Has Anyone Ever Gotten Hurt

[shirley 38]

ON ONE OF THE DISNEY SHIPS?
My husbsand was seriously hurt and I am wondering what would you expect Disney to be responsible for.
He was hurt during a Disney Event.
Please need imput am really at a loss. He has been out of work for a month.

 

[pouncingpluto]

You should read the contract you signed as part of the cruise documents, as it addresses what Disney is liable for and what they are not.

 

[ktharris]

Shirley,

I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I'm hoping he will be OK!!!

What happened?

Kathy

 

[AnnMorin]

What happened? Was it because of Disney's negligence or an intentional act on the part of one of their CM's? How was he injured?

 

[gometros]

I got hurt the last night of our eastern cruise. I was walking down the aisle at the Walt Disney Theater and slipped on a spill someone made on one of the steps and fell forward. While a CM came to my aid, there was no follow up. I made an accident report, but nothing came of it either. I didn't hurt as much until the next morning where it was so bad, I had to be taken off the ship in a wheelchair. Fortunately it turned out to be a very bad bruise and that was it.

 

[plutojudy]

Shirley,
What happened to John? I hope he is better now. Tell him Fred and Judy from last year's cruise said "hello and get better". Hope we can cruise together again sometime.

 

[jrabbit]

You can pretty much summarize the cruise contract (that is part your cruise documents/tickets) that you SIGN before boarding as follows:

If anything bad happens (including the ship sinking) it's not our fault! But maybe it's yours!

That's what it says, however, what Disney is willing to do probably is much, much different than that legal document.

Not knowing the details and by no means being a legal expert, I would be asking for compensation that would be similar to what a short term disability policy would pay.

 

[mcnuss]

If there was trip insurance, it is likely that a claim can be filed against the policy.

 

[AnnMorin]

Disclaimers and such are really not worth anything... the grocery store can have signs in their parking lot that they are not responsible for damage but that won't hold up in court...
if someone is injured due to the negligance or willfull acts of anouther it does not matter if you signed a disclaimer contract..
ie: someone goes to for instance six flags,, buys a ticket which includes a disclaimer,.. the ride was not maintained correctly
( note this is ALL hypothetical this NEVER happened) and the individual was injured.. a disclaimer even if signed by the party hurt saying they accepted normal risks would not absolve six flags from a claim. That is why I asked what exactly happened

 

[minnie56]

My husband was hurt at Walt Disney World on New years Eve 2001...spending 17 hours in Celebration hospital.

What happened to your husband if I may ask?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Has Anyone Ever Gotten Hurt

ON ONE OF THE DISNEY SHIPS?

Yes, emotionally. It was almost too much to take when the ship returned to Port Canaveral...


I am assuming from another post that the gentleman in question hurt himself during the belly flop contest. It's not a risk-free activity (common sense dictates that much) and each contestant volunteers.

 

[shirley 38]

I am so sorry I have not gotten back to you guys sooner. It is still crazy around here.
I am a cast member for the disney store so I never signed anything.
It was during the belly flop contest.
John did not volenteer he was picked as were other people who were sitting at the bar drinking. John does not drink.

To make a long story short I remember him putting his hand behind his back. I remembered his bathing suit was big on him.
He went in crooked, hit his head on the bottom his ear his cheek and shoulder.
We got him to medical as soon as we could. He did not remember anytiing except bubbles.????
They treated him for a severe concussion and possible a fractuue of the C6 in his vertabra.
Was in intensive care for 3 hours blood prusure went up to 220 over 120.
They were going to medivac him out but could not get a hellicopter.
The Doctor talked to me and said that Disney will be paying for everything.
He was confined to his room for the duration of the trip.
They took him directly to Cape Canaveral Hospital and kept him all day.
I had reservations at WDW. They transported him there with two perscriptions.
He remembers nothing about disneyworld. Really scarey. I am really scared.
Coming home was the worse part of it. He kept having dull headackes and spasems in his neck.
Hmm did I say this was going to be short. I feel like I just have to share this.
At home so far he has had a call from the Cape Canaveral Hospital to find out how he was. The nurse told me she was worried he would have a stroke.
Saw our doctor had a MRI of the brain as they thought there might be swelling on the brain and that is why the blood preasure would not come down.
From there to a Nueroligist he was worried about his neck and the C6 thing.
They had only taken xrays of his neck and spine so he called for a MRI.
The one thing that really hit home with me is when we saw the Neuroligist He said WITH THE ACCIDENT YOU HAD YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW. HE SAID THIS 4 DIFFERENT TIMES.
We still do not have the results but he has been out of work since March 3rd and no sign of him being released to go back.
He is in theropy 3 times a week.
We have talked to Disney and they were suppose to send papers out. John has called numerous times and has been promised 3 times they were being sent out.
Also they said they were investigating it. Do they really think he wanted to hit his head on the bottom of the pool.????
The papers that are siuppose to come are for medical and lost work.
Our medical is not that much because we have insurance but back pay is another thing.
But all he wants is his vacation back.
I am at a total loss. Do I get a high power lawyer and quit my job or just please someone give me some prayers, imput or suggestions.
Oh I forgot one thing , When John was sent to Cape Canaveral Hospital they sent him with a paper saying that they were taking the responsibility for the medical bill.
My husband if you ever met him would instantly like him. Oh by the way our trip was on the Magic on Feb. 22nd.
We saved for this trip for so long.
But I just hope to God that they have discontinued this contest.
One other fellow in the same event dislocated his shoulder.
Why didn't they stop the event when John got hurt????
Please answer and help.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

First of all, Shirley, please accept my apologies for being so glib above. Sometimes written humor just doesn't "work." I'm going to edit out the very end of my comment.

Also, during our cruise last August, the belly flop contest was strictly on a volunteer basis. I figured it was a pretty good way to get hurt, but no one else seemed to think so. Sorry to hear I was right.

All the best to you and DH.

 

[sandee]

we didn't see it, but it was listed as an activity in the daily paper aboard ship. We are going through a simlar problem with RCCL, but they are refusing to pay med. bills and no longer answer my emails or snail mail. Guess it's time for us to see a lawyer and I hate doing that! Hope your DH recovers soon.

 

[AnnMorin]

Wow, I am so sorry to hear about your husband! I had a C 6-and C 5 injury in a car accident 11 years ago and I still have a great deal of pain. Cervical injuries are very unpleasent.

I would suggest you speak to a lawyer who could help you with your questions. My husband is one and I asked him.
He said he didn't know if legally Disney would be responsible for your husbands loss of work as the injury was not a result of Disney's negligence or willfull act. He felt that Disney would be able to argue that it was your husbands own act that created his injury. That although others chose him he could have refused and essentially made himself a "volenteer" by accepting. However, he said an argument could be made that they had been put on notice that this was a dangerous activity (by previous injuries) and still allowed it to continue therefore creating an environment conducive to injury.

My thoughts are with you. I hope your husband heals quickly and fully and your situation is resolved!

 

[mmouse37]

Very sorry to hear about John....my husband participated in this last August on the Magic. Not to take away from your husband's injury at all, but I thought it was fun to watch and didn't really see it being dangerous. I know once even one of the CM's dad participated and I don't think he would have him do it if he thought it was dangerous. Maybe Disney has to take another look at this.

Has any recent cruisers mentioned anything about them still continuing this activity. Please post and let us know.

Shirley....you mentioned he was intensive care for 3 hours...do they have that facility onboard the ship??

MJ

 

[ktharris]

Shirley,

I am soooo sorry about your troubles. How terribly frightened you must have been.

I am afraid I cannot give you any guidance as far a financial restitiution...but I did want to let you know that I am so sorry for your troubles. How sad that you saved and sacrificed for a vacation that is supposed to be "Magic".

I am hoping that you will get another chance to "Discover the Magic" someday very soon. In the meantime, I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts and pray for a speedy recovery for John.

Keep your chin up!! Life has a way of working out.

Kathy

 

[kramer_clan]

I would definitely have legal advice and possibly have a lawyer handle this for you. You should NOT sign anything that Disney sends you. Protect yourself financially and secure an attorney. You have no way of knowing how much this will strain your life down the line.

Vicki

 

[PRaffen]

So sorry to hear about your husband. So frightening to go through. Hope his recovery goes well.

As wonderful as Disney is, it's still a business. Hope you can find a good lawyer who is able to help you with this.

God Bless.

 

[minnie56]

I just got off of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and they still do this 'contest' and half the time I think the people were loaded to let themselves get talked into it!

Looked pretty dangerous to me but I never knew how much so.

My suggestion...work with Disney and be patient. We found them very amicable and reasonable to deal with on our incident.