Cruise ships come with multiple rides and attractions all meant to provide fun and entertainment for passengers onboard. However, sometimes a ride that is meant to be fun can cause serious injuries.
The FlowRider is one of those attractions offered by many cruise companies, including Royal Caribbean. The FlowRider is a surfing simulator. The ride creates waves formed by water that can travel up to 40 mph to simulate the flow of ocean water. The FlowRider is normally offered as a free attraction and often draws quite a crowd of passengers who watch while riders surf the waves.
Royal Caribbean requires all passengers sign a waiver of liability before getting on the FlowRider. This waiver (a document known as the Onboard Activity Waiver Express Assumption of Risk — Waiver Release of Liability) includes standard language that says the rider accepts any risk of accident or injury as their own responsibility. While many courts uphold these waivers and dismiss the injured party’s lawsuit, the waiver does not necessarily mean the injured rider is completely barred from seeking damages. Ultimately, it depends on the circumstances and how the injury occurred as to whether Royal Caribbean can be held liable, despite the waiver.
The liability waiver is meant to protect Royal Caribbean from lawsuits if a passenger is injured while on the FlowRider. At Aronfeld Trial Lawyers, our experienced maritime personal injury attorneys know how to deal with the major cruise lines, and what protections passengers have even if they have signed these waivers.
Some of the more common injuries sustained on the FlowRider include contusions, sprains, broken bones, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and even drownings. The very fact the waiver exists should raise red flag indicating that the cruise company is aware there is a distinct chance of riders getting injured.
Royal Caribbean has a duty to all its passengers to provide safe activities while they onboard their ships. Additionally, Royal Caribbean must ensure that all crew members and instructors are properly trained before supervising these rides and activities. Once the rides are installed, they must regularly be tested and inspected to ensure that they are safe for public enjoyment.
If someone is injured due to the ride malfunctioning due to lack of maintenance, that injured party may have a successful legal case against the cruise line, regardless of the waiver. Similarly, if a passenger is injured due to the FlowRider instructors not receiving proper instruction for their job before the accident occurred, he or she may still have a cause of action against Royal Caribbean.
Do You Need an Attorney If You Are Hurt on a FlowRider?
If you have been injured while on the FlowRider on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it is important to contact an experienced FlowRider accident attorney immediately. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a large company that employs a team of experienced and aggressive attorneys to defend claims from passengers who are injured while on their cruise ships. We are passionate about holding Royal Caribbean International accountable when they put their corporate profits ahead of passenger safety. We obtained a 2/3 of a million dollar judgement for a Royal Caribbean passenger who sustained an ice skating injury onboard Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Sea.
Most cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Costa, Regents Seven Seas and Oceania require that claims against them be pursued in a very specific place under very strict deadlines. Failure to comply with each individual cruise lines deadlines can result in a complete loss of any and all legal rights.
If you have been injured aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship whether it be on a FlowRider or anywhere else on the ship, it is important to contact our office immediately. Important data on the ship such as CCTV footage, witness statements, maintenance and inspection logs, and crewmember records will be needed to understand how and why an injury occurred. Contact us TODAY to schedule a free consultation or Chat with us LIVE and let our decades of experience help protect your legal rights and compensate you for your injuries and expenses.
