RSSAmusement Park Accidents | Orlando Accident & Injury Blog - Part 4
Orlando Amusement Park Accident Prevention Tips
Although the Orlando area has some of the world’s most famous amusement parks that draw millions of visitors each year, each summer, our state has lots of smaller carnivals and other traveling amusement parks that move from one location to another at country fairs and other events. These smaller traveling amusement parks are fun and relatively inexpensive, but they are also more dangerous, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). The IAAPA reports that there were at least 1,086 ride-related injuries in amusement park accidents in Florida and across the country in 2009.
Legoland Reports Six Accidents in First Three Months of Operation
Legoland Florida is a newcomer to our state’s crowded amusement park scene and is located in Winter Haven. The new amusement park recently announced that there were six accidents during the first ten weeks since the park opened. Fortunately, none of the accidents resulted in serious injuries for the guests, but the news shed some light on amusement park incidents at Florida theme parks that sometimes get overlooked in the news. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has first-hand knowledge of amusement park accidents. He and other Orlando amusement park accident lawyers help ensure that our state’s many theme parks take guest safety seriously by raising awareness about lapses in safety measures and maintenance protocols that endanger guests and workers.
NTSB Cites Lack of Safety Protocols in Fatal 2009 Disney Monorail Accident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently finished its investigation into a fatal amusement park accident at Walt Disney World near Orlando. In their final report, the NTSB said that a lack of adequate safety protocols contributed to a 2009 collision between two monorail trains at the park that killed a 21-year-old employee. The NTSB’s 14-page report was the culmination of an investigation the agency conducted over more than two years in connection with the July 5, 2009 accident. The report said that one train traveling in reverse struck the front of a following train, killing the driver of the second train, a Kissimmee man.
SeaWorld Says Citations in Connection With Trainer’s Death Are Unfounded
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) official recently told reporters that SeaWorld Orlando’s policy of allowing trainers to determine whether or not a killer whale’s behavior poses a threat to handlers was a factor in the death of a trainer last year. A recent hearing on the matter revealed that the Orlando theme park has been issued three safety citations in connection with the accident involving a killer whale that pulled a trainer under water, causing her to drown. SeaWorld Orlando fired back, saying the citations and attendant fines are unfounded and that the drowning death was a tragic accident.
Universal Orlando Changes Popular Ride After Recent Incidents
Universal Orlando has changed some features of a popular Harry Potter-themed ride at their amusement park after two recent incidents in which guests were injured. Both accidents involved guests being struck by loose objects, one of which resulted in the guest losing an eye due to injury. The ride undergoing modifications is the Dragon Challenge attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This ride features two intertwined, suspended-seating roller coasters that are designed to pass within a few feet of each other. Universal has changed the ride so that they no longer pass so closely, reducing the near misses that have been part of the experience from the time the ride debuted. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has been following developments in this and other recent amusement park accidents closely.
Worker Fatally Injured at Orlando Theme Park
A worker at Orlando amusement park Magical Midway was mortally injured while on the job at the park recently. Accident investigators report that the 20-year-old victim was performing maintenance on a ride called the Star Flyer at the attraction at 7001 International Drive on Saturday, July 4. Problems began when the worker got stuck and subsequently lost his grip on the ride. When Orange County Fire and Rescue emergency responders arrived at the scene a few minutes later, they found the man dangling from his safety harness more than 50 feet in the air. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham is concerned about the rash of Orlando area amusement park accidents recently. He would like to remind anyone who works or visits any of the many Orlando area amusement parks to exercise extra care and speak up if you see a potentially dangerous situation.
Worker Killed in Orlando Amusement Park Accident
An accident at the I-Drive attraction at the Magical Midway Thrill Park claimed the life of a worker recently after he fell while working on the ride. The accident investigation is ongoing, but early reports state that the accident occurred around 2 p.m. while he was working on the I-Drive at the Orlando-area amusement park at 7001 International Drive. The 30-year-old victim was at around 90 feet in the air and wearing a safety harness while working on the ride when he fell, according to Battalion Chief Mark Smothers with Orange County Fire Rescue. Smothers did not know why the man fell, but he said that the man fell around six feet before being caught by the safety harness he was wearing at the time of the accident.
Disney Roller Coaster Will Remain Closed During Investigation
Walt Disney World officials have announced that they plan to keep a popular roller coaster in their park closed for the summer while federal officials continue their investigation into an amusement park accident that killed an employee. Disney reported that a mechanic was killed in March while working on the Primeval Whirl, a roller coaster in Disney’s Animal Kingdom amusement park. This roller coaster has been shut down for maintenance since January, and Disney reports that it will not open again until September 14 at the earliest. The ride had previously been scheduled to reopen in April, but that opening was postponed until June until the most recent announcement that the ride will be closed for the summer.
Worker Killed in Orlando Amusement Park Accident
An accident at the I-Drive attraction at the Magical Midway Thrill Park claimed the life of a worker recently after he fell while working on the ride. The accident investigation is ongoing, but early reports state that the accident occurred around 2 p.m. while he was working on the I-Drive at the Orlando-area amusement park at 7001 International Drive. The 30-year-old victim was at around 90 feet in the air and wearing a safety harness while working on the ride when he fell, according to Battalion Chief Mark Smothers with Orange County Fire Rescue. Smothers did not know why the man fell, but he said that the man fell around six feet before being caught by the safety harness he was wearing at the time of the accident.
Conductor in Fatal Amusement Park Accident Admitted Going Too Fast
The conductor of the train involved in a fatal amusement park accident admitted to a police officer that the train was going too fast at the time of the accident. The accident claimed the life of a six-year-old boy in Spartanburg, SC, and it caused 19 people to go to area hospitals for treatment for their injuries. Mr. Conrad, the conductor of the train, told police “he knew better than to drive the train that fast.”
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.