Ohio Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line and Chukka Caribbean Adventures After Dune Buggy Rollover on Mardi Gras Shore Excursion
Teyana Adams, a resident of Ohio, filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation and Chukka Caribbean Adventures in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-27683-DPG, alleges that Adams suffered serious and permanent wrist injuries after her dune buggy hydroplaned and rolled over during a Carnival sponsored shore excursion in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, on November 5, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured on Mardi Gras Shore Excursion Due to Wet Terrain and Defective Dune Buggy
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while Adams was participating in the Over the Ocean Zipline, Buggies and Coconut Cove shore excursion, which she booked directly through Carnival for her vacation aboard the Mardi Gras. The lawsuit states that prior to the dune buggy segment of the tour, excursion personnel provided minimal safety instructions and failed to adequately explain how to operate the vehicles safely in adverse weather conditions. The off-road route had become wet, slick, and muddy due to rainfall. Despite these deteriorating conditions, the tour guides allegedly rushed the participants to reunite separated groups and failed to warn riders about the increased risks of hydroplaning or sliding. As Adams was attempting to stop behind another vehicle, her buggy lost traction in the mud and overturned onto its right side. During the rollover, the passenger seat occupied by her boyfriend detached from its mounting and violently struck Adams in the left wrist.
Carnival Accused of Negligent Selection and Failure to Warn Passengers of Dangerous Shore Excursion Conditions
The lawsuit alleges that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions presented by Chukka Caribbean Adventures and its dune buggy operations. Plaintiff’s legal counsel highlights multiple prior lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Florida involving similar accidents. The complaint cites specific cases from 2016 and 2025 where Carnival passengers suffered serious injuries after their Chukka operated dune buggies lost control and rolled over on hazardous terrain. These prior incidents are presented as evidence that Carnival was fully aware of the risks associated with wet trails, inadequate guide supervision, and unsafe vehicle speeds. Despite possessing this knowledge, Carnival continued to market the excursion as reasonably safe and failed to warn Adams about the potential for equipment failure, such as inadequately secured passenger seats. The cruise line is accused of negligent selection and retention for continuing to partner with an excursion operator that allegedly failed to maintain safe operations.
Joint Venture and Agency Allegations Against Chukka Caribbean Adventures for Negligent Excursion Operations
In addition to the claims against Carnival, the lawsuit names Chukka Caribbean Adventures and related excursion entities for their direct role in the accident. The complaint argues that Chukka failed to properly inspect, maintain, and secure the dune buggies, directly resulting in the detached passenger seat that caused the blunt force trauma to the plaintiff. Furthermore, Chukka personnel are accused of failing to monitor weather conditions, failing to suspend the activity when the route became dangerously muddy, and failing to provide competent guides who could safely manage the tour group. The plaintiff asserts that Chukka and Carnival operated in a joint venture, sharing both the financial benefits and the operational control of the shore excursion. By booking the tour through Carnival platforms and utilizing Carnival branding, the plaintiff was led to believe that the excursion was a seamlessly integrated part of her cruise vacation, raising claims of actual and apparent agency.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Wrist Injuries, Medical Expenses, and Lost Wages Following Carnival Mardi Gras Vacation
Adams brings multiple counts of negligence against the defendants, including vicarious liability, negligent failure to warn, general negligence, and breach of a non-delegable duty to provide a safe excursion. Following the rollover, Adams was diagnosed with a displaced comminuted fracture of her left distal radius. She required a closed reduction locally in the Dominican Republic before returning to Ohio, where she ultimately underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery to repair the shattered bone with hardware. The lawsuit details that Adams continues to experience significant pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in her wrist. She is seeking compensatory damages for her permanent injuries, past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, diminished earning capacity, emotional distress, and the lost value of her ruined cruise vacation.
Contact a Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt During a Carnival Vacation
Cruise passengers injured while participating in shore excursions, particularly those involving defective equipment, hazardous weather, or lack of proper safety instructions, may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines like Carnival have a legal obligation to ensure that the excursion operators they select and promote are fully vetted and that passengers are adequately warned of foreseeable harms. If you or someone you care about was injured in a similar shore excursion accident, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today. We are here to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options to hold negligent parties accountable.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney: https://holzberglegal.com/contact-us/
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.
