Florida Resident Sues Celebrity Cruises After Tripping Near Lido Buffet on Celebrity Constellation
Carlos Crossan, a resident of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises Inc. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-26039-DSL, alleges that Crossan suffered severe and permanent injuries after tripping and falling on a chair near the Lido buffet area aboard the Celebrity Constellation on January 2, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Celebrity Constellation Due to Improperly Configured Chairs and Tripping Hazards
The complaint states that the incident occurred during the late morning while Crossan was a paying passenger on the vessel. According to the filing, Crossan was walking from the Lido buffet toward the pool area, a common walkway where passengers are invited and expected to be. While navigating this area, he tripped on a chair that allegedly constituted a tripping hazard due to the limited space between the chair and other obstacles in the walkway. The lawsuit asserts that Celebrity Cruises failed to provide a walking area free of hazards and failed to properly place furniture to maintain sufficient clearance for passenger traffic.
Celebrity Cruises Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers of Protruding Chair Legs and Hazardous Walkway Layouts
Crossan alleges that Celebrity Cruises had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions. The legal team for the plaintiff points to the cruise line’s own internal policies and industry standards, which require crew members to perform daily inspections of deck areas for slipping and tripping hazards. Furthermore, the complaint argues that the cruise line knew it was highly probable for passengers to be injured by protruding chair legs or improperly configured furniture. Despite this knowledge, the cruise line allegedly failed to provide any verbal or written warnings to Crossan or other passengers regarding the specific risks posed by the layout of the chairs near the buffet.
Lawsuit Cites Multiple Prior Tripping Incidents Aboard Celebrity Vessels as Evidence of Notice
To support the claim that Celebrity Cruises was aware of the risks, the lawsuit references several prior incidents involving passengers tripping over chairs on different ships within the Celebrity fleet. The complaint identifies specific cases including a passenger on the Celebrity Silhouette in April 2023, a passenger on the Celebrity Equinox in November 2022, and two separate incidents on the Celebrity Summit in July and October 2022. The plaintiff argues that these prior similar incidents provided the cruise line with ample notice of the dangers presented by their chair configurations, yet the company failed to correct these hazardous conditions or modify its procedures to prevent future falls.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Medical Expenses Following Celebrity Constellation Fall
The lawsuit brings four counts of negligence against Celebrity Cruises: general negligence, negligent failure to warn, negligent failure to maintain, and vicarious liability for the negligence of its crew members. Crossan claims that as a direct result of the cruise line’s failure to maintain a safe environment, he suffered injuries to his body and extremities, physical pain, mental anguish, and a loss of enjoyment of life. The complaint further alleges that the injuries are permanent or continuing in nature, leading to ongoing medical expenses and physical handicap. In addition to physical damages, the plaintiff seeks compensation for the lost benefit of his vacation and related transportation costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Trip and Fall Lawyer Today if You Were Injured on a Vessel Due to Unsafe Furniture Placement
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly maintained walkways, improperly placed furniture, or lack of safety warnings may be eligible for compensation under maritime law. Cruise operators like Celebrity Cruises have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care and maintain their ships in a condition that is safe for all passengers. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trip and fall accident while on a cruise, it is important to understand your legal rights. Contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today to discuss your case and explore your options for recovery.
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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.
