Florida Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Tripping on Sticky Mat Near Photo Studio Aboard Carnival Celebration
Isabel Oduardo, a 69-year-old resident of Hialeah Gardens, Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The case, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-23723-KMM, alleges that Oduardo sustained a fractured arm after tripping on a sticky plastic mat placed near a photo station on Deck 8 of the Carnival Celebration on September 17, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured After Encountering Sticky Surface at Temporary Photo Area on Carnival Celebration
According to the complaint, Oduardo was walking toward dinner with her travel companions near the Bonsai Sushi restaurant on Deck 8 when she encountered a temporary photo setup staffed by a Carnival photographer. A large plastic mat had been laid across the walkway as part of the photo station. The mat, allegedly affixed with tape, was intended to serve as flooring for the photography area.
As Oduardo stepped onto the mat, her foot became stuck in an unknown sticky substance that had allegedly accumulated on its surface. The sudden resistance caused her to lose her balance and fall. The lawsuit claims that there were no cones, ropes, stanchions, or warning signs to indicate that the mat posed any hazard, and the sticky substance was neither visible nor obvious. As a result of the fall, Oduardo suffered a fractured right arm and other injuries.
Lawsuit Accuses Carnival of Failing to Warn Passengers About Sticky Hazard on Photography Mat
The complaint alleges that Carnival failed in its duty to warn passengers of the hazardous condition created by the sticky mat. Oduardo asserts that Carnival knew or should have known about the dangerous condition because its crew members, including the photographer, were actively present in the area and responsible for setting up the photo station. The plaintiff contends that this area was a high-traffic location where guests are invited to walk and take photographs, increasing the foreseeability of such an incident.
Oduardo claims that the condition violated internal Carnival safety procedures, as well as international safety standards such as the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) conventions, which require cruise lines to routinely inspect and maintain passenger walkways to prevent hazards.
Carnival Celebrated Lawsuit References Similar Accidents Involving Cruise Ship Photography Stations
Oduardo’s legal team cites previous cases involving similar trip and fall incidents at or near temporary photo setups on Carnival vessels. The complaint references cases like Navarro v. Carnival Corp., Ortiz v. Carnival, and Fernandez v. Carnival, all involving cruise passengers who were injured due to tripping on equipment or flooring related to onboard photography operations.
Additionally, the lawsuit references other reported cases where passengers tripped due to unknown sticky substances in walkways aboard Carnival ships, including Taylor v. Carnival and Mallory v. Carnival. These prior incidents are used to bolster the plaintiff’s claim that Carnival had constructive notice of the risk posed by allowing sticky substances or poorly maintained surfaces in high-traffic passenger areas.
Passenger Seeks Damages for Fractured Arm, Medical Costs, and Loss of Enjoyment of Cruise
Oduardo’s lawsuit brings four counts against Carnival: negligent failure to warn, negligent inspection and maintenance, general negligence, and vicarious liability for the acts of its onboard photographer. The plaintiff is seeking damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, emotional distress, physical disability, and the loss of enjoyment of her cruise. Her injuries are alleged to be permanent in nature, and the complaint states that the fall significantly disrupted what was intended to be a leisure vacation.
Tripped on a Sticky or Hazardous Surface Aboard a Cruise Ship? Contact a Maritime Injury Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured aboard a cruise ship due to sticky surfaces, temporary setups like photo booths, or unmarked hazards in public walkways, you may have a right to pursue compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a legal duty to maintain clean, safe, and well-monitored walkways for passengers. Whether the hazard was created by a crew member or left unattended for too long, cruise lines may be held liable for your injuries.
Contact us now to speak with a Florida-based cruise ship injury lawyer about your potential claim.
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.
