Illinois Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Tripping on Raised Threshold Aboard Carnival Magic
Catherine Healy, a resident of Illinois, 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-25127-DSL, alleges that Healy sustained serious injuries after tripping over a raised and improperly secured threshold on Deck 5 of the Carnival Magic on September 9, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Injured After Tripping on Defective Threshold Near Elevators on Carnival Magic
According to the complaint, Healy was a paying passenger aboard the Carnival Magic and was walking carefully toward the elevator area on Deck 5 when she tripped on a raised threshold that separated a tiled floor from a carpeted section. The threshold was allegedly not flush with the floor and had lifted in a way that created a tripping hazard. Healy claims she was wearing secure and appropriate footwear at the time of the incident and had no warning of the dangerous condition.
As a result of the fall, Healy suffered a fractured wrist along with chronic pain and mobility issues affecting her wrist and hand. The complaint emphasizes that the location of the incident was a high-traffic area lacking adequate safety features such as handrails or support structures that could have mitigated the severity of her fall.
Carnival Accused of Failing to Warn of Tripping Hazard and Ignoring Prior Similar Incidents on Dream-Class Ships
Healy’s legal team asserts that Carnival either knew or should have known of the dangerous condition due to the presence of crew members in the immediate area, prior similar incidents on Carnival vessels, and Carnival’s alleged involvement in the design and installation of the threshold. The lawsuit references other federal cases involving threshold-related falls aboard Carnival ships, including Goroni v. Carnival Corporation, Colarte v. Carnival Corporation, and Foley v. Carnival Corporation.
The complaint also alleges that the raised threshold posed a hidden danger to passengers and was not marked with any visible signage or warnings, such as cones or floor markings. Despite Carnival’s duty to inspect high-traffic areas regularly and remedy known hazards, Healy argues that the company failed to address the issue, creating an unreasonably dangerous environment.
Carnival Magic Threshold Design and Installation Under Scrutiny for Unsafe Floor Transition Features
Healy further claims that the threshold design and its placement violated basic safety principles and industry guidelines. According to the complaint, Carnival either designed or approved of the design of the threshold despite its known risk of becoming raised over time. The raised flooring transition allegedly lacked sufficient anchoring and allowed gaps to form between floor surfaces, creating an easily missed tripping point.
The lawsuit asserts that Carnival, through its contractual control over ship construction and inspection processes, failed to modify or reject the defective threshold prior to placing the ship into service. Healy alleges the cruise line had the ability to identify and correct the dangerous condition during its design approval or inspection process but failed to do so.
Complaint Brings Four Negligence Counts Against Carnival, Citing Unsafe Design, Maintenance, and Crew Inaction
The lawsuit includes four separate counts of negligence: failure to remedy a dangerous condition, failure to warn of a hidden hazard, negligent design and installation of the threshold, and vicarious liability for the actions of crew members who allegedly failed to intervene. The complaint describes how crew members were within 10 to 15 feet of the incident and had direct line of sight but offered no warning or assistance.
Healy is seeking damages for pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished enjoyment of life. Her legal team also demands compensation for the loss of value in her cruise vacation and associated travel costs, claiming her injuries are permanent and continuing.
Injured on a Cruise Due to a Raised Threshold or Poorly Designed Floor Transition? Speak to a Maritime Injury Lawyer Today
Passengers injured aboard cruise ships due to raised thresholds, defective flooring transitions, or other hidden hazards may have grounds to file a claim under maritime law. Cruise lines like Carnival have a non-delegable duty to ensure ship design and maintenance do not pose unreasonable risks to passengers. If you were injured in a similar incident, a qualified maritime injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation.
Contact us now to speak with a Florida cruise ship injury 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.
