California Woman Sues Silversea Cruises After Slipping on Wet Gangway During Silver Spirit Disembarkation
Grace Wong, a resident of California, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Silversea Cruises, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-20867-BB, alleges that Wong sustained serious and permanent injuries after slipping on a slippery transitory substance while disembarking the Silver Spirit on September 11, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured Disembarking Silver Spirit via Portable Stairs and Gangway Due to Slippery Substance
The incident occurred while the Silver Spirit was in service and Wong was a fare-paying passenger. According to the legal filing, Wong was in the process of disembarking the vessel to board a tender boat. As she was navigating the portable stairs and gangway, she encountered a wet, slippery, or foreign transitory substance on the walking surface. This hidden hazard caused her to slip and fall with significant force. The lawsuit asserts that Silversea Cruises owed its passengers a duty of reasonable care, which includes providing a safe means of exit from the ship and maintaining the gangway in a condition free from slipping hazards.
Silversea Cruises Accused of Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Inspect Gangway Surfaces During Tender Operations
The plaintiff alleges that the cruise line was negligent in its maintenance of the ship’s equipment and egress points. Specifically, the complaint identifies several failures in safety protocols, including a lack of non-skid strips, slip-resistant paint, or mats that could have prevented the fall. Wong’s legal team argues that Silversea failed to conduct timely or adequate inspections of the gangway surface to identify and remove hazardous liquids. The lawsuit further contends that the cruise line did not deploy enough staff to monitor the disembarkation area or enforce procedures to ensure the gangway remained dry and safe for passenger use.
Lawsuit Claims Silver Spirit Crew Failed to Warn Passengers of Dangerous Conditions on the Ship Gangway
Beyond the failure to maintain the area, the lawsuit includes a count for negligent failure to warn. Wong alleges that Silversea had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition because of the length of time the substance had been present or due to prior similar incidents on its vessels. Despite this knowledge, the crew allegedly failed to provide any oral or written warnings to passengers about the slippery surface. The complaint emphasizes that the danger was not open or obvious to a reasonable passenger and that the cruise line failed to use signage, markings, or safety cones to cordon off the hazard.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Permanent Ankle and Shoulder Injuries Resulting from Cruise Ship Slip and Fall
As a direct result of the fall, Wong suffered significant physical injuries, specifically to her right ankle, neck, and right shoulder. The lawsuit states that these injuries have led to physical pain, mental anguish, disability, and disfigurement. The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding 75,000 dollars to cover past and future medical expenses, hospital costs, and the loss of earning capacity. The complaint describes the nature of these damages as permanent and continuing, noting that the fall has impaired her ability to lead a normal life.
Contact an Experienced Maritime Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Injured During a Cruise Ship Disembarkation
Passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly maintained gangways or slippery surfaces on a cruise ship may have grounds for a legal claim under maritime law. Cruise operators are required to maintain high safety standards to protect travelers from foreseeable risks during boarding and disembarkation. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall accident on a vessel like the Silver Spirit or another major cruise line, it is essential to understand your rights regarding compensation for medical bills and suffering.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall attorney.
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.
