An Alabama woman, Etta Brock, says her mobility scooter tipped over during disembarkation from the Carnival Valor in January 2025 after she was forced to make a nearly 90-degree turn on a gangway. She is suing Carnival Cruise Line, alleging the setup created a
For Etta Brock, getting off the Carnival Valor in January 2025 was supposed to be a routine step off a cruise ship. Instead, she says her mobility scooter tipped onto its side on the gangway because of how the walkway was set up.
Brock, an Alabama resident, is suing Carnival Cruise Line over injuries she says she suffered during disembarkation. In a complaint filed April 28, she described needing to make a “nearly 90-degree turn” on the gangway because of stanchions placed there by crew members.
“The necessary turn combined with the elevation differential created by the threshold. caused the scooter to destabilize and tip onto its side. ” the complaint states. Brock alleges the situation amounted to an “inherent tipping hazard for mobility devices” and that Carnival “knew or should have known” such devices would be present during disembarkation.
She says her scooter was damaged on a flight and that the incident left her with injuries across her body and extremities, along with medical expenses, disfigurement, mental anguish, and other lasting repercussions.
Brock’s lawsuit also points to what she says were missing safety supports. She alleges there were “no warnings. barriers. signage. or other indicators” alerting passengers to a “sudden sharp turn and threshold hazard.” The complaint further says no crew member was present to assist passengers as they exited the ship.
Brock, according to the complaint, rented the scooter through Carnival Cruise Line’s website. The lawsuit says the device was provided by a third-party vendor.
The complaint also describes how the flow of foot traffic on the gangway reduced visibility of potential hazards on the floor. It says Carnival did not take “special precautions to assist plaintiff though she was disabled.”
Carnival Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, Joseph J. Rinaldi. Jr. an attorney for Brock. said: “We believe this incident was entirely preventable had appropriate safety measures and warnings been in place. and we are committed to seeking accountability and justice for Ms. Brock.” He added that the goal is to ensure cruise lines “take the necessary steps to protect all passengers. especially those who are most vulnerable.”.
The lawsuit alleges negligence by Carnival and seeks damages along with a jury trial. The dispute now centers on whether the gangway design and lack of assistance or warnings turned a basic disembarkation moment into a preventable accident for a passenger using a mobility device.
Carnival Cruise Line lawsuit Carnival Valor mobility scooter accident accessibility gangway hazard disability assistance Etta Brock