South Carolina Family Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Child Is Injured on Carnival Sunshine Water Slide
A family from South Carolina has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation following an incident involving a minor child on a cruise ship water slide. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:26-cv-20330-KMW, alleges that the minor passenger sustained serious injuries while riding the blue water slide aboard the Carnival Sunshine. The lawsuit asserts that negligence on the part of the cruise line and its employees directly caused the young passenger to suffer physical trauma during the voyage.
Minor Passenger Sustains Serious Facial Injuries After Striking Pipe Inside Water Slide on Carnival Sunshine
According to the legal filing, the incident took place on October 15, 2024, while the minor plaintiff was lawfully aboard the Carnival Sunshine as a fare-paying passenger. The complaint details that the child was positioned at the top of the ship’s blue water slide and was instructed by a slide attendant to begin her descent. As she went down the slide, she reportedly flipped over due to the force of the water and violently struck her face against a pipe located inside the ride structure. The impact allegedly caused severe injuries, specifically described in the complaint as several chipped teeth. The plaintiff asserts that the accident occurred suddenly after the attendant dispatched her, leaving her unable to control her body or avoid the collision with the internal slide component.
Complaint Accuses Carnival of Negligent Water Slide Operation and Failure to Maintain Safe Water Pressure
The lawsuit brings a count of vicarious liability against Carnival, alleging that the cruise line failed to exercise reasonable care in the operation and maintenance of the water slide attraction. The plaintiff claims that Carnival’s employees rushed the minor into the slide without allowing her adequate time to properly position herself for a safe descent. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the cruise line failed to properly regulate or reduce the volume, pressure, and force of the water flowing through the slide, creating an unsafe condition that caused the rider to flip over. Attorneys for the family argue that Carnival allowed a rigid pipe or structural component to be exposed within the slide in a manner that posed a foreseeable risk of impact if a rider became disoriented. The filing also contends that the cruise line failed to warn the passenger of the risks associated with excessive water flow and rushed dispatch, and did not stop the operation of the ride despite the existence of these dangerous conditions.
Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Chipped Teeth and Physical Trauma Resulting from Unsafe Cruise Ship Attraction
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for the injuries sustained during the water slide accident. The complaint states that as a direct result of Carnival’s negligence, the minor suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, and requires compensation for the resulting medical issues. The lawsuit emphasizes that Carnival owed a duty to its passengers to inspect and maintain the water slide to protect them from unreasonable risks of harm. By allegedly failing to ensure the interior of the slide was free from dangerous projections like exposed pipes and by dispatching the rider into unsafe water conditions, the plaintiff argues the cruise line breached its duty of care under general maritime law. The family has demanded a trial by jury for all issues triable as of right.
Contact a Cruise Ship Water Slide Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt on a Cruise Attraction
Cruise ship passengers have a right to expect that onboard attractions, including water slides and pools, are operated safely and maintained free of dangerous defects. Cruise lines like Carnival are legally obligated to ensure that their recreational facilities are supervised properly and that equipment is safe for use by all passengers, including children. If you or a family member suffered an injury on a cruise ship water slide due to negligence, equipment failure, or improper staff supervision, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers to discuss your case and learn more about your legal rights.
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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.
