Florida Resident Sues Carnival Cruise Line Following Trip and Fall Over Floor Threshold on Carnival Venezia
Debra Broadus, a resident of The Villages, Florida, has initiated a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The legal action, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-22551-CMA, alleges that Broadus suffered significant physical injuries due to a hazardous flooring transition while she was a passenger aboard the Carnival Venezia on April 25, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Carnival Venezia Due to Dangerous Flooring Transition Near Ship Casino
The complaint states that the incident occurred during the afternoon hours while Broadus was walking on Deck 4 of the vessel. As she was transitioning from the ship’s casino into an adjacent hallway to return to her stateroom, her right foot suddenly caught on a metal threshold. The lawsuit alleges that this specific transition was not flush with the surrounding floor, creating an uneven surface and an excessive gap that acted as a tripping hazard. Furthermore, the plaintiff claims the area was slippery and lacked sufficient traction to ensure passenger safety. Photos included in the filing depict a raised metal strip marked with yellow and black caution tape, which the plaintiff argues was insufficient to mitigate the risk of the structural defect.
Carnival Corporation Accused of Having Constructive Notice of Recurring Threshold Hazards Across Cruise Fleet
A central component of the lawsuit is the allegation that Carnival had constructive notice of the dangers posed by these specific flooring thresholds. The plaintiff’s legal counsel argues that the cruise line was well aware of the risks because of a long history of similar incidents on various ships within the Carnival fleet. The complaint identifies several prior lawsuits involving passengers who tripped over raised thresholds or uneven flooring transitions, including cases occurring on the Carnival Magic, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Vista, and Carnival Radiance. By citing these past occurrences, the lawsuit contends that Carnival has a recurring problem with flooring transitions near casino entrances and failed to implement necessary fleet-wide safety changes to prevent future injuries.
Lawsuit Details Negligent Maintenance and Failure to Warn of Hidden Tripping Hazards on Deck 4
Broadus brings two primary counts against the cruise line: negligent failure to maintain the threshold and negligent failure to warn of a dangerous condition. The complaint argues that Carnival breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to properly inspect and monitor the threshold to ensure it was safe for passenger use. Specifically, the plaintiff alleges that the cruise line allowed an unsafe height difference and gap to persist and failed to restricted use of the area until it was repaired. Additionally, the lawsuit asserts that the danger was not open or obvious to a reasonable person walking at a normal height, yet the cruise line failed to provide any verbal warnings or adequate signage to alert Broadus to the hidden risk before her fall.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Serious Bodily Injury and Long Term Medical Expenses Resulting from Cruise Ship Fall
As a direct result of the trip and fall, Broadus reportedly sustained serious injuries to her head, shoulders, and knees. The lawsuit details that these injuries have required extensive medical treatment and ongoing physical therapy. The plaintiff is seeking damages for past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. Furthermore, the claim seeks recovery for the costs of hospitalization, nursing care, medical supplies, and the loss of earning capacity. The plaintiff maintains that Carnival is liable for these damages due to its failure to maintain the Carnival Venezia in a reasonably safe condition as required under general maritime law.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured by a Hazardous Floor Threshold
Passengers who suffer injuries due to uneven flooring, raised thresholds, or poorly maintained transitions on a cruise ship may have grounds for a legal claim under maritime law. Cruise operators are required to maintain their vessels in a manner that protects guests from foreseeable tripping hazards. If you or a loved one were injured in a fall caused by a defective floor strip or a lack of warning signs on a vessel, our team of dedicated maritime attorneys is available to help you navigate the complexities of a cruise ship injury claim.
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.
