Falling in a vessel at a boat show

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

First there is no fiddle edge, then there is. No one said that it was suitable all the way down the steps, however it is there and is regularly used by some to brace themselves, on their boats.

Lawyer are going to eat up some of these comments she's making. Her insurance company is only going to care about the direct expenses (ie: medical bills). If she wants to win the lawsuit lottery, she will need her own lawyer and that's where her comments will damage her case.

Looking at the picture, I'm seeing several places I could and would brace myself...plus as others have indicated, standard practice on boats is to go down backwards, which would have negated the worst of the injuries.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

Please enlighten me on how wether or not you get scolded from a hot coffee or not has anything to do with my broken back.

If I'm not careful and there is an accident, it's my fault. Same scenario, different accident.

[lestersails]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

I will not confirm or deny what boat it was.

You listed all major cat manufacturers but one or two, post a photo of the boat and then protest that you won't say what boat it was? Madam, with all due respect, I feel that I am within bounds to assert that I am being played for a fool or being played with.
For good or ill, cruising, and dare I say, sailing in particular, has a very strong ethos of personal responsibility. Extraordinarily strong. Every person who goes aboard a boat must accept that responsibility. Captains the greatest, but all passengers as well. So when a person suffers a consequence of being aboard, it is an uphill battle to blame someone else.
As I clearly said in my post, I cannot adjudicate your claim. I also said that in my uninformed opinion it sounded like a weak argument. That is my opinion and it is worth what you paid for it.
I have empathy for every soul who is wounded, hurt, ill, suffering, or dying. You have my empathy for your injuries. That does not obligate me to agree with your desire for a huge liability payout.
I do truly wish you the best.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Lawyer are going to eat up some of these comments she's making. Her insurance company is only going to care about the direct expenses (ie: medical bills). If she wants to win the lawsuit lottery, she will need her own lawyer and that's where her comments will damage her case.

Looking at the picture, I'm seeing several places I could and would brace myself...plus as others have indicated, standard practice on boats is to go down backwards, which would have negated the worst of the injuries.

I have never seen anyone walking backwards down the internal stairs going down into one of the hulls in a multihull. Not a single person at the show viewing these multihulls that I saw walked down them backwards.

I don't care about the lawyers. I'm worried how to take care of myself and my cat tonight. Have you ever been so disabled that you couldn't climb the stairs in your house to get something to eat?

Now let's get back to you talking about suing over a hot coffee. As if that has relevance. I don't think.

[lestersails]

Originally Posted by Bycrick

"it is seriously tilted towards the wealthy." Absolutely true, but what do you expect? People only have a limited amount of knowledge and expertise. As the world gets more complicated, more and more things require specialist expertise. So you develop a class of "artisans" that have that skill. Even if it’s just a better or prettier piece of pottery, much less a witch doctor or a good hunter. The guy who has two banana trees can get a better piece of pottery or a witch doctor with better spells. And he’ll get it before the guy who has nothing to trade but a smile. If that weren’t true, why would anybody plant two banana trees when they only need one to feed themself? So, rich people can get more or better doctors, lawyers or Indian chiefs. What’s new?

All true. And I agreed with you that it is a damn sight better than a lot of places. My point was to not get carried away with that line of thinking and think that it is actually completely fair. It is imperfect justice. We can be grateful for it and at the same time see it as being less than the professed ideal.

"The arc of moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." MLK

We should always strive to keep bending it that way.

[NotEntirelySure]

Neither set of steps looks particularly user friendly in a big sea, or at the dock if ones shoes or feet were wet and slippery.

One poorly place grab rail and some edging on the steps (which doesn't look non slip in the slightest)(or gelcoat on the top step, yeah gel is never slippery...) does surely not make for as safer set of steps than a set with various grab spots everywhere?

The ones that are criminally dangerous in design (apparently) offer what appears to be various places to wrap ones fingers around.

I suspect also the designer of both sets of steps excepted folk to walk down them in the traditional style you walk downstairs in a block of flats, face first.

How do you fall over backwards onto ones back when there is furniture in the way. Surely you would have smacked your head on something? There does not appear to be even room for a small child to fall flat on their back?

If falling down a couple of stairs has done you such an injury then I am sorry but maybe sailing is not for you. I couldn't list the falls I've taken on boats. Or in life in general.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by lestersails

You listed all major cat manufacturers but one or two, post a photo of the boat and then protest that you won't say what boat it was? Madam, with all due respect, I feel that I am within bounds to assert that I am being played for a fool or being played with.
For good or ill, cruising, and dare I say, sailing in particular, has a very strong ethos of personal responsibility. Extraordinarily strong. Every person who goes aboard a boat must accept that responsibility. Captains the greatest, but all passengers as well. So when a person suffers a consequence of being aboard, it is an uphill battle to blame someone else.
As I clearly said in my post, I cannot adjudicate your claim. I also said that in my uninformed opinion it sounded like a weak argument. That is my opinion and it is worth what you paid for it.
I have empathy for every soul who is wounded, hurt, ill, suffering, or dying. You have my empathy for your injuries. That does not obligate me to agree with your desire for a huge liability payout.
I do truly wish you the best.

What desire for a huge payout are you talking about? I put forth the question how much would having your dream of sailing off in your golden years taken away be worth. For me, even a million dollars wouldn't cover it. Just stop and think about what I am saying. I am scared, upset, in awful pain. Of course I am upset. Upset with a company that in some peoples eyes, can do no wrong. Upset that my life has been turned upside down. Who cares what the lawyers have to say.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by NotEntirelySure

Neither set of steps looks particularly user friendly in a big sea, or at the dock if ones shoes or feet were wet and slippery.

One poorly place grab rail and some edging on the steps (which doesn't look non slip in the slightest)(or gelcoat on the top step, yeah gel is never slippery...) does surely not make for as safer set of steps than a set with various grab spots everywhere?

The ones that are criminally dangerous in design (apparently) offer what appears to be various places to wrap ones fingers around.

I suspect also the designer of both sets of steps excepted folk to walk down them in the traditional style you walk downstairs in a block of flats, face first.

How do you fall over backwards onto ones back when there is furniture in the way. Surely you would have smacked your head on something? There does not appear to be even room for a small child to fall flat on their back?

If falling down a couple of stairs has done you such an injury then I am sorry but maybe sailing is not for you. I couldn't list the falls I've taken on boats. Or in life in general.

Because of the poor visibility, I thought I had reached the floor, I stepped out not onto the floor but into thin air. I fell backwards with nothing to grab a hold of to break my fall. It's not that I shouldn't be sailing but rather this manufacturer shouldn't be making such dangerous product.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

If I'm not careful and there is an accident, it's my fault. Same scenario, different accident.

It depends who caused or contributed to the accident.

[NotEntirelySure]

If its so dangerous why were you on it? So you were going down 'block of flats' style. Maybe in future go down 'boat style'.

Poor visibility? No sailing at night for you!

"Dangerous product".

Its a boat, of course its dangerous.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by NotEntirelySure

If its so dangerous why were you on it? So you were going down 'block of flats' style. Maybe in future go down 'boat style'.

Poor visibility? No sailing at night for you!

"Dangerous product".

Its a boat, of course its dangerous.

I see you have a monohull. Typical. Tell me if you've ever seen a person going down the INTERNAL stairs on a catamaran backwards. As if that would have helped since there were no hand rails. If I got down on my hands and knees and went down backwards. Yes, this would been safe. But I was inspecting a catamaran to live on. But in your world going down stairs on all fours backwards is something all catamaran owners should be doing. There is nothing wrong with my eyes. Something is very wrong with the lack of visual difference between the floor and the steps. Go have another look at the photo. Unbelievable.

[Cthoops]

Oh my god! How many times do you have to be told to stop talking?! Yet you still continue. As a retired attorney, I have to say you are a defense attorney’s dream! Almost every time you post, you dig yourself in deeper.

Do I think you have a winning case? No. Do I think you’re going to sue anyway? Of course you are. So if you would like any sort of a payout, then Shut. Up.

[NotEntirelySure]

Took 15 pages for it to turn into a cat versus mono thread. Longer than I would have thought....

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

I have never seen anyone walking backwards down the internal stairs going down into one of the hulls in a multihull. Not a single person at the show viewing these multihulls that I saw walked down them backwards.

I don't care about the lawyers. I'm worried how to take care of myself and my cat tonight. Have you ever been so disabled that you couldn't climb the stairs in your house to get something to eat?

Now let's get back to you talking about suing over a hot coffee. As if that has relevance. I don't think.

Possibly the most accurate statement made in this thread..

[KentA]

I am an attorney and would suggest you start with a personal injury attorney in the state where the accident occurred. Doubtful this falls under maritime law, but maybe; you may want to mention it to the lawyer(s) you talk to. Depending on the facts, in addition to the boat builder/owner, you may also have a cause of action against the broker and/or the owner of the facility where the show was held (all of whom are likely insured to some extent). Many PI attorneys will consult with you for no initial charge, charging a contingent fee (% of settlement) only if you prevail. Good luck.