Missouri Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Falling Over Room Threshold on Carnival Celebration
Louise Pucel, a resident of Missouri, has filed a maritime personal injury and breach of contract lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25862, alleges that Pucel sustained serious bodily injuries after being forced into a non-accessible stateroom that did not accommodate her motorized wheelchair. The incident occurred on October 13, 2024, shortly after the vessel departed from the Port of Miami.
Carnival Cruise Passenger Injured in Stateroom Fall Following Denial of Reserved Handicap Accessible Accommodations
According to the complaint, Pucel specifically reserved a handicap accessible room for her voyage on the Carnival Celebration because she requires a motorized wheelchair for mobility. Upon boarding the ship and receiving her stateroom assignment, she discovered that the room provided was not the accessible accommodation she had contracted for. The plaintiff immediately notified Carnival employees of the error and reiterated her physical requirement for an accessible room. However, ship personnel allegedly informed her that no handicap accessible rooms were available and insisted she stay in the non-accessible cabin. Despite being aware of her disability and the necessity of specialized accommodations, the cruise line refused to provide the room Pucel had reserved.
Lawsuit Alleges Dangerous Cabin Threshold and Failure to Provide ADA Compliant Facilities on Carnival Celebration
The legal filing describes a dangerous situation created when Pucel attempted to enter the non-accessible stateroom. Because the room was not designed for wheelchair entry, Pucel was forced to stand up from her motorized wheelchair to enter the cabin. While attempting to cross into the room, she tripped and fell over the raised threshold of the doorway. The complaint asserts that Carnival created and maintained a hazardous condition by having a raised threshold in a room assigned to a disabled passenger. Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that the cruise line failed to warn her of the dangerous condition and failed to provide any assistance as she attempted to navigate the unsafe entry point. Interestingly, the complaint notes that after the injury occurred, Carnival employees finally provided Pucel with an accessible room.
Complaint Asserts Negligence and Breach of Contract After Carnival Fails to Honor Disability Accommodation Reservation
The lawsuit brings multiple counts against Carnival Corporation, including negligence, breach of contract, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pucel alleges that a valid contract existed between her and the cruise line for a handicap accessible stateroom and that Carnival breached this agreement by failing to provide the specific cabin type. Under the negligence count, the plaintiff argues that Carnival owed a duty to provide reasonable accommodations and to maintain the vessel in a safe condition. The complaint also highlights a violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, claiming that Carnival discriminated against Pucel by denying her equal enjoyment of the ship’s facilities and failing to provide the accessible accommodations to which she was legally entitled.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries and Medical Expenses Resulting from Carnival Stateroom Accident
As a direct result of the fall, Pucel claims to have suffered serious and permanent bodily injuries. The lawsuit seeks compensation for a wide range of damages, including past and future medical expenses, psychological treatment, and lost income earning capacity. Additionally, the plaintiff is seeking non-economic damages for pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish, and the loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The legal team for the plaintiff argues that these losses are permanent and continuing in nature, stemming directly from the cruise line’s failure to provide a safe environment and its refusal to honor a confirmed disability accommodation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Disability Discrimination and Injury Lawyer if You Were Hurt Due to Inadequate Accommodations
Cruise passengers who suffer injuries due to a lack of proper handicap accessibility or the failure of a cruise line to provide reserved medical accommodations may be eligible for compensation under maritime and federal law. Companies like Carnival have a strict legal obligation to provide accessible facilities and to ensure that disabled passengers can navigate the vessel safely. If you or a loved one experienced a fall or injury because a cruise line failed to provide an accessible room or ignored ADA requirements, contact our team of experienced maritime injury attorneys today. We can help you hold the cruise line accountable and pursue the justice you deserve for your injuries and disrupted vacation.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship disability 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.
