Defective Ship Equipment

While cruise ships offer a multitude of activities and entertainment options, the technology that facilitates the cruise experience can be subject to defects and malfunctions that endanger the safety of passengers. Even if all members of the cruise staff perform their function properly, travel on the seas and navigable waterways can be hazardous. When ship equipment is defective, inadequately maintained, or improperly operated, passengers and crew members can suffer serious injuries. Our experienced Miami cruise line injury lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. focus a significant portion of our law practice on cruise injuries, so we have the expertise and knowledge to handle cruise accidents caused by defective ship equipment.

Our Florida maritime attorneys represent both passengers and seaman who suffer injuries.There are many types of defective equipment that can cause injury to cruise ship patrons and crew, including defective sliding glass doors, malfunctioning elevators, escalators, faulty recreational equipment, improperly stored equipment, and other defective products. When you are injured by defective equipment while traveling on a cruise ship, embarking, or disembarking, you might have a claim for legal compensation.

Equipment on a cruise ship can be defective if it has significant design, construction, or composition defects. If the product comes with inadequate warnings, this deficiency also can provide the basis for a legal claim against the cruise line opertator.

Passengers also might have a right to pursue a legal claim against the cruise line. The nature of the claim might differ depending on whether the equipment caused injury because it was improperly stowed or used incorrectly by the crew as opposed to the non-conforming nature of the equipment. Our cruise ship attorneys possess the expertise and experience to navigate the special challenges in these cases, such as the manufacturer and cruise line each blaming the injury on the other party.

Injured maritime workers on cruise ships can also pursue claims for injuries from defective equipment under the Jones Act. As a general rule, maritime law imposes strict liability on owners and operator of cruise lines for injuries to seamen caused by malfunctioning equipment. Cases involving injuries to workers on cruise ships can be complicated because the manufacturer might argue the equipment only malfunctioned because of the failure of cruise line employees to perform necessary maintenance.

If you are a passenger or employee of a cruise line who suffers injury caused by defective equipment, we invite you to call the experienced Florida cruise ship accident attorneys at Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. at (877) 475-2905.