Crew members can sue cruise lines for negligence. Right now, many lawsuits are pending based on the allegation that some cruise lines in question did not take adequate precautions to protect their workers and passengers from exposure to the coronavirus.
Additionally, crew members are suing cruise lines because:
- They contracted the coronavirus while working on a cruise ship.
- They were not given basic safety equipment, such as masks or gloves, during the course of their time on the cruise ship, per the Miami Herald.
- Social distancing and other forms of virus-related precautions were not properly enforced by cruise ship leadership.
- They were put at risk of harm by a collection of decisions made by cruise ship leaders.
Families of crew members are also suing certain cruise lines, according to TIME. They are alleging that their loved ones were exposed to the virus in their line of work and later died due to coronavirus exposure. If you or a loved one boarded a cruise ship and contracted the coronavirus, you could have the grounds for a lawsuit.
Cruise Lines Are Coming Under Scrutiny
Cruise ships were a focal point of the earliest coronavirus outbreaks impacting the Western world for a variety of different reasons. First, cruise ships are highly contained environments where viruses spread from person-to-person more easily than less densely populated settings. Without taking proper social distancing measures, travelers aboard a cruise ship were placed at a heightened risk of contracting the virus. Additionally, many cruise lines did not provide passengers with masks and gloves, making them even more susceptible to the disease.
Secondly, cruise ships attract an array of passengers from across the globe. Many cruise lines did not bar international travelers from boarding ships, which later put others at an unreasonable risk of harm. The density of passengers on a ship, coupled with international guests, only made traveling conditions more hazardous.
Cruise Lines Are Being Accused of Negligence by News Publications
Many journalists have reported on the conditions aboard various cruise lines, documenting how these organizations disregarded basic safety precautions.
Some of the shortcomings that have emerged through news stories detailing cruise ship coronavirus outbreaks include:
- Failing to alert passengers to the possible or confirmed presence of coronavirus onboard a ship as soon as it was suspected or known, as was the case on Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess, per USA Today
- Intentionally downplaying the risk of being infected with coronavirus to passengers who may have had second thoughts about boarding a cruise ship, according to the Tampa Bay Times
- Failing to properly sanitize vessels during a time when coronavirus cases were emerging, reports USA Today
While some passengers on cruise ships were ordered to stay in their rooms, crew members may not have been granted this option.
Cruise Ship Crew Members Were Put at Risk
While everybody on a cruise ship exposed to the coronavirus may have had their health put at risk, many crew members had a uniquely traumatic experience.
According to findings from The Guardian, at least 50 cruise ships’ crew members were put at serious risk because of:
- Crews working under strenuous conditions in fear of losing their job
- A lack of necessary safety gear, such as gloves and masks
- A mandate that crew members must remain quarantined on a ship, even after it had docked, potentially putting them at prolonged risk of coronavirus exposure
If you are a crew member who worked on a ship infected with coronavirus, then you could sue the cruise line for negligence.
Crews Can Sue Cruise Lines for Negligence
If you were a crew member on a coronavirus-affected cruise ship, then you could have suffered various losses, including those to your physical health and financial stability. In these situations, as hopeless as it may seem, you have legal options. You could file a lawsuit against the cruise line in an independent lawsuit, or you could join one of any evolving mass torts. If your case is successful, you may be able to receive financial recovery for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
In the event that you lost a loved one who boarded a coronavirus-affected cruise ship, if you qualify, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Proceeds from a successful case could cover the cost of their funeral expenses and various end-of-life costs.
Call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Today
At Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, we have been personally affected by the negligence of cruise lines in response to the coronavirus. We believe that any organization that places profits over people should be held responsible for their negligent practices.
To get started with a free consultation, call Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers today at (855) 529-0269.
