Florida Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Tripping on Mobility Scooter in Crowded Casino Aboard Jewel of the Seas
Colleen Parsons, a resident and citizen of Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-23495-RKA, alleges that Parsons suffered severe and permanent injuries after tripping over a large electric mobility scooter while walking through a crowded onboard casino. The incident occurred on or about June 22, 2025, while the plaintiff was a paying passenger aboard the vessel Jewel of the Seas.
Cruise Passenger Injured Aboard Jewel of the Seas Due to Mobility Scooter Obstruction in Crowded Casino Walking Area
According to the complaint, Parsons was walking through the ship’s casino, which was heavily crowded with passengers at the time of the incident. As she navigated the space, another passenger in the crowded venue bumped into her. This sudden contact caused Parsons to trip over a large electric mobility scooter that had been parked directly in the walking area by a female passenger. The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean failed to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances by failing to monitor or supervise the placement and use of such large mobility devices within confined, highly trafficked passenger spaces. The plaintiff maintains that she was acting with reasonable care for her own safety and could not discover or avoid the hazard before the injury occurred.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Having Constructive and Actual Notice of Mobility Scooter Hazards in Passenger Areas
The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangers associated with allowing large mobility scooters to block passenger walkways. To demonstrate prior notice, the plaintiff’s legal team points to a previous maritime personal injury case filed in the Southern District of Florida, Shellie v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Case No. 24-CV-23035-JB. In that prior matter, a passenger alleged she was struck by another passenger operating a similar mobility device. The complaint argues that despite being aware that these scooters pose a distinct hazard to passengers, either by striking them or by creating tripping hazards when parked in pedestrian thoroughfares, the cruise line failed to establish or enforce proper safety protocols.
Complaint Alleges Lack of Cruise Line Policies, Employee Training, and Designated Parking for Mobility Scooters
In addition to general negligence, the complaint outlines specific institutional failures regarding how mobility devices are managed aboard Royal Caribbean ships. The plaintiff claims that the cruise line maintains no adequate policies or procedures for monitoring these scooters to prevent passenger injuries. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of care by failing to properly train and supervise its employees regarding the safe placement of mobility devices. Furthermore, the complaint highlights that the cruise line failed to provide designated parking areas for these large scooters, which directly resulted in the device being left as a dangerous obstruction in a small, confined, and overly crowded casino walking path.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Fractured Wrist, Surgery Scarring, and Loss of Cruise Value Caused by Cruise Line Negligence
Parsons brings two counts against Royal Caribbean: negligence in maintaining the casino and negligent failure to warn. The complaint states that as a direct result of the cruise line’s failure to maintain a safe environment and its failure to warn of the parked scooter, the plaintiff suffered a severe comminuted intraarticular fracture of the distal radius of her left wrist. The injury required her to undergo an open reduction internal fixation surgery, resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement. The plaintiff seeks compensation for physical pain, mental and emotional distress, medical expenses, physical handicap, lost earnings, diminished future earning capacity, and the total loss of enjoyment and financial value of her cruise vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Casino Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Tripping Accident Aboard a Vessel
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to poorly managed walkways, overcrowded venues, or improperly placed mobility equipment may be entitled to significant financial compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines bear a strict legal obligation to maintain all public passenger areas, including shipboard casinos, theaters, and dining rooms, in a reasonably safe condition. If you or a loved one was injured in a tripping incident or due to an obstructed walkway while at sea, our team of experienced maritime attorneys is ready to evaluate your 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.
