A new lawsuit against Royal Caribbean is putting the spotlight back on mobility scooter safety aboard cruise ships after a Florida woman claimed she suffered serious injuries when she tripped over a parked scooter in a crowded casino.
The lawsuit, filed by Colleen Parson, stems from an incident aboard the Jewel of the Seas in June 2025. According to court filings, which were obtained by People, Parson was walking through the ship’s casino when another passenger allegedly bumped into her, causing her to fall over a stationary mobility scooter that had been left near gaming tables.
Parson claims the fall resulted in a severe wrist injury that required surgery. The complaint alleges Royal Caribbean failed to properly maintain safe walkways and failed to warn passengers about hazards in high-traffic areas. She is seeking more than $75,000 in damages and has requested a jury trial.
The cruise line is pushing back. In court filings submitted earlier this month, Royal Caribbean denied responsibility and argued that the scooter was an “open and obvious” condition that should have been noticed by the passenger.
Attorneys for the company contend that Parson’s own actions were the primary cause of her injuries and have asked the court to rule in Royal Caribbean’s favor.
Royal Caribbean’s own accessibility policy states that scooters must be stored inside passenger staterooms and parked in ways that do not obstruct walkways, corridors, or emergency access routes. The lawsuit raises questions about whether those policies were being followed in the casino area where the accident allegedly occurred.
The case also follows several highly publicized incidents involving mobility scooters aboard rival cruise lines. Earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Line was sued by Alabama passenger Etta Brock, who alleged she was injured after her scooter tipped over while navigating a reconfigured gangway on the Carnival Valor.
According to her lawsuit, barriers installed by crew members created a sharp turn that caused the accident.
Carnival later confirmed that crew members recovered the woman and attempted lifesaving measures, but she did not survive.
