Shore Excursion Accidents

Cruises are not just traveling by sea on a floating city. It is also about going to other countries and enrichment through fun local excursions that cruise passengers purchase from cruise lines, either on their website prior to boarding the cruise, or on the ship itself after the cruise has commenced.

Leesfield & Partners has represented many passengers who were injured on their way to, or during a shore excursion. The activities can seem harmless at first, but in the hands of improperly vetted contractors or inadequately trained employees, many accidents occur, often with catastrophic consequences.

More and more often now cruise lines are held responsible for their “independent contractors”’ liability in causing or contributing to a cruise passenger’s injuries. Our cruise excursion lawyers have handled claims where cruise passengers were injured parasailing. Unbeknownst to our clients, the boat operator was unlicensed, and the parasail equipment was inadequate for parasailing. When the equipment failed midflight, it caused irreperable harm to two families having to grief for one, and live with a paralyzed family member for the other.

In catastrophic shore excursion cases, Leesfield & Partners has been successful in bringing justice to affected victims and families of a lost one. When a shore excursion is booked, passengers expect that their safety is of the utmost importance to the cruise line. Sadly, that is not always the case.

Typically, the cruise ship will dock in an exotic location. Passengers will disembark the ship and are likely to immediately embark on another vehicle, like a tender, a bus, a car, moped, etc. Passengers expect the excursions they have paid for directly to the cruise line is safe and “vetted” by the cruise line. In almost all shore excursion injury cases, it is discovered that the cruise line failed to vet the shore excursion. Unmistakably, the results are catastrophic.

Extensive experience in handling shore excursion cases is the main difference between a successful resolution and a defense verdict. The maritime attorneys at Leesfield & Partners have represented many families who were injured on shore excursions. If you need to discuss whether your shore excursion incident requires our assistance, call us at 1-800-836-6400.