Puerto Rico Resident Sues Royal Caribbean After Crew Member Crushes Hand in Door Aboard Rhapsody of the Seas
Felix Vazquez, a resident and citizen of Puerto Rico, 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. 1:25-cv-25925, alleges that Vazquez suffered severe and permanent hand injuries due to the negligent actions of a crew member and the lack of safety features on a shipboard doorway while sailing as a passenger aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas on October 11, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Severe Hand Crush Injury on Rhapsody of the Seas During Rough Seas
The complaint states that the incident occurred at approximately 9:00 p.m. while the vessel was in transit. Vazquez was walking on Deck 6 toward the Schooner Bar when the ship suddenly rocked due to water currents. To maintain his balance and prevent a fall, Vazquez reached for a nearby wall. His right hand landed on an open doorway just as a Royal Caribbean crew member attempted to close the door. The door shut on Vazquez’s hand, causing an initial crush injury. According to the filing, the crew member felt resistance and realized the door had not fully closed but then allegedly attempted to close the door a second time with even greater force. This second action resulted in further crushing of the passenger’s hand and led to significant physical trauma.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Negligent Door Design and Failure to Install Finger Guards on Cruise Ship
Vazquez alleges that the doorway in question was a dangerous condition because it lacked reasonable safety measures, such as finger guards, which are designed to prevent exactly this type of crushing injury. The lawsuit contends that Royal Caribbean had the ability to remedy this hazard but failed to do so. Furthermore, the plaintiff’s legal team argues that the cruise line participated in the design, installation, and approval of the subject door and its surrounding vicinity. The complaint asserts that Royal Caribbean’s internal departments, including its New Build and Refurbishment teams, maintain ultimate control over ship specifications and have the right to inspect and reject design elements that pose safety concerns to passengers. By allowing the door to remain in an unreasonably dangerous state without safeguards, the cruise line is accused of failing its duty to exercise reasonable care under maritime law.
Lawsuit Claims Vicarious Liability for Negligent Actions of Royal Caribbean Crew Members
A significant portion of the legal challenge focuses on the theory of vicarious liability, holding the cruise line responsible for the specific actions of its employees. Vazquez argues that the crew member involved should have exercised ordinary care to notice his hand in the doorway before attempting to close it, and certainly before attempting to force it shut a second time. The complaint states that the crew members were uniformed, salaried employees acting within the course and scope of their employment with Royal Caribbean. Under established maritime legal precedents, the plaintiff argues that a shipowner is liable for the negligent acts of its staff and that a passenger is not necessarily required to establish that the shipowner had prior notice of a risk-creating condition when the injury is caused by the active negligence of an employee.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Fractured Hand, Nerve Damage, and Permanent Loss of Mobility
The lawsuit brings four counts against the cruise line: negligent failure to remedy, negligent design and installation, vicarious liability for negligent design, and vicarious liability for the specific negligent acts of the crew. Vazquez claims that as a direct result of the door crushing incident, he sustained a fractured hand, significant nerve damage, and a permanent loss of mobility, strength, and range of motion. He is seeking compensation for pain and suffering, disability, scarring, mental anguish, and the expense of ongoing medical and nursing care. Additionally, the suit seeks damages for lost wages, lost earning capacity, and the lost value of the cruise vacation and associated transportation costs. The plaintiff has demanded a trial by jury to resolve these claims.
Contact a Cruise Ship Injury Lawyer Today if You Sustained a Crush Injury Aboard a Vessel
Passengers who suffer serious injuries due to the negligence of crew members or unsafe shipboard conditions like dangerous doorways and lack of safety guards may be eligible for financial compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a non-delegable duty to maintain their vessels in a reasonably safe condition and to ensure their staff operates equipment with care for passenger safety. If you or a loved one experienced a similar accident involving a door crush or a failure to install proper safety equipment on a cruise ship, contact our team of experienced maritime attorneys to discuss your case. We can help you navigate the complexities of filing a claim in federal court.
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.
