Arizona Passenger Sues Carnival Cruise Line for Slip and Fall on Wet Staircase Aboard Carnival Magic
An Arizona woman has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against Carnival Corporation, doing business as Carnival Cruise Line, after allegedly slipping and falling on wet and defective exterior stairs aboard the Carnival Magic. The complaint, filed May 8, 2025, claims Carnival negligently failed to warn passengers, maintain shipboard safety, and address known stairway defects, causing severe permanent injuries to plaintiff Denise Hernandez. The case is styled Denise Hernandez v. Carnival Corporation, Case No. 1:25-cv-22122-BB.
Passenger Claims Wet and Defective Stairs Led to Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Injury
The incident took place on May 17, 2024, while Denise Hernandez was descending the stairs between deck 12 and deck 11 on the Carnival Magic. According to the complaint, the stairs were wet despite clear weather, and Carnival had posted no warning signs or barriers to alert passengers of the slippery condition.
Hernandez alleges that due to the stair’s defective design, including a downward-angled nosing and worn slip-resistant strips, she was unable to recover her footing after slipping. She fell from the middle of the staircase to the lower deck, suffering multiple lumbar fractures, a vertebral compression injury, and a torn rotator cuff.
The lawsuit asserts that Carnival’s crew failed to inspect and maintain the stairs properly and failed to warn passengers of known hazards, violating the cruise line’s own safety policies and industry standards.
Carnival Allegedly Ignored Known Hazards and Violated Maritime Safety Standards
The complaint claims Carnival had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazardous stairway condition through prior passenger complaints, documented slip-and-fall incidents, shipboard safety meetings, inspection records, and maintenance logs.
Hernandez further alleges that Carnival was aware that the synthetic deck and stair materials used across its fleet become unreasonably slippery when wet. This is supported by internal safety policies, international maritime regulations such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty, and standards issued by ASTM International, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Additionally, Hernandez asserts that Carnival negligently selected the stair materials, failed to properly train its crew to manage known risks, and did not adequately supervise personnel tasked with passenger safety.
Legal Claims Include Failure to Warn, Negligent Design, Maintenance, and Crew Supervision
The lawsuit sets forth five primary negligence claims against Carnival Cruise Line:
- Negligent failure to warn passengers about known wet stair hazards
- Negligent design, construction, and selection of defective stair materials
- Negligent failure to maintain the stairs in a safe condition
- Negligent training of shipboard crew on cleaning, inspections, and safety warnings
- Negligent supervision of crew members responsible for hazard prevention
Hernandez seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, permanent disability, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Lawsuit Highlights Growing Focus on Maritime Safety
This lawsuit joins a growing number of cases addressing cruise line liability for onboard slip and fall injuries, particularly in high-traffic passenger areas such as staircases, decks, and pool zones. Courts have increasingly recognized cruise lines’ non-delegable duty to provide a safe environment under general maritime law, holding carriers liable not only for operational negligence but also for failures in design and material safety.
The outcome of the Hernandez case may influence how cruise lines inspect and maintain shipboard facilities, train crew members in hazard recognition, and comply with international maritime safety obligations. It also highlights the legal importance of addressing prior safety incidents and passenger complaints to avoid recurring harm.
Injured on a Cruise Ship? Contact an Experienced Maritime Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a cruise ship injury, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Protect your legal rights by speaking with an experienced cruise ship injury attorney. Contact us today for a free consultation.
