Florida Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Steps Near Serenity Deck Hot Tub on Mardi Gras
Keisha Matthews-McGill, a Florida resident, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-24971-FAM, alleges that Matthews-McGill suffered a serious ankle fracture after slipping on unreasonably slippery wet steps while descending from the hot tub area on the Carnival Mardi Gras.
Passenger Suffers Fractured Ankle After Slipping on Wet Steps Near Serenity Deck Hot Tub on Carnival Mardi Gras
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on July 31, 2024, while Matthews-McGill was descending a staircase on Deck 18’s Serenity Deck, which provides access to a hot tub area. The steps were allegedly wet due to frequent passenger traffic and were lacking adequate slip-resistant surfacing. The plaintiff claims she was wearing typical swimwear, as were other passengers in the area, and had no reason to expect a hazardous condition on a staircase designed for use around water features.
The lawsuit asserts that the condition of the steps violated safety norms and industry standards, and that the deck area was inherently wet due to its location adjacent to the hot tub. Carnival allegedly failed to apply non-skid materials, inspect the area adequately, or warn passengers about the risk of slipping.
Carnival Knew of Dangerous Wet Step Conditions from Prior Incidents, Lawsuit Says
The complaint details that Carnival had both actual and constructive notice of the slippery stair conditions, based on similar past incidents involving other passengers on Carnival ships. The plaintiff cites multiple prior lawsuits involving slip and falls on wet stairs near hot tubs and pools across Carnival’s fleet, including:
- Jeffryes v. Carnival Corporation (2024): Fall on wet stairs on the Carnival Celebration Serenity Deck
- Serrani v. Carnival Corporation (2023): Pool exit slip on the Mardi Gras
- Coulson v. Carnival Corporation (2024): Slip on wet stairs aboard the Carnival Panorama
- Martinez v. Carnival Corporation (2022): Pool area slip aboard the Mardi Gras
- Barnes v. Carnival Corporation (2025): Wet stair fall near hot tub on Carnival Magic
- Pavloff v. Carnival Corporation (2024): Hot tub deck slip on the Carnival Valor
These prior lawsuits are cited to show that Carnival had long been aware of the dangers associated with wet deck stairs and failed to take appropriate corrective action across multiple vessels, including the Mardi Gras.
Lawsuit Cites Violations of Safety Standards and Industry Guidelines for Wet Deck Surfaces
The complaint highlights that industry standards such as those set by ASTM International and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) require minimum slip resistance levels for surfaces exposed to water. The stairs in question allegedly failed to meet those safety standards. Specifically, the lawsuit references:
- ASTM F1166-07: Requiring slip-resistant materials in wet pedestrian areas
- ASTM F1637-13: Mandating adequate surface friction in public walkways
The plaintiff argues that Carnival’s failure to adhere to these guidelines constitutes negligence, especially given the high-traffic nature of the area and Carnival’s awareness of the risks.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injury, Pain, and Economic Loss After Cruise Ship Slip and Fall
Matthews-McGill claims she suffered a fractured ankle along with pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, and reduced quality of life. She also seeks compensation for past and future medical costs, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. The lawsuit states her injuries are permanent or continuing in nature, and that her cruise experience was significantly disrupted as a result of the incident.
She brings two counts of negligence against Carnival: negligent maintenance and negligent failure to warn. The suit alleges that Carnival breached its duty to provide reasonably safe conditions aboard the ship and failed to alert passengers of known risks in an inconspicuous area prone to hazardous conditions.
Cruise Ship Slippery Deck and Stair Falls May Be Grounds for Maritime Injury Lawsuits
Cruise passengers injured on wet, slippery stairs or decks—especially near hot tubs or pools—may be entitled to compensation under federal maritime law. Cruise lines like Carnival are responsible for designing, inspecting, and maintaining these high-risk areas to prevent foreseeable injuries. If you were hurt in a similar incident involving unsafe cruise ship stairs or deck surfaces, speak with an experienced cruise injury attorney today.
Contact us to speak with a maritime slip and fall lawyer.
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.
