Royal Caribbean FlowRider Injuries

Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider surfing simulator provides ship passengers the opportunity to try to surf or enjoy bodyboarding while on many of their cruises. However, this popular attraction has also caused numerous injuries. Some have been life-altering. 

If you or a loved one suffered a FlowRider injury aboard a Royal Caribbean vessel, contact a Fort Lauderdale cruise ship accident lawyer to learn more about your rights. 

What Is the FlowRider Attraction and What Makes It So Dangerous?

FlowRider is a surfing simulator designed for older children, tweens, teens, and adults, and is installed on many of Royal Caribbean’s most popular ships. As of March 2024, there were FlowRiders on 24 of Royal Caribbean’s vessels. Riders must be 52” tall to bodyboard and 59” tall to surf.

Not only do they have the always-present risk of drowning and related injuries, but these 40-foot-long pools are also equipped with pumps that push 30,000 gallons of water into a rushing sheet of water meant to simulate sheet surfing or bodyboarding. The warnings from Royal Caribbean about this recreational activity include the risk of “serious injury to the head, neck, back, hips, arms, and legs, as well as the possibility of illness, disease, paralysis, or death.”

Reported FlowRider injuries include: 

• Fractured ankles and wrists
• Knee and ankle sprains
• Wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries
• Neck injuries
• Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
• Accidental drowning

Those who suffer serious injuries might require treatment for emergent injuries beyond what the ship’s medical staff can provide. This could require a port referral at the next stop, diverting the ship to a nearby port, or evacuating them by helicopter. This type of catastrophic FlowRider injury has caused port diversion and other medical evacuations on Royal Caribbean vessels in the past.

What Are My Legal Rights After a FlowRider Injury on a Royal Caribbean Cruise?

Cruise lines must provide a safe and hazard-free environment for ship passengers. While some risks, especially when using modern technology to simulate an extreme sport, are unavoidable, your FlowRider injuries might support a case against Royal Caribbean and the maker of the FlowRider system, or both. 

There are serious questions about whether this system’s design is dangerous and whether it is appropriate for novice surfers or even children as young as nine or ten years old to use. Other concerns expressed by injured accident victims in FlowRider cases based on the simulation system and its use on cruise ships include: 

• Inadequate supervision from staff
• Issues with changing wave and weather conditions
• Poorly trained staff 
• Failure to adequately investigate reports of injuries

This is not the type of legal claim you want to build on your own. It will be complex and require extensive investigation and documentation. However, a successful accident claim could allow you to hold the liable party or parties accountable and recover compensation for:  

• Current and future medical care costs
• Any expenses related to your evacuation or transfer for care
• Income losses
• Related costs
• Pain and suffering 
• Other non-economic damages

If your loved one died in a FlowRider incident, you can pursue a wrongful death against the cruise line or another liable party and demand justice for your family. A cruise ship injury attorney can help you file your case and seek fair compensation. 

The Role of Waivers in FlowRider Injury Claims Against Royal Caribbean

The Royal Caribbean ticket contract addresses injuries suffered onboard their vessels, but it does not prevent you from taking legal action against the cruise line for negligence. It lists many terms and conditions for these cases, though. The terms and conditions were likely written by the company’s corporate lawyers and work to dissuade many injured passengers from taking action.

The ticket contract limits when and where you can pursue a claim based on your cruise ship injuries. They restrict all cases to the United States District Courthouse in Miami, which is close to the company’s headquarters. You must notify the cruise line of your intent to file a lawsuit within six months of the injury. 

Before using the FlowRider, Royal Caribbean requires passengers to sign an Onboard Activities Waiver. This waiver appears to leave no leeway for passengers to pursue damages if they are hurt. However, this “use at your own risk” type of waiver is often unenforceable. This is especially true if the staff fails to provide adequate warnings, if there is poor oversight of the activity, or if the activity itself is defective or unreasonably dangerous. 

Do I Need a Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer for My FlowRider Injuries?

The ticket contract and waiver you signed include complex language and strict conditions that you need to understand and follow to build a case against the cruise line or the FlowRider company. This is not something you want to do on your own. 

Working with a cruise ship injury accident lawyer provides you with someone who has the knowledge, experience, and resources to develop a strong case. They will have the time and money to investigate previous FlowRider injuries and pull filings from related cases. At the same time, they can call on their networks of experts too. 

It is imperative you connect with an attorney as soon as possible after you return home, and your injuries are healing. You only have a short window to act in these cases, and the courts typically uphold the timeline set by the ticket contract. If your loved one has catastrophic injuries, call a cruise ship injury lawyer to discuss your next steps on their behalf. 

Call Today to Protect Your Rights After a Royal Caribbean FlowRider Injury Accident

At Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers, our attorneys know how cruise ship ticket contracts and liability waivers work. We are also familiar with numerous FlowRider injury cases and the concerns about this onboard attraction. 

When you choose our team to represent you, you will work directly with our partners. We will manage your case and pursue justice for you and your family after serious injuries. We have an office on Courthouse Plaza in Miami, perfectly situated to prepare and file cases against Royal Caribbean as required under their ticket contract terms. 

Contact us today for a free consultation to speak with our team and learn more about your legal options based on the facts of your case.