Amusement Park Accidents

The Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon, which takes place along Lake Buena Vista, is a popular event for both casual and serious runners as well as those who just enjoy spending more time in the Disney universe. This past Sunday, nearly 15,000 people attended the event, which begins at Magic Kingdom and ends at Epcot after taking runners on a 13.1 mile course. Read the rest »

In an update to last week’s story about the riders of Universal Orlando Resort’s Hogwarts Express who became trapped within the train as it made its way from King’s Cross Station in London to Hogsmeade Station, it seems that the city of Orlando has allowed the previously unmentioned 9-1-1 calls made from within the trapped train to be released. The initial report on the incident was made primarily using statements from the management from Universal Studios and did not include any mention of the 9-1-1 calls. Read the rest »

Would-be wizards and warlocks were alarmed on Thursday afternoon after the shuttle transporting them from King’s Cross Station in London to Hogsmeade Station in Orlando suffered from a technical malfunction which resulted in the magic fans of all ages being stranded for over an hour in a hot compartment without air conditioning. No amount of wizard training prepared the guests of Universal Orlando Resort’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter for this very non-magical moment, and it is reported that in the resulting situation several people became faint due to the heat and lack of water. Read the rest »

Two unrelated incidents at one of the country’s largest amusement parks has brought attention to the alarming frequency of theme park injuries.

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Last Saturday evening at Six Flags Great Escape New York, a fourteen year-old girl fell from a 25 ft. high gondola ride into the arms of good samaritans visiting or working the park at the time of the accident.

Season-pass holder Matthew Howard, Sr., from Schenectady witnessed the young teen, clearly distressed and dangling from the Sky Ride, a ski lift-type of apparatus, made for in-park sightseeing. He gathered a crowd underneath the girl in order to catch her, and convinced her to drop once everyone was properly in place.

The girl, whose name has not been released, suffered non life-threatening injuries. She was first transported to Glen Falls Hospital, then Albany Medical Center for further testing. Howard was treated for minor back injuries and has since been released.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office have concluded that “human error” (on the rider’s part) to be the cause of this accident, although they have yet to interview the girl, or her brother, who was riding next to her when the falling incident occurred.

The state Department of Labor has inspected and since cleared the ride for reopening. Park officials have decided to keep it shut down until this coming Sunday, pending their own internal investigation into the ride.

“The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and out of an abundance of caution, the ride will remain closed while we conduct a thorough internal review,” a park representative has since stated.

Orlando Amusement Park Accident Attorneys

Orlando is the “Theme Park Capital of the World”, playing host to over 60 million tourists a year, all of which are hoping to make their own vacation dreams come true. Amusement parks such as Disney World, Six Flags, and Cedar Point, to name a few, have gone to great lengths to uphold the highest of safety standards for everyone in their parks and resorts – patrons and employees alike.

Although amusement park accidents and injuries at theme parks are few and far between, they do occur. At the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A., we know how difficult it can be dealing with the aftermath of an accident. We provide free initial consultations.

Read More:
After heroic Six Flags rescue, question remains: How safe are amusement park rides?

Police: ‘Human error’ believed to be cause of Great Escape accident

Great Escape keeps ‘Sky Ride’ closed after teen falls

How Orlando Became the Theme Park Capital of The World

Individuals combing through the Florida State records recently discovered a new death that occurred at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, although this death failed to reach wider audiences through traditional publishing means. Read the rest »

Workers’ compensation lawsuits are complicated, especially in Florida. In 2003, the Florida Legislature changed the rules, hoping to protect employers from lawsuits outside of regular workers’ compensation claims. Under the law, a worker who is injured in an accident must prove that the situation was "virtually certain to result in injury or death." That did not stop the wife of man killed in an accident at Walt Disney Parks from filing a wrongful death lawsuit. She seeks compensation for an accident that took the life of her husband.

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On April 12^th there was a fatal car accident at the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. Driving instructor Gary Terry, 36 years old, was killed when the driver of the vehicle, Tavon Watson, lost control and it crashed into a guardrail. Mr. Terry was pronounced dead at the scene, and Mr. Watson was taken to the hospital, but released with only minor injuries.

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In Florida, amusement parks are a way of life. With Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios at our doorstep, amusement parks are a fun and accessible option for weekend entertainment, and are visited by thousands each year.

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There is a new viral video making its way around the Internet, but do not watch it! The video is actually malware, which can infect your computer and give hackers a gateway to your private, personal information. It is said to be “shocking” footage of a roller coaster accident that supposedly happened at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

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