Ferry Passenger Injury Claims

How Ferry Passenger Injuries Happen

Millions of passengers rely on ferries to cross rivers, bays, harbors, and other waterways. Although most trips are routine, passengers can be seriously injured when something goes wrong aboard the vessel.

A ferry may collide with another vessel, strike a dock, stop unexpectedly, or experience a mechanical problem. Passengers can also be injured while walking through the vessel, using stairways, or boarding and leaving the ferry. Common causes of ferry passenger injuries may include:

• Collisions or docking accidents
• Sudden stops or unexpected vessel movement
• Wet or slippery walking surfaces
• Unsafe stairs, ramps, or railings
• Mechanical or steering failures
• Inadequate vessel maintenance
• Poorly secured objects
• Overcrowding or unsafe passenger areas
• Crew or operator negligence

Serious ferry accidents can involve issues with vessel controls, navigation, maintenance, crew decisions, and other operational or safety problems.

Boarding and Leaving a Ferry

Passengers can be injured before the ferry ever leaves the terminal.

Ferry boarding may involve ramps, gangways, stairs, docks, and moving between surfaces that can shift with tides or vessel movement. Wet conditions can make these areas even more difficult to navigate. Potential hazards may include:

• Slippery ramps or decks
• Uneven boarding surfaces
• Missing or damaged handrails
• Excessive gaps between the vessel and dock
• Sudden vessel movement
• Inadequate lighting
• Unsafe boarding procedures

An investigation may consider whether the operator properly maintained the boarding area, warned passengers about dangerous conditions, and provided appropriate assistance when necessary.

Responsibility for a Ferry Passenger Injury

Ferry operators and vessel owners may be responsible when negligence or certain vessel defects contribute to passenger injuries. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• The ferry operator
• The vessel owner
• The captain or crew
• A maintenance or repair company
• A manufacturer of defective equipment
• A public or private entity responsible for a terminal or dock

More than one party may potentially share responsibility.

For example, a ferry operator may fail to properly respond to a mechanical problem while a defective vessel component also contributes to an accident.

Determining responsibility may require examining the vessel's operation, maintenance history, crew actions, and the conditions at the time of the incident.

Evidence After a Ferry Accident

Evidence can help explain what happened and whether unsafe conditions or negligent operation contributed to an injury. Potentially important evidence may include:

• Photographs, videos, and vessel surveillance footage
• Witness statements
• Incident and accident reports
• GPS, navigation, or vessel data
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Crew and operating records
• Coast Guard or law enforcement reports
• Medical records

Reporting the accident to ferry personnel can also help create a record of the incident. When possible, passengers should document the location and condition that contributed to the injury before it changes or is repaired.

Compensation After a Ferry Passenger Injury

Ferry accidents can cause broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, cuts, drowning-related injuries, and other serious harm. Depending on the circumstances, an injured passenger may be able to pursue compensation for losses such as:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Other accident-related losses

Fatal ferry accidents may also give eligible family members or the person's estate grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim depending on the circumstances and applicable law.

Morgan & Morgan May Be Able to Help

A ferry accident can involve questions about vessel operation, maintenance, crew conduct, docking procedures, and the condition of passenger areas.

Morgan & Morgan's maritime accident attorneys can investigate what happened, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and fight for the compensation you may deserve.

Contact Morgan & Morgan for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. With The Fee is Free®, you pay nothing unless we win your case.