Canadian Resident Sues NCL After Slip and Fall on Slippery Elevator Floor Aboard Norwegian Encore
Adel Matta, a resident of Canada, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22045-DSL, alleges that Matta sustained serious and permanent injuries after slipping on an accumulation of water inside an elevator while traveling as a passenger aboard the Norwegian Encore on March 26, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Norwegian Encore Due to Wet Marble Elevator Tile and Lack of Warning Signs
According to the legal filing, the incident occurred as Matta was entering an elevator from Deck 7 of the vessel. Upon stepping into the elevator, he immediately slipped and fell due to a collection of water on the floor. The complaint asserts that the flooring consisted of a polished, marble-like tile which made the liquid difficult to see due to the high shine and reflective nature of the surface. Matta alleges that the hazard was not open or obvious and that there was no way for him to identify the danger before the fall occurred. The lawsuit further contends that the cruise line failed to provide any verbal or written warnings, such as caution signs, to alert passengers that the elevator floor was unreasonably wet and slippery at the time of the accident.
Norwegian Cruise Line Accused of Having Constructive Knowledge of Dangerous Conditions via CCTV Monitoring
The lawsuit alleges that NCL had both actual and constructive knowledge of the hazardous condition inside the elevator. Matta’s legal team claims that the vessel was equipped with video cameras within the elevator that captured the dangerous condition existing for at least eight minutes prior to the fall. The complaint argues that the cruise line was or should have been monitoring this CCTV footage for slipping hazards and therefore should have seen the flooring become unreasonably wet and slippery. Despite this window of time, the crew allegedly failed to intervene, clean the area, or cordone off the elevator to prevent passenger injuries.
NCL Facing Allegations of Failing to Maintain Safe Flooring and Ignoring Prior Slip and Fall Incidents
In addition to the lack of immediate response, the complaint suggests that NCL should have been aware of the risks based on prior similar incidents involving the same or similar flooring materials across its fleet. The plaintiff references several previous lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida, including Lattimore v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., Crosby v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., and Boylan v. NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. These cases involved passengers slipping on wet, polished, or marble-like tiled flooring on various NCL ships, including the Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy. Matta alleges that these prior accidents put the cruise line on notice that this specific type of flooring has an insufficiently high coefficient of friction when wet, making it a recurring safety hazard that the defendant failed to rectify.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Medical Expenses Resulting from Cruise Ship Negligence
Matta has brought three counts against the cruise line: negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and general negligence. The lawsuit claims that as a direct result of NCL’s failure to provide a reasonably safe environment, Matta suffered physical pain, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The complaint further states that the injuries are permanent or continuing in nature, leading to lost wages and an impaired ability to work in the future. Beyond physical damages, Matta is seeking compensation for medical expenses and the lost value of the vacation, cruise, and transportation costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Elevator Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Slip and Fall Accident
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to a slip and fall on a cruise ship, specifically involving slippery elevator floors, wet tile, or a lack of warning signs, you may have grounds for a maritime claim. Cruise lines are legally obligated to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and must warn passengers of known hazards that are not readily apparent. Our team of experienced maritime attorneys is dedicated to helping victims of cruise ship negligence navigate the complexities of federal court and maritime law.
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.
