Texas Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Being Struck by Falling Metal Pole While Boarding Carnival Dream in Freeport
Amando Garcia, a resident of Texas, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation after he was allegedly struck in the back by a falling metal pole while boarding the Carnival Dream in Freeport, Bahamas. The lawsuit, filed on September 2, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida under Case No. 1:25-cv-23961-KMM, accuses Carnival of negligence through its crew and seeks damages for serious physical injuries and emotional trauma.
Carnival Passenger Injured by Loose Metal Pole Dropped by Crew During Boarding in Port of Freeport
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on July 2, 2024, while Garcia was boarding the Carnival Dream via a gangway. At the time, Carnival crewmembers were performing maintenance work on the exterior of the vessel above the boarding area. The lawsuit alleges that during this activity, a large metal pole became dislodged or was inadvertently dropped from above by a crew member and fell directly onto Garcia’s upper back.
The below photograph was taken directly from the complaint. See Garcia v. Carnival, 25-cv-23961-KMM at pg 3.
The complaint states that Garcia’s wife witnessed the incident and that he immediately sought medical care in the ship’s onboard facility. The plaintiff describes the pole as heavy and metallic, and alleges that it was part of the vessel’s external structure or equipment being worked on at the time.
Lawsuit Claims Carnival Crew Was Negligent in Performing Maintenance Work Over Passenger Gangway
Garcia’s complaint brings one count of vicarious liability for negligence, asserting that Carnival is responsible for the actions of its crew. He alleges the crew was negligent in handling and securing tools or structural components while conducting work directly over a passenger gangway—a high-traffic area where heightened safety precautions should be enforced.
The suit emphasizes that Carnival had exclusive control and custody of the Carnival Dream, including the crew performing exterior maintenance, and therefore owed passengers a duty of reasonable care under maritime law. Garcia claims Carnival breached this duty by failing to ensure that its employees did not drop tools or equipment in an area used by embarking passengers.
Plaintiff Alleges Permanent Injuries, Medical Expenses, and Loss of Enjoyment of Cruise
As a direct result of being struck, Garcia alleges that he suffered:
- Physical pain and injury to his back and extremities
- Mental anguish
- Disability and disfigurement
- Aggravation of pre-existing conditions
- Medical expenses and continuing care
- Loss of enjoyment of life and cruise vacation
The complaint further alleges that Garcia’s injuries are permanent or continuing in nature, and that he has experienced physical impairment and economic insecurity due to his resulting disability.
He also seeks compensation for the loss of the benefit of the cruise and associated transportation expenses, as his vacation was allegedly ruined by the incident.
Boarding Accidents Caused by Cruise Ship Maintenance Errors May Trigger Liability Under Maritime Law
Cruise lines are legally responsible for maintaining a safe boarding process and supervising their crew to ensure passenger safety. When maintenance is performed above or near guest areas, such as gangways or open decks, cruise operators must implement proper safety protocols to prevent accidents involving dropped tools or unsecured materials.
If you were injured during cruise ship boarding due to falling objects, poor maintenance practices, or crew member negligence, you may have a claim under maritime law.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship injury attorney experienced in gangway and boarding accidents.
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.
