Arizona Resident Sues Royal Caribbean After Slip and Fall on Wet Stairs Aboard Navigator of the Seas
Allen Shumate, a resident of Arizona, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20931, alleges that Shumate suffered serious physical injuries after slipping and falling on a wet exterior stairwell while sailing as a passenger aboard the Navigator of the Seas on December 21, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Navigator of the Seas Following Slip and Fall on Wet Exterior Deck Stairs
The complaint states that the incident occurred while the vessel was in open waters. Shumate was walking down a set of stairs located outside near Deck 13 when he encountered a dangerously slippery surface. According to the filing, the stairs were wet at the time of the accident, causing the plaintiff to lose his footing and fall. Shumate asserts that he was a fare-paying passenger lawfully present on the ship and that the cruise line owed him a duty of reasonable care to maintain all areas of the vessel, including the stairwells, in a safe condition.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Failing to Monitor and Maintain Safe Walkways on Navigator of the Seas
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean was negligent in its maintenance and supervision of the Deck 13 area. The plaintiff’s legal team argues that the cruise line knew or should have known that the specific stairs in question had a propensity to become wet and slippery. Given the foreseeable nature of this hazard, the complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean had a specific duty to monitor the stairwell and promptly mop up any accumulated water to prevent passenger injuries. By leaving the stairs in a slick condition without intervention, the cruise line allegedly breached its legal obligations to those on board.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Serious Injuries and Medical Expenses Following Royal Caribbean Negligence
In the count for negligence, Shumate claims that the breach of duty by Royal Caribbean directly resulted in his slip and fall and subsequent serious injuries. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs. The plaintiff alleges that the fall caused significant physical harm and that the cruise line is responsible for the resulting damages, including medical expenses and the impact on his well-being. The complaint further notes that Shumate complied with all conditions precedent required by his passenger ticket contract, including providing the cruise line with timely notice of the incident before filing the lawsuit in the Miami Division of the Southern District of Florida.
Contact a Royal Caribbean Slip and Fall Lawyer if You Were Injured on a Cruise Ship Stairwell
Cruise passengers who sustain injuries due to wet decks, slippery stairwells, or poorly maintained common areas may be entitled to financial compensation under maritime law. Cruise companies like Royal Caribbean are required to provide a reasonably safe environment and must address known hazards that could lead to passenger falls. If you or a loved one suffered an injury while vacationing at sea due to hazardous conditions or a failure to warn of danger, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today to discuss your case.
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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.
