California Resident Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Wheelchair Tipping Incident During Embarkation on Carnival Firenze
Danny Ray Pressburg, a resident of Long Beach, California, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22043-DSL, alleges that Pressburg suffered serious and permanent injuries after a cruise ship employee lost control of his wheelchair while boarding the Carnival Firenze on April 12, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Carnival Firenze Embarkation Due to Negligent Wheelchair Assistance on Skybridge
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Pressburg was legally embarking on the Carnival Firenze at its home port in Long Beach, California. As part of the standard boarding process, passengers were required to traverse a skybridge extending over the water to reach the vessel. Because Pressburg required a wheelchair for mobility, Carnival employees undertook the specific responsibility of transporting him across this skybridge and onto the ship. The lawsuit alleges that while an unidentified Carnival employee was pushing Pressburg along the skybridge, the staff member lost control of the wheelchair. This sudden loss of control caused the wheelchair to tip forward, forcing Pressburg to quickly grasp the skybridge handrail to prevent himself from being thrown onto the ground in a potentially catastrophic fall.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Properly Train Staff and Supervise Safe Transport of Passengers with Limited Mobility
The legal filing asserts that Carnival Corporation, as a cruise ship operator, owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care which includes ensuring that employees entrusted with assisting passengers with limited mobility perform their duties with adequate skill and caution. Pressburg alleges that the cruise line breached this duty by failing to exercise reasonable care in controlling the wheelchair and by pushing it in a careless or inattentive manner. Furthermore, the complaint suggests a systemic failure in Carnival’s internal protocols, alleging that the company failed to properly train, supervise, or instruct its employees on the safe transport of wheelchair-bound passengers during the embarkation and disembarkation process. The plaintiff argues that the employee assigned to help him was not adequately trained or competent to safely accomplish the task of navigating the skybridge.
Complaint Alleges Direct Negligence and Vicarious Liability Following Wheelchair Accident on Carnival Firenze Skybridge
The lawsuit brings two primary counts against Carnival Corporation: direct negligence and vicarious liability. Under the theory of direct negligence, Pressburg claims the cruise line failed to implement and enforce reasonable policies for passenger safety. Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, the plaintiff seeks to hold Carnival vicariously liable for the specific negligent acts of the unidentified employee who was acting within the course and scope of their employment at the time of the incident. The complaint highlights that the cruise line is responsible for the maneuvering of the wheelchair and should have utilized the degree of care that a reasonably prudent employee would exercise when assisting a passenger with mobility challenges.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Bodily Injuries and Medical Expenses Resulting from Negligent Boarding Procedures
As a result of the strenuous effort required to avoid falling from the tipping wheelchair, Pressburg claims to have sustained permanent and serious injuries to multiple areas of his body. The lawsuit states that these injuries have led to ongoing pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and mental anguish. Additionally, the plaintiff is seeking compensation for the loss of earnings, loss of the ability to earn money, and a diminished capacity for the enjoyment of life. The legal action also demands recovery for significant medical expenses, including hospitalization and nursing care, as well as the aggravation of a preexisting condition. Pressburg is seeking a judgment in excess of 75,000 dollars, exclusive of interest and costs, and has demanded a trial by jury to resolve the matter.
Contact a Cruise Ship Disability Assistance Lawyer Today if You Were Injured During Boarding or Disembarkation
Passengers who rely on cruise line assistance for mobility deserve to be transported with the highest level of care and safety. When cruise ship employees fail to properly manage wheelchairs or other assistive devices during embarkation, the resulting injuries can be life-altering. If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to negligent assistance or unsafe conditions while boarding a vessel, it is important to understand your rights under maritime law. Our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers is dedicated to holding cruise lines accountable for failing to protect their most vulnerable passengers.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney regarding your potential case.
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.
