Thousands of passengers and crew on the cruise ship Carnival Triumph finally debarked, after spending five days in what passengers described as toxic conditions, reported CNN. Passengers will likely want to sue, said Indianapolis personal injury lawyer, Randy Sevenish.
Passengers of the ship claimed they were left with cabins in total darkness, non-functional toilets, sweltering temperatures, raw sewage and long waits for food, CNN said.
“Those conditions sound horrific and worthy of significant compensation. But it’s tough to sue a cruise line for a number of reasons. One of the cruise line ticket conditions is that class action lawsuits are not allowed. A number of allegations are also excluded by the terms and conditions of the ticket,” said Sevenish.
“However, passengers can sue if they suffered real physical injuries,” he added. “For example, if a person broke a leg in a slip-and-fall accident in the darkness.”
The possibility also exists for passengers to sue over physical illnesses, like the ones caused by Noroviruses.
Emotional distress claims are barred by the ticket.
The Triumph was left adrift off Mexico’s Pacific coast after a fire in an engine room. The ship was in its third day of a scheduled four-day cruise from Galveston, Texas to Mexico when the accident occurred, according to CNN.
The investigation into what went wrong started on Sunday, as soon as the fire was reported, Patrick Cuty, a senior marine investigator for the U.S. Coast Guard, said on CNN. Allegedly, the Triumph had similar mechanical troubles that delayed a cruise in January. The complete probe will take approximately eight to 12 months to complete.
Carnival offered to give each passenger a full refund for the trip, credit for another cruise, $500, and a free flight home, said CNN.
“They deserve more,” Sevenish said. “This doesn’t even take into account the possibility of lost wages.”
If an individual or a loved one has been injured in a cruise ship accident, contact Sevenish Law Firm, at (800) 278-9200.
About Sevenish Law Firm
Sevenish Law Firm, is a law firm that serves clients throughout the Indianapolis, Indiana area, and state-wide for that matter, by providing quality, aggressive and compassionate legal representation for serious injuries caused by a motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle crash, wrongful death and other negligence claims including law enforcement and public safety officers injured in an on-duty or off-duty crash.
Randall Sevenish has represented injury victims since 1985. Before practicing law, Sevenish was a captain in the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. He founded the county’s SWAT team, attended the FBI Academy, and was honored as “Police Officer of the Year” by the City of Indianapolis for his efforts as a police instructor. Law enforcement, as well as his martial arts training and his deep religious faith, shaped his character, and gave Sevenish valuable life and practical skills, well beyond law school, that he employs in seeking aggressive and spirited compensation for his clients.
