PICKLEBALL ACCIDENTS ON CRUISE SHIPS
Hurt playing pickleball on a cruise ship? Find out if the court was safe.
A growing number of large cruise ships have pickleball courts on an open deck, where players of all ages lunge, pivot and step back on a surface that can be wet, windy or moving with the ship. If the surface, the nets, the lighting or the supervision fell short, however, the cruise line may have to answer for it. Because crew and cameras watch the court, 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 PICKLEBALL ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
A small court, a wet surface and a ship that never stands still.
Pickleball means quick stops, sudden steps backward and lunges, so a slick painted line or a roll of the ship can send a player down hard onto a wrist, a hip or the head. Because many players are older or new to the game, and courts on a ship sit close to railings and fences, how the surface is built and kept matters as much as how anyone plays.
A cruise line owes the people on board reasonable care. For example, a case may look at how the surface and court paint were kept, how the nets and posts were padded, how well the court was lit at night, and whether play continued in rough seas. In addition, camera footage, inspection logs and earlier injury reports can show what the line knew and when.
Slips on wet or painted surfaces
Spray, rain and slick court paint or lines.
Wrist, hip & head injuries
Hard falls onto an unforgiving surface.
Achilles & ankle injuries
Lunges and pivots on uneven or worn surfaces.
Unpadded posts, fences & railings
Hard obstacles close to the playing area.
Poor lighting at night
Courts used after dark with weak lighting.
Worn, cracked or uneven courts
Damage that was not repaired.
Ship motion & wind
Play allowed to continue in rolling seas or strong wind.
Crowded courts & mixed skill levels
Open play with too little space between games.
Anywhere else around the courts
Seating, stairs and nets. A hazard isn’t limited to the places listed here.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO PROVE
The court was not kept safe.
Under general maritime law, a cruise line owes passengers reasonable care under the circumstances. In a pickleball case, that usually means showing the line knew, or should have known, about the danger, for example a slick surface, a cracked court or an unpadded post, and did not fix or warn about it. It can also mean showing the line let play continue when conditions were unsafe.
A dangerous condition
A slick or damaged surface, an unpadded post or poor lighting.
Notice
Crew knew, or it existed long enough that they should have.
Injury and loss
Medical records, ongoing care, lost income and the trip itself.
WHAT TO DO AFTER A PICKLEBALL INJURY
Get checked first, then record the court.
Get medical care right away
Fractures, tears and head injuries can be missed at first, so get checked even if you feel fine. Keep every bill and record.
Report it and ask for the report
Tell the crew and guest services, then ask for a copy of the incident report. Do not sign statements you have not read.
Photograph the court
Take pictures of the surface, the lines, the nets and posts, any signs and your injuries, if you can do so safely.
Get names
Collect names for the crew and for the players and guests who saw what happened.
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 inspection logs can be overwritten, and the court can be repaired. We can send a written request that they be preserved.
PICKLEBALL RESULTS
All results[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real court case the firm handled.
[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real court case the firm handled.
[Confirm] INJURY TYPE
$0.0M[Confirm] One plain line about a real court case the firm handled.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
IN CLIENTS’ WORDS
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QUESTIONS BEFORE THE CALL
Can I sue a cruise line for a pickleball injury?
Often, yes, depending on the facts. A cruise line can be held responsible when it fails to take reasonable care, for example with a slick surface, a cracked court or an unpadded post. 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.
What if I just stepped wrong and tore or sprained something?
The cruise line may say it was a normal sports injury. A sprain, a tear or a fall can also be caused by a surface that is slick or uneven, however. Whether the court was wet, worn or moving with the ship can matter. As a result, please write down what the surface and the weather were like.
What if another player hit me with a paddle or ball?
Another player may be responsible, and the cruise line may be too. Accidents can happen in any game, but not necessarily on a crowded court with too little space between games. For that reason, we look at both who did what and how the courts were run.
I signed a waiver or accepted the rules. Does that stop me?
Not necessarily. Waivers and posted rules are often raised as defenses, but they do not always end a claim. Because the details matter, please keep a copy of anything you signed and call us before you assume anything.
Does it matter that the seas were rough or the deck was wet?
It can. A cruise line may have to stop play or close the courts when the deck is wet or the ship is rolling heavily. Because conditions change from hour to hour, please write down what the weather and the surface were like when you were hurt.
How long do I have to file a pickleball 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.
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Hurt on a cruise? Talk to Debi’s team today.
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