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Georgia Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Alleged Venomous Insect Bite Aboard Carnival Vista
Wanda Goss, a resident of Georgia, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-23854, alleges that Goss suffered a severe insect or spider bite while sleeping in her stateroom aboard the Carnival Vista, leading to cellulitis, disfigurement, and long-term medical complications.
Carnival Vista Passenger Alleges She Was Bitten by Venomous Insect While Sleeping in Cruise Ship Cabin
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on or about September 1, 2024, as Goss was asleep in her assigned stateroom. She alleges she was bitten on the ankle by a venomous insect or spider present in her bed linens or cabin. Goss claims she woke up with significant swelling, redness, and pain in her lower leg and ankle. The condition progressively worsened, ultimately requiring emergency medical care, surgery, and treatment for an associated eye injury that developed as a result of the infection.
The lawsuit states that Carnival failed to conduct reasonable inspections, pest control, or fumigation to detect and eliminate hazardous conditions like venomous insects within guest cabins. Goss asserts that she had no warning of the danger and that the condition was not open or obvious at the time of the incident.
Lawsuit Claims Carnival Knew or Should Have Known About Prior Insect and Bedbug Complaints on Cruise Ships
Goss’s legal team alleges that Carnival had prior notice of similar infestations and bite-related complaints across its fleet. The complaint references passenger reviews, social media posts, and news articles describing insect sightings and bites aboard other Carnival vessels. Despite this, Goss argues, Carnival failed to adopt effective protocols to prevent such incidents on the Carnival Vista.
The lawsuit further alleges that Carnival’s internal maintenance and housekeeping procedures were deficient and that the cruise line’s failure to adequately inspect or sanitize the stateroom prior to Goss’s embarkation directly contributed to the incident.
Cruise Line Accused of Misdiagnosing Bite and Failing to Provide Proper Medical Care Onboard
The complaint also alleges that Carnival’s onboard medical staff negligently misdiagnosed the injury as a friction burn, rather than a bite from a venomous organism. Goss claims she was treated with basic wound care and antibiotics but was not evacuated or referred to a specialist, despite her condition deteriorating. She alleges that inadequate medical intervention aboard the ship allowed the infection to spread, ultimately requiring emergency care and contributing to a secondary injury affecting her eyes.
Her legal team claims that the delay in proper diagnosis and treatment caused additional pain, suffering, and prolonged recovery. Goss alleges that Carnival breached its duty to provide prompt and reasonable medical care and failed to act in accordance with industry standards for evaluating and responding to suspected venomous bites.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries, Medical Costs, and Loss of Enjoyment of Cruise Due to Carnival’s Negligence
The lawsuit brings four counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent inspection, negligent maintenance, failure to warn, and medical negligence. Goss claims that the cruise line breached its duty of care under maritime law by failing to prevent or address the hazardous condition in her cabin and by failing to administer proper medical care once the injury occurred.
As a result of the incident, Goss seeks damages for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and the lost value of her cruise vacation. The complaint alleges that her injuries are permanent and continuing, affecting her physical and emotional wellbeing.
Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer If You Were Bitten or Injured Aboard a Cruise Due to Unsafe Cabin Conditions
Passengers have a right to safe and sanitary accommodations while onboard a cruise ship. When cruise lines fail to inspect for insects, pests, or other hidden dangers—and fail to treat resulting injuries with proper care—they may be held liable under maritime law. If you or someone you love was bitten or seriously injured while aboard a cruise ship, contact our team of experienced cruise injury attorneys today.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.