Italy Cruise Ship Accident, Florida Families Were on Board

The Washington Post is reporting that some Americans  are among the missing 16 passengers of a cruise ship which capsized off the west coast of Italy last Friday. Italian prosecutors are currently investigating the cause of the cruise ship accident and the Costa Concordia cruise ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, for manslaughter. Other reports claim that the ship’s, which is owned by Carnival Corporation of Miami, captain could be guilty of “significant human error”.  The Costa Concordia cruise shipwreck, which is also being dubbed the Italian Titanic, is being considered one of the worst cruise shipwreck disasters in recent cruise ship industry history.

Our Florida cruise accident attorneys recognize that in any situation accidents could happen. You could be driving on a highway when suddenly a distracted driver crashes into your vehicle, or you could be jogging one morning when you are bitten by a dog. The same is true when one is on vacation overseas.  This news is very devastating.  However, in an industry that has frequent travelers or maximum capacity utilization rates on an annual basis, such as the cruise ship industry, it is very likely that some form of accident will sometimes occur. In 2010, the cruise ship industry had a utilization capacity of 100 percent. 


But, what is outrageous in this specific case and similar circumstances is when the captain causes the accident to occur because of his or her poor judgment. Other sources are reporting that the captain deviated from the computerized course to show off his $450 million boat when it struck a rocky reef. The boat was carrying 4,200 passenger and crew members. The current death toll is 6, and 16 remain missing.

Moreover, our Fort Lauderdale boating accident lawyers question how much safety information and training that crew members receive. Further, how much flexibility does a Captain have in deciding whether or not to alter a route? These are troubling issues which need to be addressed and it is possible that the answers to these questions may come by the way of a personal injury lawsuit filing.

Despite this cruise ship accident happening in Italy, it also is relative to Fort Lauderdale cruise ship industry. In 2010, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Port Canaveral were among the top five departure ports. Also, last year, Fort Lauderdale,was the home port for the Royal Caribbean’s new 5,400 passenger ships. And given these statistics, as reported by the United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, it is pertinent that crew members, including captains have the sufficient training and supervision necessary to avoid preventable accidents such as this recent tragedy.

It is our hope that all the missing 16 members of the Costa Concordia are found alive and well. Also, our attorneys are here to answer any questions for passengers or for a loved one who was injured on a cruise ship accident. We are Fort Lauderdale cruise accident lawyers who understand and know admiralty and maritime law.  We will discuss and advise you of any legal issues or potential claims relative to your particular circumstance.

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