarkation and disembarkation. Loose railings, lack of safety, and even untrained crew members can cause cruise ship passengers to fall and suffer serious injuries.
Rough Weather Conditions
Accidents may also occur due to rough weather at sea. Cruise lines and their captain must ensure that the weather is safe enough for passengers to travel in a tender boat for shore excursions.
Height Differences
Another major reason for cruise ship tender boat accidents is the unsafe differences in height when embarking or disembarking tender boats.
Untrained Crew Members
A cruise line loading many passengers into a tender boat could create a chaotic situation. However, crew members should ensure that passengers board the tender boat in a civilized and systematic manner to reduce the risk of accidents.
Lack of training during a chaotic situation can cause fall accidents, putting passengers at risk of injuries.
Common Cruise Ship Tender Boat Injuries
Tender boat injuries are similar to cruise ship injuries, and some of them include the following:
- Concussion
- Head and brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cuts and bruises
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Tendon and ligament tears
- Crush injuries.
Depending on the sustained injuries, the victim may face medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that can seriously affect their financial position.
Speaking to an attorney can help them understand their rights as injured victims and their legal options.
Can You Sue a Cruise Line for Tender Boat Injuries?
The law pertaining to tender boats may vary depending on certain factors, including the ownership of the tender boats and the relationship between the cruise line and the tender boat operator.
Major cruise lines often invest in and operate tender boats. However, in some cases, they may outsource the operations to third-party companies.
When a passenger suffers injuries on a tender boat, they may want to file a personal injury claim to recover compensation. However, the challenge for injured victims arises in determining the ownership of tender boats and, if a third-party operator owns the tender boat, whether they have a track record for safety.
The cruise line is responsible for ensuring their passengers are safe, whether on the cruise ship or the tender boat. Even if the operator of a tender boat is a third-party company, the cruise line must select and outsource tender boat operations to companies with a good safety record.
Negligent selections can create grounds for legal liability, and injured passengers may be able to sue the cruise line for their injuries. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can help determine the negligent party and hold them responsible for your loss.
What You Should Do If You Get into a Cruise Ship Tender Boat Accident
When you suffer injuries during a tender boat accident, you must collect as much evidence at the scene of the accident to help strengthen your tender boat accident claim.
Photograph the location of the incident and any injuries sustained. You should also take the contact details of any potential witnesses, as they may help give a witness statement that can bolster your case.
You also need to report the incident to the captain, who is required to report it further to the necessary authorities. Make sure to take a copy of the accident report.
After an accident, it is essential to seek medical attention. A doctor will be better able to guide you on your injuries and any medical treatment required following a thorough medical examination.
It is also a great idea to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney and discuss your injuries with them. A cruise ship injury lawyer will help determine your legal options and guide you on the next step you should take.
Do You Need Cruise Ship Tender Boat Accident Attorneys?
Handling a cruise line and pursuing a personal injury claim against them is far more challenging than filing a lawsuit against the insurance company for injuries from a car accident.
Cruise lines deny all legal responsibilities for accidents on their cruise ships and have attorneys to represent them whenever injured passengers decide to bring injury claims.
Even today, the cruise industry remains unregulated, and maritime laws are complex. An experienced cruise ship accident attorney can help assess these cases and the laws surrounding tender boat accidents.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Top Notch Cruise Ship Tender Boat Accident Lawyer Today
If you suffered injuries in a cruise ship tender boat accident, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation, as you may be able to seek compensation. Our experienced cruise ship tender boat accident attorneys will investigate your case and hold the cruise company or the third-party operator responsible for your personal injury.
