How Many Crew Members Die on Cruise Ships Each Year?
Almost any accident on a cruise ship could turn fatal, and crew members are vulnerable to life-threatening injuries when working on cruise ships. While the exact number of crew members who die on cruise ships annually is unknown, deaths most often happen because of falls, assaults, car accidents, and illnesses.
Falls overboard are frequently fatal, as are falls onto lower decks that end in traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. Crew members may be at a higher risk of fatal injuries than passengers, due to the nature of their work on a cruise ship. Suppose your family member recently died due to negligence as a cruise ship crew member. In that case, you may be able to get compensation with our lawyers’ help.
Get the free case evaluation you need from Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind by calling our cruise ship wrongful death lawyers at (305) 204-5369.
How Often Do Crew Members Die on Cruise Ships?
Under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, ships that make port in the United States must report suspicious deaths and homicides only to the FBI, so it is difficult to know the exact number of crew member deaths for any cause, such as negligence.
Working on a cruise ship is a relatively dangerous job. Crew members spend more time on cruise ships than passengers and are more likely to be in hazardous areas of vessels, like galley areas.
Certain crew responsibilities are more dangerous than others and put members at a higher risk of death or serious injury, such as going on land excursions or working in the engine room.
If your loved one died while working on a cruise, you should see if their death was due to negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, enabling you to recover damages in a wrongful death claim if you are the victim’s surviving spouse, child, or parent.
What Are the Top Causes of Cruise Ship Crew Member Deaths?
In addition to natural causes, some of the top causes of crew member deaths are due to some form of negligence or intentional conduct, often creating liability for the cruise ship company.
Falls
Falls onto lower decks and overboard are a top cause of death for everyone aboard a cruise ship, passengers and crew alike. Falls overboard may lead to disappearances, while falls onto lower decks may lead to immediately fatal traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries for crew members.
Illness
Food-borne illnesses that spread throughout a cruise ship due to negligence or disregard for the safety of crew and passengers can be fatal, as anyone who contracts Salmonella or another serious illness is at risk of death, especially seniors and passengers with pre-existing medical conditions. Cruises can also be liable for fatal illnesses for bad food safety practices in the kitchen or failure to quarantine anyone ill.
Car Accidents
Fatal car accidents occur during land excursions. Crew members may be assigned to oversee a land excursion and suffer deadly injuries in a car crash. The cruise may be liable for a fatal car accident during a land excursion if it was a joint venture or the cruise did not warn participants of the dangerous, among other reasons.
Homicide
Homicides are less common, but still occur on cruises. The cruise ship may be liable for a crew member’s death due to homicide if negligent security allowed for the individual to board the ship, as well as other reasons.
FAQs About Getting Justice for Crew Members Who Die on Cruise Ships
Can a Crew Member’s Family Sue for a Wrongful Death?
The Jones Act allows the personal representative of a crew member who died due to negligence to sue the cruise ship for the benefit of the victim’s surviving spouse, children, or parents.
What Evidence Proves Liability for a Crew Member’s Death?
The following is evidence our cruise ship wrongful death lawyers may obtain to prove liability for a crew member’s death on a vessel:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Surveillance footage
- Accident reconstruction
- Medical records
How Long Do Survivors Have to Sue for a Crew Member’s Wrongful Death?
The Jones Act gives plaintiffs up to three years to sue for a crew member’s death aboard a cruise ship, but know that you may have to send the cruise ship company notice of a claim within six months of the victim’s death.
What Damages Can You Get After a Crew Member Dies on a Cruise Ship?
Eligible beneficiaries can get damages for medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of future financial support, and loss of companionship and other non-economic damages.
Should You Get a Lawyer if a Crew Member Dies on a Cruise Ship?
You should get a lawyer if your loved one died while working as a crew member on a cruise ship and the circumstances surrounding their death are suspicious or unclear, or if you have learned they died due to negligence.
Do Cruise Ships Have to Document Crew Member Deaths?
If a crew member dies on a cruise ship, the cruise must document the incident and alert any relevant authorities, especially if someone is intentionally killed or disappears from the ship completely.
How Many Crew Members Disappear from Cruise Ships Each Year?
It’s unknown exactly how many crew members and passengers go missing from cruise ships each year. However, this is another major risk of working on a cruise.
Disappearances often occur when a crew member falls overboard without anyone witnessing it.
What Medical Records Do You Need for a Cruise Ship Crew Member Wrongful Death Case?
We can get medical records detailing a victim’s treatment if the survived for a short time after a cruise ship accident, and can get autopsy records describing the cause of death.
Call Us to Discuss a Cruise Ship Wrongful Death Claim
Get a free case assessment from Rivkind Margulies & Rivkind when you call our cruise ship lawyers today at (305) 204-5369.
