Gangway Accident Injury

What is the Gangway?

The Gangway is the bridge passengers and crew use to embark and disembark a cruise ship. The gangway connects the vessel to land, and is an essential and frequented part of any cruise ship journey across the major lines. Gangways come in many shapes and sizes; some can be very large and steep while others are shorter passages with a greater angle. According to Cruise Critic, Gangways are often made of fiberglass, steel and aluminum.

Why Are Gangways Dangerous?

According to the Mariner Safety Research Initiative, thousands of gangway related injuries take place every year across major cruise lines. Gangways are much more dangerous than many people realize. Oftentimes, Gangways are not sturdy enough for passengers to safely traverse, resulting in slips, trips and injury-causing falls. The gangway might also be wet from the ocean and lack sufficient traction for passengers looking to steadily walk across. The angle of the gangway also makes it rather difficult for passengers to safely use, as they are often at a steeper incline than regular land bridges or anything found on the ship. 

Gangways are also notoriously dangerous for the assemblers, as constructing the passageway is a very difficult job and cases of serious injuries are frequent in the process. The most common types of gangway related injuries and accidents are: 

  • Drowning
  • Slipping 
  • Head Trauma
  • Fractured bones 
  • Torn ligaments 
  • Death

What Should I Do If I Am Injured On A Gangway?

Cruise Lines such as Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their gangways. Cruise lines are not only in charge with the security of their passengers on the ship, but also have a legal duty to maintain and protect their passengers around the ship as well. Although injuries can happen anywhere, and especially on gangways, there is still a strong chance that the accident could have been avoided if the proper maintenance was practiced. 

How We Can Help

Aronfeld Trial Lawyers has been successfully representing injured Cruise Ship passengers for over 30 years, and has brought many victims of cruise ship negligence the justice and compensation they deserve. If you or somebody you know has been involved in an accident that took place on a gangway, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact our office today so we can begin the fight for you!

truck

Truck Accident

We focus on helping those who have been catastrophically injured in truck accidents throughout the State of Florida.

motorcycle crash

Motorcycle Accident

Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in representing families of people injured and killed across the State of Florida in motorcycle accidents.

pedestrian

Pedestrian Accident

Our pedestrian accident lawyers are familiar with Florida’s pedestrian traffic regulations and are experienced in the representation of injured pedestrians and their families..

car

Car/Auto Accident

We are Miami’s best car accident attorney firm. We have over 30 years experience fighiting insurance companies on behalf of accident injury victims

Miami-based Aronfeld Trial Lawyers was established by Board Certified Trial Lawyer, Spencer Aronfeld in 1991. The firm represents cases resulting in serious injuries in the areas of Defective Product Liability, Maritime Law, Automobile AccidentsPremises LiabilityCycling AccidentsSlip and Fall IncidentsWrongful DeathMedical and Dental Malpractice, Civil Rights Claims, Workplace InjuriesSexual Assault, and others. Every client receives the full benefit of our experience, our resources, and our commitment. The practice of personal injury law is our calling. We are a firm of high-profile, nationally recognized legal advocates who work for you, our client, never big business. All attorneys and staff members at the firm are bilingual speaking Spanish. To learn more, visit https://www.aronfeld.com/ or contact Aronfeld Trial Lawyers directly at (305) 441-0440.