Virginia Woman Sues Carnival Cruise Line After Slipping on Wet Exterior Stairs Aboard Carnival Glory
Tekeithia Brown, a resident of Virginia, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Carnival Corporation in the Southern District of Florida. The complaint, filed under Case No. 1:25-cv-25361, alleges that Brown sustained serious injuries after slipping on wet and hazardous exterior stairs while descending to the Lido Deck aboard the Carnival Glory on January 5, 2025.
Passenger Allegedly Slipped on Wet Lido Deck Staircase Due to Hazardous Conditions Near Ice Sculpture Activity
According to the lawsuit, Brown was walking down an exterior stairway leading to the Lido Deck when she slipped and fell on a wet surface, which she claims was unreasonably slippery and lacked proper safety measures. The complaint states that the stairs and adjacent landing area were wet due to outdoor weather exposure, nearby pool and waterslide traffic, and crew activity involving ice sculpting in the immediate vicinity. Brown asserts that the flooring lacked anti-slip surfacing, and there were no warning signs or barriers alerting passengers to the dangerous conditions.
The hazardous nature of the flooring was allegedly not open or obvious to Brown, who claims that Carnival failed to reasonably inspect, maintain, or warn passengers about the unsafe conditions.
Carnival Accused of Negligently Failing to Monitor, Maintain, and Warn of Slip Risks on Exterior Stairways
The lawsuit argues that Carnival had both actual and constructive knowledge of the dangerous conditions. Brown’s legal team references multiple similar prior incidents aboard Carnival vessels involving wet exterior stairs on or near Lido Decks. These include:
- A March 2023 incident aboard Carnival Horizon involving a passenger who slipped on wet stairs in the pool area
- A December 2022 fall on wet stairs aboard Carnival Horizon near Deck 11
- A May 2022 fall on the Carnival Breeze near the Lido Deck stairs
- Multiple falls on exterior stairs aboard Carnival Horizon in 2021
These prior claims, many of which were filed in the same court, are presented as evidence that Carnival had long-standing awareness of the risk posed by wet stairs aboard its vessels.
The lawsuit further alleges that Carnival’s internal policies and industry standards require the placement of wet floor signs, routine inspections, use of non-slip mats or rugs, and crew interventions to dry or block off hazardous areas—none of which were present at the time of Brown’s fall.
Lawsuit Asserts Carnival Knew of Repeated Falls on Wet Stairs and Failed to Implement Safety Measures
Brown claims that Carnival ignored opportunities to address the dangers associated with its exterior stairways despite knowing of past injuries. The complaint emphasizes that the cruise line failed to correct conditions that had caused similar accidents on vessels such as the Carnival Horizon and Carnival Breeze, including the absence of non-skid flooring, caution signage, or rerouting procedures.
The plaintiff also alleges that Carnival has a practice of settling slip and fall cases confidentially, effectively concealing the true scope of such incidents from the public and new passengers.
Plaintiff Seeks Damages for Permanent Injuries, Pain, and Loss of Enjoyment Due to Cruise Ship Fall
Brown brings three counts of negligence against Carnival:
- General negligence for failure to provide reasonably safe walking surfaces and stairways
- Negligent failure to warn about the presence and risk of wet, slippery conditions on the Lido Deck stairs
- Negligent failure to maintain the area, including the failure to dry or close off the hazardous steps and landings
As a result of the incident, Brown alleges she sustained permanent physical injuries, pain, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, lost wages, and other damages. The complaint also notes her vacation and cruise experience were significantly disrupted due to the accident.
Injured on Wet Stairs Aboard a Cruise Ship? A Maritime Slip and Fall Lawyer Can Help
Slip and fall incidents involving wet or hazardous exterior stairs on cruise ships can result in serious injuries, especially in high-traffic areas like the Lido Deck. Cruise lines such as Carnival have a legal responsibility to ensure that stairways and walkways are properly maintained, inspected, and marked to avoid foreseeable harm.
If you or someone you love was injured in a similar cruise ship accident, contact a qualified maritime injury attorney today.
Speak with a cruise ship injury lawyer now to learn more about 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.
