Miami, FL – July 11, 2025 — Brais Law Firm, a nationally recognized authority in admiralty and maritime personal injury litigation, has been retained to represent Hannah Smith, a 22-year-
old recent summa cum laude graduate of Miles College, who suffered catastrophic, life-altering injuries during a shore excursion booked through Carnival Cruise Line and reportedly operated by Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd. and Sun Cay Ltd. while in port at Nassau, Bahamas on May 12, 2025.
Background and Voyage Details
Ms. Smith embarked aboard the Carnival CELEBRATION cruise ship to celebrate her recent graduation from Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, accompanied by her close friend Brooklyn Pitre. Both young women had recently earned high academic honors and were enjoying a vacation cruise in the Caribbean.
While still onboard and prior to arrival in Nassau, Ms. Smith booked a Carnival-advertised and Carnival-sold shore excursion titled the “Pearl Island Beach Escape with Lunch” using Carnival’s Excursion App. The excursion was actively promoted onboard and on Carnival’s official website, with all payments processed directly by Carnival.
Incident Summary
At the conclusion of the Pearl Island excursion, the catamaran-style vessel—featuring twin hulls, inboard engines, and aft diver platforms—returned to Nassau and pulled alongside a pier to disembark passengers. Critically, it has been reported that the vessel’s engines remained running, and at least one engine was engaged in reverse during the disembarkation process.
During this dangerous procedure, Ms. Smith either fell or entered the water via the aft diver platform. After an interval, she was drawn into the vessel’s propellers, resulting in the traumatic near-amputation of her left leg below the knee.
She was transported urgently to a hospital in Nassau, where she underwent at least two emergency surgeries in an effort to save her life and her legs. She was later airlifted to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in Miami for advanced care.
Despite undergoing more than 30 surgical procedures, Ms. Smith’s condition deteriorated further. She ultimately underwent three successive surgical amputations of her right leg: first a below-the-knee amputation, followed by an above-the-knee procedure involving full femur removal, and finally, a hip disarticulation—the removal of the entire leg including the hip joint.
Legal Representation and Investigation
Brais Law Firm has initiated a thorough pre-suit investigation into the circumstances that led to Ms. Smith’s catastrophic injuries. Based on preliminary findings, the firm anticipates filing a lawsuit against:
- Carnival Corporation dba Carnival Cruise Line, as the cruise operator that promoted, advertised, sold, and processed payment for the excursion;
- Pearl Investment Management Group, Ltd. and Sun Cay Ltd., as the reported owners and/or operators of the excursion and vessel involved.
Anticipated claims against Carnival include:
- Direct negligence, for failure to reasonably vet, monitor, and ensure the safety of third-party excursions sold under Carnival’s brand;
- Vicarious liability, based on actual or apparent agency principles, asserting that the excursion operators acted as Carnival’s agents.
Claims against the excursion operators are expected to include:
- Negligence for unsafe operational practices, particularly disembarking passengers while propulsion engines were running and potentially engaged in reverse.
Had the vessel’s engines been secured and its propellers not engaged, Ms. Smith’s injuries would have been entirely avoidable. It is considered a minimum industry safety standard to disengage all engines and stop all propellers prior to allowing passengers to embark or disembark, precisely to avoid tragedies like this one.
Expected Defenses and Legal Outlook
It is anticipated that Carnival will seek to deny liability by asserting that:
- It lacked operational control over the excursion;
- It had no knowledge of any unsafe conditions or practices;
- The excursion operators were independent contractors, absolving Carnival of liability.
Brais Law Firm intends to challenge these defenses vigorously, citing Carnival’s direct involvement in marketing, promoting, and selling the excursion as establishing apparent agency, a recognized basis for vicarious liability under maritime law.
Statement from Brais Law Firm
“Our client, Hannah Smith, was a bright, accomplished young woman celebrating a tremendous academic milestone when she suffered these horrific injuries,” said Keith S. Brais, founding partner of Brais Law Firm and a board-certified admiralty and maritime law specialist since 1996. “We are fully committed to pursuing justice on her behalf and holding accountable those responsible for the sequence of unsafe decisions that resulted in this life-altering tragedy.”
A Poem Written By Hannah
Unfair Trade
A normal day is a normal day until it isn’t normal at all
A life you thought has ups and downs but this time you just fall
No one can catch you, no one can help you
But they give you motivating words when it’s something they’ll never have to do
Living in a world where I’m different now,
disabled as a gym girly, and I don’t see how
A nightmare that I never feared
would come at a time I thought I persevered
From peace to a daily pain
From Sunny skies to always feeling rain
Everyone’s so sorry for poor little me
Seeing my pain and thinking I’m as strong as can be
I’m strong because I have to
not because I want to
I would’ve chose death , I was okay with taking my last breath
This life is so selfish
But dying was my last wish
It wasn’t granted so that means I’m here for a reason, right?
They say your pain only lasts for a season, right?
How you answer depends on you
But I’ve felt a loss that will forever ache
I’ve experienced an emotional turmoil that surpasses heartbreak
A piece of me is missing
I’d trade the world for it
Dodging life’s curveballs but this time I’m hit
So instead I heal and try to fight my feelings of strife
But How could anybody ever understand me
I traded my legs for my life
— Hannah B Smith
Support for Hannah Smith
In the wake of this tragedy, Hannah’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with her extensive medical expenses, rehabilitation needs, and long-term care.
The fundraiser features two deeply moving videos:
A collage of Hannah dancing, capturing her vibrant energy and joy for life:
A bedside prayer and song vigil, led by singer Joselyn Rivera, offering spiritual and emotional support as Hannah continues her recovery:
To support Hannah’s recovery journey, visit her GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-hannahs-endless-adventures
About Brais Law Firm
Brais Law Firm is a nationally acclaimed boutique practice dedicated exclusively to admiralty and maritime injury law. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, the firm represents cruise passengers, seafarers, and recreational boating accident victims across the United States and internationally. Founding attorney Keith S. Brais, a former maritime defense lawyer, brings over 35 years of experience to his passionate advocacy for injury victims and their families. Hannah is also represented by Loretta Guevara with Brais Law, thereby providing over 43 years of combined litigation experience.
