Miami Lawyer for Cruise Ship Passenger Traumatic Brain Injury

For nearly 60 years, Wolfson & Leon has defended the rights of people badly hurt in cruise ships, automobiles, and other serious accidents. Find out your legal rights when you've been badly injured by calling (305) 285-1115 for your free and confidential consultation.

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury on a cruise operated by Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Discovery, or any other cruise line, you should seek legal advice immediately. While traumatic brain injuries range in severity, serious injuries can result in permanent, even fatal, damage. Knowing what the rules are for filing a claim and what legal rights your family has to recover compensation for medical expenses and lost wages is critical.

A blow to the head during an accident may cause a severe brain injury. A cruise ship passenger who slips and falls on a wet deck or down a flight of stairs may hit their head on a hard object. Passengers could have a traumatic brain injury if they hit their heads in the pool or hot tubs. With many cruise ships offering onboard activities, such as surfing or rock climbing, passengers could hit their heads on a hard surface if they fall. Shore excursions, including horseback riding or boating, could result in head trauma if the person is thrown off the horse or falls out of the boat.

While most cruise ships offer a smooth ride, a sudden directional change or a jolt from a mechanical failure may cause passengers to lose their balance and fall. A fall of this nature could be particularly devastating as a passenger could fall from an extreme height if they were on a staircase or standing near the deck railing.

A fall can result in a traumatic brain injury if the passenger hits their head on the deck, railing, or another hard surface. A penetrating object may also cause extensive damage to the passenger's brain.

Traumatic brain injuries can range in severity. In some cases, the passenger may have a minor concussion that requires only a few days of rest to recover from. In other instances, the injuries could be far more serious. A severe traumatic brain injury may include:

• Skull fractures
• Blood clots
• Bleeding within the brain tissue or into the brain
• Torn tissues
• Contusions or bruises that result in swelling of the brain
• Penetration injuries

A severe head injury results in permanent damage, impacting a person's ability to walk, communicate, or reason. The damage might be so extensive that they can no longer work or care for themselves without assistance. Sadly, traumatic brain injuries can prove to be fatal in some cases.

Even if your accident seems minor, you should always get checked out by the ship's medical personnel when you fall. It could be a few hours, even a few days, before you start to experience symptoms of a head injury. When you wait to get treatment, you run the risk of making the injury worse. And if the damage is more severe than expected, a few days' delays in getting medical help may not work in your favor if you plan to file a claim.

The onboard medical team may not be equipped to handle severe brain injuries. A misdiagnosis or lack of skilled care for a severe brain injury can be devastating. As such, it may be necessary to seek outside medical care immediately.

A severe traumatic brain injury can permanently change your life. If an accident on a cruise ship caused a severe traumatic brain injury for a family member, you need to seek legal advice immediately. Most cruise lines have specific guidelines you must follow to file a claim and strict deadlines. If you don't adhere to these rules closely, you may not receive the compensation needed to pay for your loved one's medical treatment and care or replace lost wages.

If a traumatic brain injury on a cruise ship has impacted your family, you should contact Wolfson & Leon as soon as possible. Our Miami cruise ship accident lawyers take the time to review your case, answer your questions, and talk to you through your legal options. Contact Wolfson & Leon today for your free and confidential case analysis by calling (305) 285-1115.