Orlando Lawsuit Claims Door On Disney Cruise Ship Amputated Passenger’s Thumb

A passenger whose thumb was allegedly severed by a cabin door aboard a Disney cruise ship recently filed a federal lawsuit in Orlando, Florida. The 73-year-old plaintiff alleges negligence and breach of duty against Disney Cruise Lines, claiming the company failed to:

• Safely maintain the cabin doors;
• Provide safety mechanisms in the door;
• Warn passengers of the danger of the automatic doors; and
• Give timely medical attention.

The case began in April 2015; the plaintiff and his family were on their way to dinner on the second night of the cruise when his thumb got caught in a door frame. As the door slammed shut, the plaintiff’s thumb was amputated, according to the complaint.

The plaintiff allegedly sought immediate medical treatment from the ship’s medic. A nurse bandaged the hand and placed the severed thumb on ice in hopes the victim would be able to find a surgeon and have the digit reattached.

Several days passed before the victim saw another doctor. On one of the cruise ship’s stops in St. Maarten, doctors informed the plaintiff there were no available surgeons to reattach the severed thumb. By the time the victim reached Puerto Rico, it was too late to perform the corrective surgery and the thumb was lost.

What is breach of duty?

While the Orlando personal injury lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm are not providing legal representation to any of the parties involved in this particular lawsuit, our Orlando injury lawyers regularly represent the legal interests of victims hurt by the carelessness of negligent parties. Negligence, sometimes framed as “breach of duty,” is an important legal concept in personal injury lawsuits and other tort claims.

There are four main components to a personal injury lawsuit alleging negligence that plaintiffs must prove to be successful in their claims. These components are:

• Duty – The defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty to behave in a certain manner or take reasonable safety steps to prevent foreseeable injury;
• Breach – The defendant breached their duty and was negligent by failing to take reasonable safety steps;
• Cause – The defendant’s breach of duty was the proximate cause of an injury and
• Damages – The plaintiff suffered damages (physical, emotional, monetary, etc.).

Orlando personal injury lawyers

When someone is hurt by the careless or otherwise negligent behavior of another, the victim’s only recourse is often to file a personal injury lawsuit against the wrongdoer. Negligent parties often do not take responsibility for their reckless behavior, adding insult to injury.

At a time when injury victims should be focused on healing and recovery, they are often burdened by the uncertainties of litigation, emotional distress, and financial stress. The experienced personal injury lawyers of The Pendas Law Firm understand all of these issues and skillfully guide their clients through the legal process and help recover the compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident, contact our office for a free consultation about your case. Our lawyers serve clients in Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.