A man has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Universal Orlando Resort, claiming he suffered a brain bleed after slipping in a wet bathroom at the Universal Volcano Bay water park. Joshua De La Cruz, the plaintiff, alleges that his fall occurred after riding the Ko’okiri Body Plunge waterslide on July 11, 2025. He says that after asking a nearby lifeguard where the restroom was, he entered the bathroom, only to slip on the excessively wet floor.
De La Cruz’s lawsuit, filed on September 24, 2025, by Searcy Law, states that he was knocked unconscious after hitting his head on the floor. When he regained consciousness, he found himself lying in a pool of his own blood. According to the complaint, De La Cruz was then rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with a significant brain bleed.
The lawsuit accuses Universal Orlando Resort of multiple instances of negligence, including failing to provide a safe bathroom floor, not drying the floor, and neglecting to put up proper wet-floor signage. De La Cruz’s legal team also claims that substances like sand, sunscreen, and oils may have worsened the slippery conditions. “A reasonably prudent venue would not have [a] bathroom floor that could pose a danger to its invitees,” the complaint argues.
As a result of the fall, the lawsuit demands $50 million in damages. It claims that De La Cruz has endured severe pain, suffering, and mental anguish, as well as loss of enjoyment of life and financial loss. The complaint outlines ongoing, permanent losses, including expenses for hospitalization, medical care, and treatment, both past and future.
Although Universal Orlando Resort has yet to comment on the lawsuit publicly, the company is no stranger to legal disputes. The Central Florida vacation destination recently reached a settlement in a case involving a woman injured while riding the Stardust Racers. This comes amid heightened public scrutiny over the Universal Epic Universe attraction, after a tragic incident in which a disabled man passed away following a ride on the attraction. The man’s family has retained legal counsel, and the investigation into the death is ongoing.
Have you experienced a safety issue at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, or Universal Volcano Bay? Share your story with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
I fell while holding my young child in volcano bay, literally just walking with him to get food on the bridge. It was very slippery in the spot I stepped and almost felt like skinny or mossy. I fell so hard and was bleeding and somehow managed to save my toddler from slamming into the ground. It was absolutely awful.