West Virginia Woman Sues Royal Caribbean After Severe Leg Infection Following Negligent Medical Care on Explorer of the Seas
Ricka Underwood, a resident of West Virginia, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-21358-KMW, alleges that Underwood suffered life-altering injuries and nearly lost her leg due to the gross negligence and medical malpractice of a shipboard doctor during a southern Caribbean cruise. The complaint asserts that the cruise line is vicariously liable for the failure of its medical staff to properly evaluate and treat a significant wound, allowing a dangerous infection to fester for days while the vessel was at sea.
Cruise Passenger Suffers Severe Leg Injury During ATV Excursion in Aruba and Seeks Medical Care on Explorer of the Seas
The incident began on December 31, 2025, while the Explorer of the Seas was docked in Aruba. Underwood was participating in a guided ATV tour with her family when her vehicle was cut off by a car, causing the ATV to flip. The accident resulted in a deep laceration on her right lower leg. She was immediately taken to a local hospital in Aruba where the wound required nearly thirty stitches to close. To protect the integrity of the stitches during her return to the ship, the local doctor placed her leg in a temporary cast and administered an initial dose of antibiotics. The following day, Underwood returned to the ship and went directly to the onboard infirmary for a follow-up evaluation, expecting the ship’s medical team to take over her care and monitor the wound for signs of complication.
Royal Caribbean Doctor Accused of Failing to Examine Wound Leading to Life-Threatening Infection
According to the legal filing, the ship’s doctor committed a critical breach of the duty of care by failing to even look at the injury. Despite Underwood providing a medical report from the Aruban hospital and her husband showing the doctor photographs of the open wound taken prior to the casting, the ship’s physician chose not to remove the temporary cast or inspect the stitches. Instead of performing a physical examination, the doctor allegedly released Underwood to her cabin with a prescription for amoxicillin and pain medication. The lawsuit further notes that the doctor prescribed pain pills that were contraindicated with Underwood’s existing heart medication, despite being informed of her medical history. Because the doctor did not remove the cast or touch the injured leg, a dangerous infection was able to develop undetected over the final four days of the cruise.
Negligent Medical Treatment and Lack of Disability Accommodations on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
In addition to the alleged medical malpractice, the complaint highlights a lack of support for the injured passenger’s mobility needs. Because her leg was locked in an extended position due to the cast, Underwood could not fit into her cabin’s bathroom. The lawsuit alleges that Royal Caribbean denied the family’s request to move to an accessible cabin. Furthermore, the wheelchair provided by the ship lacked a proper elevating footrest, which effectively confined Underwood to her cabin for the remainder of the voyage. This lack of accommodation and the failure to provide a secondary medical assessment meant that the progressing infection remained hidden under the cast until the ship returned to Port Canaveral on January 5, 2026.
Plaintiff Undergoes Multiple Emergency Surgeries to Save Leg Following Royal Caribbean Negligence
Upon returning home to West Virginia, Underwood visited her primary care physician, who immediately recognized the severity of the situation. She was rushed by ambulance to a hospital where emergency room doctors performed the first of multiple surgeries to save her limb. The infection was so advanced that surgeons had to remove more than half of the tissue in her right calf. While doctors were ultimately able to save her leg, Underwood remained hospitalized for over a month and faces a long, painful recovery. Her legal team argues that the advanced state of the infection proves it had been worsening for days while she was under the supposed care of the Royal Caribbean medical staff. Underwood is seeking damages for permanent physical impairment, mental anguish, loss of earning capacity, and the significant medical expenses incurred due to the shipboard doctor’s failure to act.
Contact a Cruise Ship Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today if You Received Inadequate Care During a Voyage
Cruise passengers who suffer from medical negligence or inadequate treatment by shipboard doctors may be entitled to significant compensation under maritime law. Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have a legal responsibility to provide reasonable care to their passengers, which includes competent medical evaluations by their employed staff. If you or a loved one suffered a worsening injury or a severe infection because a cruise ship doctor failed to properly diagnose or treat a condition, contact our team of experienced maritime injury lawyers today. We are dedicated to helping victims of cruise ship negligence hold major cruise lines accountable for their actions and securing the justice they deserve.
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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.
