No one plans for their summer vacation or holiday event to end with a catastrophic injury or death but that’s precisely what happens to countless Americans every year. Just think about how many people are killed or injured during traffic accidents on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day combined. That’s not counting other things that may go wrong while traveling within the United States or abroad.
Besides traffic accidents, the list of other situations that may give rise to catastrophic injuries and death includes, but doesn’t end with:
- Sports Participation or Observation Accidents (e.g. Stadium Collapse)
- Watercraft Related Accidents (e.g. Boat Crashes)
- Aviation Disasters (e.g. Plane Crashes or Explosions)
- Accidental Drowning (e.g. Pool, Lake or Cruise Ship)
- Hijackings and Assaults on Foreign or Domestic Soil
- Special Event Disasters (e.g. Crushed by Crowds or Burnt by Fireworks)
- Wild Animal Encounters (e.g. Zoo Animal Mauling)
- Amusement Ride Failure (e.g. Rollercoaster Fall)
- Infectious Diseases or Medical Disasters (e.g. Measles at Disney)
Consequently, what starts out as a happy, inexpensive day at the beach or other vacation destination could end tragically. Furthermore, the catastrophic injury or death could cause long-range problems for many of the people connected to the heart-breaking situation. For example, let’s assume that a family signs up for a cruise.
While on board, they become stricken with a ship borne illness that causes dehydration, dizziness, loss of muscle control and delirium. The symptoms cause one of the children to become so dehydrated and confused that a fall from the upper balcony occurs. Upon impact with the deck below, the child experiences catastrophic injuries and later dies. As a result, the family experiences mental anguish and must pay for their child’s funeral.
In such instances, an attorney may be able to hold the cruise line accountable for the disaster and help the family pursue restitution. To learn more about what to do in the event that a catastrophic injury or wrongful death occurs during a summer vacation, please contact us today.
