California Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Floor Near Casino Bar Aboard Carnival Panorama
Christina Kalpakoff, a California resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The case, No. 1:25-cv-25244-KMW, stems from a serious slip and fall incident that occurred on November 27, 2024, aboard the Carnival Panorama while the plaintiff was traversing the Deck 3 Atrium Lobby Bar, commonly referred to as the Casino Bar.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Serious Knee Injury After Slipping on Wet Floor in Atrium Bar Area
According to the complaint, Kalpakoff was lawfully onboard the Carnival Panorama as a fare-paying passenger when she slipped on an unmarked wet and slippery surface in the Atrium Lobby Bar. The substance on the floor, alleged to be transparent and not easily visible to guests, caused her to fall and suffer a comminuted, displaced, and impacted fracture of the right distal femur. The injury required surgical intervention and metal hardware installation, resulting in ongoing disability, medical expenses, and emotional trauma.
Kalpakoff asserts that the hazardous condition was not open or obvious to passengers due to its clear nature and the tile flooring, which provided no visual cue of danger. The complaint states that no warning signs, cones, or barriers were present at the time of the incident, and that multiple Carnival crew members were stationed nearby but failed to address or warn of the unsafe area.
Carnival Accused of Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Warn About Known Slip Risks Near Casino Bars
The lawsuit claims that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the danger presented by wet floors in and around bar areas such as the Atrium Lobby. Kalpakoff’s attorneys cite Carnival’s internal “Two Minute Trainer” safety protocols, which explicitly instruct crew members to place caution signs around wet floors and to remain near the hazard until it is cleaned. Despite these written procedures, no such actions were taken in this case, according to the filing.
Further, the complaint highlights that the Atrium Lobby Bar is classified by Carnival as a high-risk slip-and-fall zone due to passenger foot traffic and the likelihood of spilled beverages. The plaintiff alleges that Carnival failed to maintain a safe environment and that the lack of oversight, cleaning, or warning signage constituted a breach of the cruise line’s duty to exercise reasonable care.
Lawsuit Cites Multiple Prior Incidents of Passengers Slipping in Similar Conditions Across Carnival’s Fleet
To support her claims of negligence and notice, Kalpakoff’s lawsuit lists over a dozen prior incidents involving passengers who slipped on wet tile floors in or near casino and atrium bar areas aboard various Carnival ships. These include recent lawsuits such as Walker v. Carnival Corp., Booze v. Carnival Corp., Aubry v. Carnival Corp., and Helderman v. Carnival Corp., among others. Notably, several of these incidents occurred aboard ships with nearly identical layout and flooring materials as the Panorama.
The complaint argues that these previous accidents provided Carnival with clear warning about the risks of unaddressed spills and slippery flooring in bar-adjacent areas. Despite this, the cruise line allegedly failed to implement more rigorous safety measures, such as enhanced floor monitoring, improved signage, or slip-resistant materials.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Injury, Medical Costs, and Loss of Enjoyment Due to Carnival’s Alleged Negligence
Kalpakoff brings four counts of negligence against Carnival, including negligent maintenance, negligent failure to warn, and two vicarious liability claims based on crew conduct. The suit asserts that Carnival violated its non-delegable duty to provide reasonably safe premises for passengers. She seeks damages for pain and suffering, past and future medical treatment, emotional distress, lost income, and the diminished value of her cruise experience. The injury is described as permanent and likely to result in long-term impairment and continued medical costs.
Injured Cruise Ship Passengers Have Legal Options After Slipping in Hazardous Onboard Areas
Cruise passengers injured in common areas such as atrium bars, lobbies, and casino-adjacent walkways may have legal grounds to file maritime injury claims against cruise lines that fail to provide safe conditions or adequate warnings. If you or a loved one was hurt in a similar slip and fall onboard a Carnival cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost income, and medical bills.
Contact our team of experienced cruise ship slip and fall attorneys today to explore your rights under maritime law.
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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.
