FLOWRIDER ACCIDENTS ON CRUISE SHIPS
Hurt on the FlowRider? Find out if the ship kept you safe.
The FlowRider sends a fast sheet of water over a sloped surface so guests can surf or bodyboard at sea, and a fall can cause serious head, neck and back injuries. If the training, rules, padding or supervision fell short, however, the cruise line may have to answer for it, and a signed waiver does not always end a claim. Because crew and cameras watch the ride, early action can matter.
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice. So the clock started the day you were hurt.
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Results
- $150KCarnival · passenger accident
- $80KRoyal · slip & fall
- $35KRoyal · slip & fall
- $100KHolland America · slip & fall
- $38KMSC · slip & fall
- $70KCarnival · slip & fall on deck
HOW FLOWRIDER ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
A surf simulator is an extreme sport, and a fall comes fast.
The FlowRider pushes thousands of gallons of water per minute over a sloped surface, so a rider can lose balance and fall with no warning. Because a fall can send a rider forward, backward or into the sides, the way the ride is run matters as much as the rider’s skill.
A cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care. For example, a case may look at the instructions riders were given, how the crew screened and supervised them, how the equipment was kept up, and how well the landing areas were padded. In addition, camera footage, ride logs and earlier injury reports can show what the line knew and when.
Head & neck injuries
Falls that cause concussions, neck fractures or spinal damage.
Weak safety instructions
Rushed briefings, unclear rules or poor language support.
Thin supervision
Too few attendants, or riders sent out without proper checks.
Wrongly matched riders
Skill, size or age limits that were not checked or enforced.
Limited padding
Landing and recovery areas where riders fall or slide to a stop.
Equipment & upkeep problems
Worn surfaces, barriers or pumps that were not inspected.
Crowds & rushed turns
Long lines that push staff to move riders along quickly.
Slow emergency response
Delays in stopping the ride or in getting medical help.
Anywhere else around the ride
Stairs, wet decks and queues. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
The ride was not run safely.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes passengers reasonable care under the circumstances. In a FlowRider case, that can mean showing the line did not train, supervise or equip the ride as it reasonably should have, or knew of the risks, such as earlier injuries, and did not act. A signed waiver is often raised, but it does not always end a claim, and federal law limits how far a cruise line can go in escaping responsibility for its own negligence.
A failure of care
Weak training, thin supervision, limited padding or poor upkeep.
Notice of the risk
Earlier injuries, reports or warnings the line knew about and did not act on.
Injury and loss
Medical records, ongoing care, lost income and the trip itself.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A FLOWRIDER INJURY
The ship records the ride, so act quickly.
Get medical care right away
Head and neck injuries can show up later, so get checked even if you feel fine. Keep every bill and record.
Report it and ask for the report
Tell the attendants and guest services, then ask for a copy of the incident report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Save your waiver and photos
Keep any waiver, wristband or confirmation, and take photos or video of the ride and your injuries.
Get names
Collect names for the attendants, the instructor and guests who watched.
Keep your ticket and folio
Your ticket sets the deadlines and the court. Save your folio and messages from the cruise line too.
Call a Cruise Injury Attorney
Camera footage and ride logs can be overwritten. We can send a written request that they be preserved.
FLOWRIDER ACCIDENT RESULTS
All results[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real FlowRider case the firm handled.
[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real FlowRider case the firm handled.
[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real FlowRider case the firm handled.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
“Sylvia was a pleasure to work with. She answered any questions I had and was patient and kind to me. She is an asset to the company and anyone who has the pleasure of working with her, is lucky.”
“Mr.Chalik was extremely responsive and professional. His office kept us well informed as things progressed. He showed true concern about the status of my wife’s recovery from her injury. I highly recommend his firm and feel very comfortable in suggesting them when asked for recommendations.”
QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Can I sue a cruise line for a FlowRider injury?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example with weak training, thin supervision or limited padding. However, the ticket can limit where and when you can file. For that reason, a free case review is the quickest way to learn where you stand.
I signed a waiver before riding. Does that stop me?
Not necessarily. A signed waiver is often raised as a defense, but it does not always end a claim, and federal law limits how far a cruise line can go in escaping responsibility for its own negligence. Because the details matter, please keep your copy and call us before you assume anything.
What injuries can a FlowRider fall cause?
Falls can cause concussions, neck and back fractures, spinal injuries, torn ligaments and broken bones, and some effects show up days later. A doctor visit matters even if you feel fine. Because medical records help show what the fall caused, please keep every one.
Which cruise lines have a FlowRider?
It is best known on Royal Caribbean ships, where it is found on many of them. Whichever line runs the ride on your ship, the same ticket-contract deadlines apply. Since ship lists change, we look at your own sailing and your own ticket.
My child was hurt on the FlowRider. Does anything change?
It can. Claims for children can follow different rules from claims for adults, so please call us even if time seems to have passed. In the meantime, keep your child’s medical records, any waiver a parent signed and your booking.
How long do I have to file a FlowRider injury claim?
Most cruise tickets give you one year to file, and often six months to give written notice, both far shorter than usual injury deadlines. Because the clock may already be running, please call as soon as you can. We will then check the dates that apply to your ticket.
What does it cost to find out if I have a case?
Nothing. The case review is free, and if we take your case, we work on contingency, so our fee comes only from what we recover for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing in attorney fees.
FREE CASE REVIEW
Hurt on a cruise? Talk to Debi’s team today.
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