Alabama Man Sues Carnival and Scooter Company After Mobility Scooter Accident on Steep Gangway to Carnival Elation
Claris Ayers, a resident of Alabama, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against both Carnival Corporation and mobility scooter rental company Scootaround, Inc. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25260-KMM, stems from a serious injury Ayers allegedly sustained while boarding the Carnival Elation on March 22, 2025.
Carnival Elation Passenger Suffers Broken Femur in Gangway Fall While Using Rental Scooter
According to the complaint, Ayers was boarding the Carnival Elation at the Jacksonville, Florida cruise terminal using a mobility scooter rented from Scootaround for use throughout the cruise. As he descended the final portion of the gangway ramp leading into Deck 7 of the ship, the scooter tipped forward, ejecting him onto the ship’s floor. The scooter then fell on top of him, allegedly resulting in a fractured femur that required emergency surgery.
The lawsuit claims that the gangway setup was steep, lacked necessary handrails, and was unsupervised by Carnival staff. Ayers further alleges that despite his request, Carnival refused to allow more than one family member to assist him during boarding and failed to provide any crewmember assistance.
Lawsuit Alleges Carnival’s Gangway Was Steep, Unsafe, and Poorly Supervised for Disabled Passengers
The complaint alleges that Carnival failed to maintain a reasonably safe boarding process and that the gangway used to embark passengers was dangerously steep and lacked sufficient safety features such as guiderails or warnings. Carnival is also accused of having inadequate procedures for assisting mobility-impaired passengers and creating a chaotic embarkation process due to delays in disembarking guests from the prior cruise.
Ayers asserts that these conditions violated Carnival’s own internal safety protocols for gangway inspections and passenger embarkation. The complaint cites prior lawsuits involving similar injuries suffered by passengers using mobility scooters while boarding Carnival vessels. Cases such as Meier v. Carnival, Katz v. Carnival, McBride v. Carnival, and others are referenced to demonstrate Carnival’s alleged prior knowledge of the risks.
Scootaround Accused of Renting Defective Scooter With Faulty Brakes and Failing to Provide Safety Instructions
Scootaround, Inc., the scooter rental company, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Ayers claims the electric scooter he used was not equipped with properly functioning brakes and was unsafe for navigating steep ramps like the one leading to the Carnival Elation. The lawsuit alleges that Scootaround failed to inspect the scooter, did not provide adequate training or instructions, and failed to warn Ayers about the risks of using the scooter in gangway environments.
The complaint references Smith v. Carnival & Scootaround, a 2024 case in which another passenger allegedly suffered injuries due to a defective scooter rented through Scootaround under similar conditions.
Plaintiff Alleges Permanent Injuries and Sues for Negligence, Failure to Warn, and Breach of Warranty
Ayers brings seven legal counts against Carnival and Scootaround, including general negligence, negligent failure to warn, negligent maintenance, and breach of implied warranty. He alleges that both companies breached their respective duties to provide a safe boarding experience and a properly functioning scooter.
As a result of the fall, Ayers claims to have suffered permanent injuries, physical pain, emotional distress, lost wages, impaired future earning capacity, and a loss of enjoyment of his vacation. He seeks compensation for medical expenses and the full loss of the value of the cruise and associated travel.
Injured While Boarding a Cruise Ship with a Scooter or Wheelchair? Learn Your Legal Rights Today
Passengers who rely on scooters or other mobility aids to board cruise ships may be at greater risk of injury if cruise lines and equipment providers fail to take appropriate safety precautions. Cruise lines like Carnival and third-party vendors such as Scootaround have a duty under maritime law to ensure boarding conditions are safe and properly supervised.
If you or a loved one was injured while using a scooter or mobility device to embark or disembark from a cruise ship, contact our experienced maritime injury attorneys to discuss your legal rights.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship gangway injury lawyer.
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.
