Texas Man Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Carpet in Handicap Cabin on Carnival Jubilee
James Ward, a resident of Texas, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-23784-DPG, alleges that Ward suffered serious injuries after slipping on a wet, carpeted floor inside his handicap-accessible stateroom aboard the Carnival Jubilee on June 29, 2024.
Cruise Passenger Slipped on Wet Cabin Carpet Caused by Leaking Air Conditioning Unit Aboard Carnival Jubilee
According to the complaint, Ward’s incident occurred on the first day of his cruise, while the Carnival Jubilee was still docked at the Port of Galveston. Upon entering his handicap cabin for the first time, Ward pressed the automatic door button to open the balcony doors and attempted to step outside. As he began walking, he allegedly slipped on an “extremely wet and slippery” section of carpet near the balcony doors and fell to the floor. The wet condition was reportedly caused by an overhead air conditioning unit that had been leaking large amounts of liquid onto the ceiling and carpet.
The complaint further states that the adjacent cabin was experiencing the same leaking condition, suggesting a systemic maintenance failure. Ward claims there were no handrails or grab bars to prevent a fall and that Carnival’s crew had failed to identify or remedy the dangerous condition in advance, despite having been in the immediate area just minutes before the incident occurred.
Lawsuit Alleges Carnival Failed to Inspect, Maintain, and Warn of Dangerous Wet Flooring in Guest Cabin
Ward accuses Carnival of failing to perform routine inspections of stateroom floors, especially in handicap-accessible cabins. He asserts that the cruise line violated its own policies by not applying anti-slip materials or adequately inspecting the flooring before embarkation. The lawsuit alleges that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the hazardous condition and failed to warn guests or block off the affected area. The complaint also notes that multiple prior lawsuits have been filed against Carnival involving wet or slippery flooring in passenger cabins.
Ward also contends that the flooring design itself was defective and failed to meet safety standards for slip resistance. He references both Carnival’s internal safety protocols and broader industry standards, such as ANSI A137.1 and B101.3, which recommend a minimum coefficient of friction for wet surfaces. According to the complaint, the floor where Ward slipped fell below both the .42 threshold recognized by Carnival and the .60 standard supported by other safety guidelines.
Carnival Accused of Negligent Design and Approval of Unreasonably Slippery Flooring Material on Newest Cruise Ship
In addition to failure to maintain or warn, the complaint alleges that Carnival participated in and approved the flawed design and installation of the cabin flooring. According to Ward, the Carnival Jubilee—delivered in 2023 as part of Carnival’s Excel-class fleet—features flooring that lacks adequate slip resistance when wet and poses a foreseeable hazard in high-humidity environments like stateroom balconies. The lawsuit claims that Carnival had the right and responsibility to inspect and approve ship design specifications, and that it failed to identify or remedy the use of unreasonably slippery materials.
The lawsuit further asserts that the same floor design has been used in other areas of the Jubilee and potentially across Carnival’s fleet. Ward is also seeking to hold Carnival vicariously liable for the actions of its employees involved in ship design, material selection, and refurbishment.
Passenger Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries Including Back, Hip, and Surgical Hardware Damage
Ward alleges that the fall caused significant and lasting injuries, including trauma to his back, hips, legs, and feet, as well as damage to pre-existing surgical implants. He is seeking compensation for permanent disability, pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of independence, emotional distress, and the loss of value of his cruise vacation. The complaint includes four counts: negligent failure to remedy, negligent failure to warn, negligent design and installation, and vicarious liability for employee negligence related to ship design and construction.
Contact a Cruise Ship Cabin Injury Attorney if You Were Hurt Due to Unsafe Conditions on a Carnival Vessel
If you or a loved one were injured due to unsafe flooring, wet cabin carpets, or maintenance failures aboard a Carnival cruise ship, you may be entitled to compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines have a duty to inspect, maintain, and warn passengers of hazardous conditions in staterooms, balconies, and other guest areas. Cases involving slip and falls in cabins can involve complex claims of negligence, defective design, and failure to warn. Our experienced maritime attorneys are here to help.
Contact us now to speak with a cruise ship slip and fall lawyer and explore your legal options.
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.
