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Illinois Man Sues Carnival After Falling Down Hidden Step in Crowded Atrium of Carnival Panorama
Daniel Boyle, a resident of Illinois, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24465-BB, alleges that Boyle was seriously injured when he fell down a hidden, unguarded two-step drop-off located in a high-traffic area near the Panorama Atrium bar aboard the Carnival Panorama.
Passenger Allegedly Injured on First Day of 25-Night Cruise by Abrupt Step Near Bar Area with No Guardrails or Visual Warnings
According to the complaint, Boyle boarded the Carnival Panorama on October 12, 2024, for a 25-night cruise departing from Singapore. On the first evening, while walking through the Panorama Atrium toward the Horizon Restaurant, he stepped off an unmarked two-step drop-off that he claims was camouflaged by visual illusions and lack of safety features. The elevated bar area gave the appearance of a continuous floor, and the steps had no railing or warning indicators.
Boyle, who has a pre-existing neck condition that limits his head movement, alleges he was briefly distracted by the ship’s towering atrium display and did not see the sudden drop. As he turned his head, believing the floor remained level, his foot landed into empty space, causing a fall that resulted in ruptured quadriceps tendons and severe spinal injuries.
Lawsuit Alleges Dangerous Design in Panorama Atrium and Carnival’s Failure to Maintain a Safe Walkway
The complaint describes the location of the incident as a known thoroughfare for passengers entering the Horizon Restaurant, which contributed to congestion and distraction. The bar’s countertop was level with the upper walkway and flanked by bar stools, creating what Boyle’s attorneys call a “powerful illusion of a continuous floor.” The steps lacked any guardrails, contrasting nosing, tactile warnings, or signage—features commonly used to prevent falls.
Boyle’s legal team claims that Carnival was negligent in the design, construction, and maintenance of this area, and failed to mitigate foreseeable dangers. The lawsuit states that the lack of visual and tactile cues violated recognized safety standards, including ASTM F1637, which sets minimum criteria for safe walking surfaces.
Carnival Accused of Negligent Design and Ignoring Distraction Hazards from the Atrium’s Architectural Features
In addition to general negligence, the lawsuit brings specific counts of negligent design and negligent failure to warn. Boyle’s attorneys argue that the cruise line designed the Panorama Atrium to be visually impressive, which made distraction foreseeable, especially for first-time passengers. The atrium’s floor-to-ceiling architectural features and bar placement allegedly draw attention upward, away from the walking path.
The suit argues that the ship’s layout failed to account for this distraction risk and did not include sufficient redundancy in safety features. Boyle contends that Carnival had actual or constructive notice of the hazard because the condition was permanent, located in a high-traffic area, and contradicted basic pedestrian safety principles.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries, Pain and Suffering, and Loss of Cruise Enjoyment
Boyle is seeking damages for physical injury, disability, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and other losses stemming from the fall. He claims that the injuries have resulted in permanent impairments and significantly disrupted his cruise experience and quality of life.
The lawsuit includes three counts of negligence against Carnival Corporation: failure to maintain safe premises, failure to warn of a non-obvious hazard, and negligent design. It asserts that Carnival breached its duty to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances by allowing the dangerous condition to persist without correction.
Injured by a Hidden Step or Drop-Off on a Cruise Ship? Contact a Cruise Ship Fall Injury Lawyer Today
Trip and fall injuries caused by sudden elevation changes, hidden steps, or camouflaged flooring are among the most common and dangerous hazards aboard cruise ships. Cruise lines have a legal duty to ensure their ships are designed and maintained to prevent foreseeable injuries.
If you were injured in a similar fall aboard a cruise ship, you may have a claim under maritime law. Contact our legal team to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney today.
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.