Carnival cruise ship accident: Miami judge holds shipping company responsible
A federal judge in Miami has ruled that Carnival Corporation is liable for the 2023 Carnival cruise ship accident, which left a passenger seriously injured. The ruling requires the company to pay nearly $350,000 in compensation.
The ruling relates to the case of Miami resident Vivian Ruiz Rondon, who sued the company after falling on the Carnival Celebration in May of that year. According to the court ruling, the shipping company acted negligently by failing to properly repair and mark a hazardous transit area.
Case details
The Carnival cruise ship accident occurred on May 12, 2023, on deck 12. The lawsuit describes how the passenger tripped on a raised, improperly secured door sill, creating a gap between the carpet and the metal. Her sandal became caught, causing her to fall, resulting in a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, and torn tendons.
Judge Roy Altman of the Southern District of Florida concluded that the passenger was entitled to compensation, although the amount set ($344,051.24) fell far short of the $14 million initially requested by the defense.
Carnival Corporation responded through a spokesperson that it is evaluating "available options" to determine the next steps, opening the door to an appeal.
Cruise Ship Safety
The ruling emphasizes that the crew should have detected and repaired the faulty threshold during routine checks. The lack of signaling was a determining factor in the crash.
This case sets an important precedent since, according to maritime law experts, less than 10% of lawsuits against cruise lines make it to trial. In most cases, cases are resolved through confidential settlements that avoid public debate.
Among the arguments presented by Carnival's defense, it was argued that the obstacle was an "open and obvious hazard." However, the judge found it proven that the lack of maintenance and warnings directly contributed to the Carnival cruise ship accident.
Repercussions on the industry
Documentation submitted by the passenger's defense indicated that at least eight similar incidents occurred on the Carnival Celebration since it entered service in November 2022.
This verdict puts pressure on shipping companies to strengthen safety protocols , conduct frequent inspections, and provide visible signage in risk areas. Maritime law experts note that the ruling may encourage more passengers to pursue legal claims, even when companies attempt to resolve them out of court.
The case also highlights a key point: the level of trust passengers place in cruise lines when they embark on a cruise. Traveling on these vessels involves days of rest, leisure, and entertainment, but also the expectation of safe conditions in every part of the ship. The ruling reaffirms that companies have a legal and moral obligation to maintain these standards.
Beyond the compensation figure, the ruling sets a precedent for cruise companies' civil liability in matters of maintenance and risk prevention. From now on, routine checks and proper signage could become even more closely monitored by authorities and passengers.
The Carnival cruise ship accident also raises questions about international oversight of maritime safety. While companies typically have their own protocols, experts warn that the lack of stricter external controls leaves room for oversights that lead to serious incidents. In this sense, the Miami ruling could spur broader discussions about the need for global regulations that ensure uniform standards of maintenance, prevention, and liability throughout the cruise industry.
