Florida Woman Sues MSC Cruises After Slipping on Wet Surface Near Elevator on MSC Seaside
Kimberly Skidmore, a resident of West Palm Beach County, Florida, has filed a federal maritime lawsuit against MSC Cruises, S.A. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The case, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21619-WPD, alleges that Skidmore suffered a catastrophic and permanent leg injury after slipping on a wet substance while walking on an exterior deck of the MSC Seaside on March 15, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Broken Femur on MSC Seaside Deck 16 Near Miami Beach Pool
The complaint states that the incident occurred as Skidmore was exiting an elevator on Deck 16 of the vessel, specifically near the port side of the Miami Beach pool area. While walking out of the elevator bank, she suddenly encountered a wet substance on the floor that caused her to slip and fall with significant force. Although it was not raining at the time of the accident, the exterior flooring was allegedly wet and slick. As a result of the fall, Skidmore suffered a displaced fracture of her right femur shaft. The ship’s medical staff determined that the injury was so severe it required emergency surgical correction by an orthopedic surgeon.
MSC Cruises Accused of Failing to Warn Passengers of Slippery and Wet Floor Conditions
Skidmore alleges that MSC Cruises breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to provide adequate warnings about the hazardous deck surface. According to the lawsuit, the wet condition of the floor was not open or obvious to passengers because the water blended in with the accessible flooring material. Despite internal policies that reportedly require crew members to place yellow caution signs or cones near known slip hazards, no such warnings were present at the time of the fall. The plaintiff contends that the cruise line’s failure to cordon off the area or make audible announcements regarding the slippery surface directly led to her injuries.
Lawsuit Cites Prior Slip and Fall Incidents on MSC Seascape and MSC Seashore as Evidence of Notice
To establish that the cruise line had notice of the dangerous conditions, the legal filing points to several prior maritime personal injury cases involving similar slip and fall accidents on MSC vessels. These include Rolfs v. MSC Cruises regarding an incident on the MSC Seascape, Diego v. MSC Cruises involving a fall in an elevator lobby on the MSC Seashore, and Bulies v. MSC Cruises. The plaintiff argues that these recurring incidents, combined with MSC’s own safety training materials and “Two Minute Trainers” for crew members, prove the company was well aware that its synthetic flooring becomes unreasonably slippery when wet but failed to take permanent corrective action.
Allegations of Negligent Design and Improper Maintenance of Synthetic Decking on MSC Fleet
Beyond the failure to warn, the complaint asserts that the flooring on the MSC Seaside was defectively designed or maintained. Skidmore alleges that the synthetic decking material selected by MSC lacks sufficient slip resistance for an area frequently exposed to moisture. The lawsuit claims that MSC participates in the custom design and specification of its ships and therefore had the ultimate control to select safer, high-traction materials. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that the cruise line failed to properly supervise and train its shipboard personnel to ensure the area was kept dry and that safety inspections were performed regularly in high-traffic zones near pools and elevators.
Seek Legal Help from a Cruise Ship Slip and Fall Attorney if You Were Injured on a Vessel
Passengers who suffer serious injuries due to wet decks, lack of caution signs, or negligent ship maintenance have rights under general maritime law. Cruise companies are required to maintain safe walkways and provide adequate warnings of hazards that are not readily apparent. If you or a loved one experienced a slip and fall accident on a cruise ship that resulted in medical expenses and permanent impairment, it is important to consult with experienced legal counsel to explore your options for recovery.
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.
