Cruise ship accidents are anything but relaxing, which is what your vacation is supposed to be. Cruise ship accidents include:

• Injuries sustained on cruise ships include those that happen while on board the ship, injuries sustained during outings sanctioned by the cruise line, and injuries from being physically or sexually assaulted by cruise employees or other passengers.

• Fires can start in the kitchen, the engine, and in passenger rooms. Causes include faulty wiring and mechanics, negligent actions such as leaving a stove on or not disposing of cigarette butts properly.

• Running aground occurs when the ship hits ground in shallow water or hits a reef or other barrier.

• Collisions occur with other ships, platforms, buoys or other large objects.

• Persons overboard happen when people fall because of sharp maneuvers, poor weather conditions and other conditions.

• Illness outbreaks occur when ships are contaminated by people, food, animals, or by other means and are not properly disinfected.

• Environmental disasters happen when ships leak oil, fuel, human waste, food waste, or other substances into the water.

All of these accidents can be catastrophic and extremely expensive to remedy. Stay safe by following this simple list:

• Know the safety rules for your ship. Know where flotation devices are at all times, and know what to do in the instance of any time of disaster.

• Consider participating in the safer outings your cruise ship offers. Remember you’re in another country and will likely receive different medical treatment before you go horseback riding and take a fall. Sight seeing and shopping expeditions, as well as museum and cultural tours are safer alternatives. Make sure that the cruise line sanctions any activity you participate in.

• Avoid becoming intoxicated.

• Have any of your necessary medication handy, and safely conceal money with a pouch that you can wear under your clothes.

• Set a curfew and talk about safety rules and meeting spots with everyone in your family.

• Know what foods are not safe to eat when you are visiting other countries.

• Know the laws of each country, as well as be aware of Maritime Law, which is different from U.S. law even if you’re on a U.S. ship.

Recent cruise ship accidents include a woman who was pushed down a flight of stairs, a bomb scare, a boy who suffered a head injury after diving into a shallow pool, a man who went missing after the ship docked and was later found dead a few miles from the boat, a man whose pinky finger was accidentally amputated when he tried to stop an elevator door from closing, and an intoxicated man who fell overboard and was later rescued.

If you or a loved one is injured during a cruise ship vacation, contact a person injury lawyer who specializes in offshore injuries and Maritime Law.