If you have recently traveled on a fantastic cruise only to become violently ill, chances are that you contracted a virus while on your trip. Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence on cruise ships. If you believe your illness was due to the negligence of the cruise line, you may be able to make a case against them and recoup damages. The following will need to be proven to ensure you have a strong case:
Did Other Cruisers Become Ill?
If you are sick enough to visit the cruise hospital, look around you to see of there are others that are exhibiting similar symptoms as you. If they are suffering from nausea, stomach issues, or anything that is significant of a stomach virus. You may even want to strike up a conversation with the other patients in the hospital and compare symptoms. It is possible that you can develop a pattern of events to help determine the source of your illness.
Did You Notice Excessive Cleaning Around The Ship?
As you are able to get around, take note of any excessive cleaning that is taking place outside of regular maintenance. Extra use of disinfectants, bleach, or other chemicals used to kill germs may be a clue that an illness is going around. Also, look at the housekeeping and maintenance staff. If they are wearing protective gear such as masks or heavy duty cleaning gloves, that could also signify an outbreak of a virus. While some employees typically wear gloves or masks because they are sensitive to cleaning products, not all people do so during routine cleaning. Seeing a lot of precautions is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Did You Hear Announcements About Health Risks?
If there is an outbreak of a contagious virus on the ship, the cruise director will typically make an announcement about it. Any good cruise line will keep passengers aware of an illness that is present on the ship. If you hear any warnings regarding an illness or about precautions you should be taking, this is a really good piece of evidence to have for your case. You may want to record it with your phone in order to add it to your evidence.
If you are considering a lawsuit against a cruise line, make sure to contact your attorney (such as one from Dennis M. Walters, PC) as soon as you possibly can. These types of claims have a very short statute of limitations, though this will vary between states. Be sure to discuss the case with the lawyer as soon as you get home.
Share17 May 2016
When I sued a product manufacturer after a disfiguring accident, I never expected to actually go to court. I assumed that the case would eventually be settled, like most personal injury cases are. To my surprise, they wouldn't budge, and we ended up having to go all the way to court. I was pretty nervous about testifying, but I had a great attorney that prepared me well, and everything went smoothly. In the end, the jury saw things my way. I realized that I probably wasn't the only person to ever experience an unexpected day in court, and that's how I got the idea to start this blog. If you're looking for tips to help you prepare or wondering what to expect when you go to court for a lawsuit, this blog contains important information for you.
