Royal Caribbean Cruise from Florida Turns Deadly
A 16-year-old passenger died after falling from a balcony onto a deck on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas ship. According to Royal Caribbean, it is unclear if the fall was intentional although an investigation into the fall is pending.
After the incident, passengers onboard said an announcement was made asking them if they were willing to donate blood early on Saturday morning, leading one to believe that the fall did not instantly kill the teen. The teen was reportedly taken to a hospital and later died due to injuries sustained.
The Allure of the Seas had just started a 3-day voyage at the time the fall occurred. When the incident occurred, the vessel was somewhere between Port Canaveral, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas.
How Common is it for People to Fall Overboard on a Cruise Ship?
Cruise vacations are supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, but unfortunately, accidents can happen, and one of the most serious incidents that can occur is a passenger falling overboard. According to Conde Nast, roughly 90% of overboard cases result in death. Many statistics regarding overboard cases are not made public by cruise lines, and thus the severity of this type of situation might even be more pressing and frequent than currently understood.
Alcohol, foul play, or suicide are the most frequent causes; but often it is simply impossible to discover the truth. Fortunately, technology exists to sound alerts when a passenger goes overboard. These systems called MOB Detection Devices, include motion sensors, thermal detection systems and drones that are designed to alert the ship’s bridge; to stop the ship and immediately deploy search and rescue protocols.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to a cruise ship overboard incident. Some of the most common causes include:
- Slippery or wet decks
- Suicide
- Intoxication or excessive drinking
- Overcrowding on decks or in pools
- Lack of proper safety equipment or barriers
- Poorly maintained ship infrastructure or equipment
- Negligence or recklessness on the part of the cruise ship crew
If somebody you know or love has been involved in a cruise ship fall or overboard incident, it is important to understand your legal rights and options. Throughout thousands of cases, our maritime personal injury attorneys have been able to help injured and deceased passenger families receive compensation for their losses. If you believe that any of these factors contributed to a fall or overboard incident which you are connected to, contact our offices so we can begin the investigative process. Speak with an experienced attorney toll free +1-888-742-0372, local +1-305-770-6553, or by email. We offer a free initial consultation at your home, office, hotel, or hospital. Virtual sign-ups available.
SOURCE:
Royal Caribbean cruise vacation from Florida turns deadly (foxnews.com)
