Cruise Ship Wave Pools + Surfing Simulators Injury Lawyer
Surfing simulators and wave pools that allow surfing are common features on cruise ships today. These rides could be fun for adults and children alike, but they are often far more dangerous than they appear. Riders can be seriously injured if the ride attendants are negligent or if there were not proper warnings about the dangers of the surfing simulator. Regular wave pools can even be dangerous, especially for small children or people with disabilities.
If you or a loved one was injured in a wave pool, a surfing simulator, or some other kind of pool on a cruise ship, you could be entitled to financial compensation from the negligent parties, including the cruise company. For a free legal consultation on your case, call the lawyers for cruise ship wave pool and surfing simulator accidents at Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind, P.A. at (866) 386-1762.
Accidents Involving Wave Pools or Surfing Rides on a Cruise Ship
Wave pools are designed to put out waves that are somewhat gentle and allow people in the pool to feel like they are on the beach. While these kinds of standard wave pools are usually somewhat safe, malfunctions can cause waves to be excessively large. Water intake grates can also have a lot of suction to draw in water, which could potentially get a person stuck to the grate. This can hold them underwater, which could lead to drowning injuries if they are not helped. If their mouth or anus is pressed against the gate, the suction can cause very severe injuries that might require hospitalization and could cause serious internal damage or even death. Wave pool swimmers can also be injured by other people in the pool, which is especially common for swimmers with disabilities or young children.
Other problems occur with wave pools specifically designed for surfing or boogie boarding. In these pools, such as Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider, a constant stream of water is pushed backwards to create a water surface that functions more like a large surfing wave. Most of these pools are designed to be used by one person at a time, so injuries do not typically occur because of riders crashing into each other. However, riders could still crash into the sides or walls of the pool or be injured by interference from one of the ride’s attendants or someone standing near the side of the pool. Some surfing simulators are split so that multiple riders can use the machine at once, but the barrier between sides of the ride may be made of thin material that might not stop riders from hopping the barrier or colliding into a rider on the other side.
Injuries can occur in many ways on these rides. Injuries from falling could cause broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, concussions, traumatic brain injury, and back, neck, and spine injuries. These injuries could vary greatly in severity, but they do have the potential to be life-altering or even deadly. Whether riders use surfboards, boogie boards, or other devices, their ride usually ends in a fall. Some riders may be able to control the board well enough to end the ride in the starting area, but most riders will eventually bail or fall to end their ride. Although the bottom of the ride is often padded under the water, riders could still be seriously injured in a bad fall.
Suing Cruise Ships for Injuries on Shipboard Water Rides
If you were hurt on a ride on a cruise ship, you may be entitled to sue the cruise ship and the cruise company for the effects of the injury. Although your passenger ticket and the rules surrounding wave riding pools and surfing rides might say that many of these activities are done “at your own risk,” these kinds of waivers and warnings might not fully capture the risks of the ride. This means that these waivers and warnings might not be sufficient to actually warn you of the risks, and you might still be entitled to sue for injuries.
Injuries are typically caused by either the conditions of the ride and the board you are given, or they are caused by mistakes and negligence on the part of the ride attendant. If a structural weakness in the board caused your injuries or you were hurt by a malfunction with the ride equipment or damage to the ride, you may be entitled to sue the cruise ship for allowing you to ride on equipment they should have known was unsafe. If the injuries you faced were caused by an attendant’s negligence, you might be able to sue the cruise ship in their capacity as the attendant’s employer.
Other negligent acts and omissions aboard the ship could have also contributed to the harm you suffered. For instance, if the ship’s medical team failed to properly diagnose an injury or transport you for additional medical assistance at a hospital, your injuries could have gotten worse. This might entitle you to damages for the increased harm.
Ultimately, a lawsuit against a negligent cruise ship should result in compensation for all of the harms you faced from the injury. This commonly includes the cost of medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering caused by the injury as well as the cost of medical transportation, a ride back home, and other damages you faced. Talk to a lawyer for help understanding what your case might be worth
Call Our Cruise Ship Injury Attorney for Wave Pool, Surfing, and Boogie Boarding Injuries to Schedule a Free Case Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured on a FlowRider surf machine or a similar wave pool or surfing simulator on a cruise ship, call our maritime injury lawyers today. Our lawyers represent victims of injuries in wave pools, surfing simulators, and other attractions on board a ship, and we fight to get them financial compensation for their injuries. To schedule a free case consultation with our cruise ship wave pool and surfing simulator accident lawyers, call Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind today at (866) 386-1762.
