Man Experiencing Heart Complications Evacuated from Cruise Ship

The Coast Guard recently evacuated a man from a cruise ship south of Washington State near the Columbia River entrance by Warrenton, Oregon. The Coast Guard received notification of a man experiencing heart problems from the Netherlands-flagged, 679-foot boat, and immediately sent a helicopter crew to medevac the gentleman to the nearest station, where EMS was waiting to take him to the hospital. The man’s condition was reported as “unknown” by the Coast Guard at the time of the report.

Accidents and medical emergencies are not uncommon on cruise ships. Recently a worker had to be flown from a cruise ship after she fell and hit her head. If an injury occurs onboard a cruise ship, the cruise ship may be liable for the injury if they were negligent in their duty to exercise reasonable care for their passengers and workers. Negligence by a cruise ship company exists when the cruise liner breaches its duty of reasonable care for passengers and an injury occurred because of this breach. The cruise company is responsible for damages if the costs related to the injury incurred are provided and related to the injury in question.

In Morris v. Princess Cruises, Inc., 236 F.2d 1061 (9th Cir. 2001), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals did not allow recovery for injuries sustained after a passenger was medevaced from the ship. Like the recent headline above, the man suffered from heart conditions and was taken off the ship by a helicopter. The man was taken to a facility in India and died from a heart attack during a surgical procedure. Between his medical evacuation and surgical procedure, several hindrances occurred, including poor care from the initial attending physician, an assault and robbery of his wife at the hotel she stayed at while he was cared for, and a detour to Bombay instead of a flight to Singapore for care. In this case, the cruise ship was not found liable for the passengers death because a significant connection was not made between the cruise ship’s actions and the passenger’s heart condition.

Experienced maritime law attorneys John Merriam and Gordon Webb know what type of proof is needed to show a judge or jury that a cruise ship was negligent and caused the injuries suffered. Evidence can disappear quickly, so photographs of a dilapidated area or statements taken from witnesses of the accident soon after the injury-causing event can help show what really happened. Lawuits are often required by the ticket contract to be filed within a certain time period, so quick action is necessary after an injured passenger disembarks from the boat.

If you have been injured while a passenger on a cruise ship, the Washington maritime and admiralty lawyers, John Merriam and Gordon Webb, can assist you with your cruise ship passenger injury claim. They have over 50 years of combined experience negotiating and litigating maritime law cases, and are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. For a free, confidential consultation, call 877.800.1007 today.