Amusement Park Injury

June 16, 2016

Toddler Snatched By Alligator at Disney World Resort

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 2-year-old boy was snatched off the beach by an alligator on Wednesday at a Disney World Resort.

His body was recovered around 3:30 today. The body was taken to Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is believed that the gator drowned the boy.

The 7- to 8-foot reptile grabbed the boy late Tuesday as he was playing in about a foot of water at the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Hotel. His father, who quickly rushed to the boy’s aid, could not fend off the alligator and received minor injuries to his hand.

The boy’s mother also rushed into the water, but when the couple was unable to save their son, they alerted a nearby lifeguard who called 911.

Some 50 wildlife specialists, including trained alligator trappers, shifted early Wednesday from a search and rescue effort to a recovery operation, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

A tragedy like this is not something we read about often in the news, but sadly, things like this can happen in Florida.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission numbers, as of April there has been just one other incident where a person was bitten by an alligator in Florida in 2016. There were nine 2015, one of which was fatal, and 10 in 2014, none of which were fatal. Since 2006, there have been five reported fatalities due to alligator attacks, and since 1948, when the agency began keeping track, there have been 23.

Any body of water of any size in Florida can potentially have alligators in them. Most hotels and resorts near bodies of water are pretty vigilant about relocating dangerous animals out of areas where the public would be nearby. In Florida, you have to be very careful as alligators can be anywhere, including golf courses and even backyards.

May 23, 2016

Sheikra ReOpened At Busch Gardens After It Stalled With Riders On Board

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Sheikra is back open at Busch Gardens in Tampa after the roller coaster stopped Thursday with 64 passengers on board.

The roller coaster reopened to riders at the amusement park Monday morning, park officials announced.

Just before 6 p.m. Thursday, the ride stopped, stranding 64 riders 200 feet up in the air. Riders were evacuated after the roller coaster stopped suddenly with a car stuck on a steep incline.

The roller coaster was stopped in two places — one just before the 90 degree drop and the other on the climb to the top.

Park officials said right before the coaster cars that got stuck left the boarding area, the ride was determined to be safe. However, something caused the cars to stop at the top of the ride.

Crews have been inspecting the ride and performing checks since the ride stalled.

The park released a statement about the coaster on Monday:

“Out of an abundance of caution, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay conducted additional testing on its Sheikra roller coaster to confirm the ride is operating as designed,” the statement read. “The testing is now complete, and Sheikra is operational and will be open for guests today, May 16. Busch Gardens is pleased that our safety systems performed as designed and that all guests were able to safely disembark from the ride. The safety of guests and team members is Busch Gardens’ number one priority and our employees train regularly for conditions just like this. All ride attractions are inspected daily by trained technicians to ensure they are operating properly. Ride safety systems are designed that when a shutdown does occur, it is an indication that these systems are working.”

Amusements parks can be pretty dangerous when you think about it. Even when rides are working properly there is always some type of risk to riders. However, when a ride malfunctions, the chances of something bad happening drastically increases. While Busch Gardens has a pretty decent track record when it comes to safety, just one error can place innocent lives in jeopardy.

The good news is that no one was harmed in this incident at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. This is not always the case when a roller coaster mishap occurs. If anyone was seriously harmed or killed, depending on the situation, Busch Gardens could have been liable for the accident.

July 18, 2015

Boy Drowns at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 3-year-old boy drowned Tuesday night at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, according to deputies.

The call came in around 8 p.m. to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies claim the boy got separated from his parents and drowned in the pool. He was transported to Celebration Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The family was visiting from New York.

Florida, especially the Orlando and central Florida area, is home to a great number of water parks. Children of all ages love water parks, and they are an ideal destination for many families who enjoy the wave pools, slides and fun. However, if waterparks are not properly operated or staffed, they can be quite dangerous, especially for young or inexperienced swimmers. Children can easily get trapped by drains that are missing their covers or they can hit their heads while on a slide other ride and become incapacitated in the water.

Waterpark operators have a legal responsibility to take adequate steps to ensure the water park is free from any hazards. This may include making sure the rides are built, maintained and inspected properly. Additionally, this also includes ensuring that drains are working properly and safety equipment is in working condition. Water parks must also ensure they are staffed accordingly. They must have enough lifeguards, and these lifeguards must be properly trained to perform their duties.

July 8, 2015

Orlando Eye Re-Opens After Passengers Stuck for Hours

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Orlando Eye officials have confirmed that the ride was officially re-opened, almost 24 hours after it was shut down.

Officials said that after conducting a thorough inspection, technicians were able to resolve the default that monitors the wheel’s position.

According to reports, some passengers were stuck on board the Orlando Eye for nearly two hours on Friday. The ride stopped and guests were stranded on the large observation wheel around 3:45 p.m.

“The operating systems for the Orlando Eye indicated a technical default with the system that monitors the wheel position of the Orlando Eye,” said a spokesperson for the attraction on International Drive. “As a safety precaution, the attraction is designed to automatically shut down if communication with this system is interrupted.”

People remained in the capsules while engineers and technicians worked to fix the issue. No injuries have been reported.

One of the Orlando Eye passengers told FOX 35 that she had been stuck for 90 minutes before fire trucks began to assemble below. She stated that the enclosed capsule had no fresh air being pumped through it at the time.

“Immediately following the default, the operations team began working to resolve the matter to allow guests to disembark the attraction,” according to a spokesperson for the Orlando Eye. “A backup system was employed that allowed capsules to be moved to the platform and opened manually.”

Reports indicate that operators of the Orlando Eye maintained constant communication with passengers during the event. As of now, operations have been fully restored.

Millions of visitors come to the Orlando area every year, and Orlando-area rides and amusement parks are a big reason why people choose this area as their vacation spot. The theme park business is highly competitive, and theme parks are always looking for the fastest, scariest rides that provide the greatest thrills to guests. The sad truth is that some of these rides that are designed to appear dangerous actually are. Due to negligent design, poor maintenance and other factors, many people can suffer serious harm on these rides.

April 29, 2015

Illness, Injuries Reported at Orlando Theme Parks

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

During the first three months of 2015, three people felt seriously ill after riding Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey at Universal Orlando.

According to a quarterly theme-park injury report submitted to the state of Florida, Walt Disney World reported six injuries and Universal reported seven.

There were no reported injuries at SeaWorld, Wet `n Wild and Legoland.

According to reports, the injuries on the Harry Potter ride include a 69-year-old man who felt chest discomfort, a 51-year-old man with a pre-existing condition had difficulty moving his extremities and a 76-year-old woman experienced “altered mental status.”

The parks report injuries that take place on a ride and result in an immediate hospital stay of more than 24 hours.

At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, a 64-year-old man hurt his ankle while stepping out of a car at the Indy Speedway. At the Animal Kingdom, two people reportedly felt ill after riding Expedition Everest.

Theme park accidents actually occur more often than the public might think. The major Florida theme parks include Universal Orlando, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld Orlando, Disney’s Blizzard Beach, LEGOLAND Florida, DisneyQuest, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Universal Studios Florida, Discovery Cove and many more.

Most people tend to think that roller coasters are the most dangerous areas of a theme park. While in some cases these rides do present serious risks, injuries at an amusement park can also frequently result from:

Slip and Fall Accidents
Negligent Security
Drowning or Near-Drowning
Waterborne Illness
Disney Monorail Accidents
Shuttle Bus Accidents
Food Contamination
Malfunctioning Machinery
Animal Bites & Attacks

January 21, 2015

Two Disney Visitors Die After Riding Small World, Toy Story

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two Disney World visitors died late last year after riding two of the resort’s tamer rides, according to a state report issued Wednesday.

In one of the incidents, a 22-year-old woman with a pre-existing condition, lost consciousness after riding It’s A Small World on Christmas Day. She then passed away. The state report did not include the date of her death.

In the second incident, a 54-year-old woman lost consciousness after riding Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in October.

Both of the rides are kid-friendly attractions that are described as moving at slow speeds.

Florida’s Bureau of Fair Rides releases reports of injuries associated with rides at major theme parks every quarter. This voluntary report includes injuries that occur on a ride and result in an immediate hospital stay of more than 24 hours, and are part of an agreement the parks have struck with the state. Because of this agreement, these parks are exempt from public regulation.

The last time there were two deaths in one quarter was in early 2007, when a 60-year-old man had a stroke after riding Soarin’ and a 52-year-old man collapsed at the Downhill Double Dipper at Blizzard Beach.

The last ride-related death at Orlando’s major theme parks happened at Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool in August 2012. A 54-year-old man collapsed in the water and died of a heart attack.

Disney reported nine other incidents.

A 64-year-old woman fell and fractured her leg while stepping off the Prince Charming Regal Carousel at the Magic Kingdom. A 63-year-old woman with pre-existing health conditions had a headache and lost consciousness after riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. She then underwent surgery for an aneurysm. At the Mad Tea Party, a 49-year-old man tripped while exiting the ride and fractured his shoulder. After leaving Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a 54-year-old man with a pre-existing condition felt ill, and a 72-year-old male felt nauseated and lethargic after riding Space Mountain.

At Epcot, a 74-year-old woman fractured her shoulder after tripping over another guest’s bag on Soarin’.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Rock N Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, a 51-year-old woman suffered from memory loss and dizziness after riding the ride and later lost consciousness, while a 55-year-old woman had motion sickness resulting in nausea.

At Animal Kingdom, a guest with a pre-existing condition had a seizure on Kali River Rapids.

Universal Orlando reported five incidents. A 22-year-old man with a pre-existing condition felt sick after riding Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. A 36-year-old woman experienced neck pain on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. A 49-year-old woman with a pre-existing condition had a seizure on Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls. An 82-year-old woman experienced shoulder pain on Poseidon’s Fury. A 45-year-old man had a “change in mental status” on the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.

SeaWorld reported two incidents on the ride Journey to Atlantis. A 70-year-old woman suffered a collapsed lung and a 43-year-old man had a “personal medical condition.” No further details were provided in the report.

Amusement park accidents can occur at various different amusement parks. As this report shows, this can include large-scale parks like Disney World, Six Flags or water parks, or even involve smaller venues like carnivals and state fairs. Technically, even something as small as a school fair or carnival could be viewed as an amusement park if an accident were to occur. Accidents can involve visitors to the venue as well as staff members.

While most people enjoy visiting amusement parks, accidents that happen on these sites can be very serious and result in permanent injury or even death. Anyone involved in an accident at a theme park can potentially file a claim. Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against many amusement parks when a tragedy occurs resulting in death. Personal injury lawsuits can also be filed when injuries occur at an amusement park, such as neck and back injuries, heart attacks, broken bones, internal injuries, loss of limb and disfigurement.

January 2, 2015

Woman Hit in Leg by New Year’s Celebratory Bullet Fired Into Sky at Busch Gardens

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 20-year-old Seminole woman visiting Busch Gardens was hit by a stray bullet fired into the air during New Year’s Eve celebrations Wednesday night, according to police.

According to Tampa police, the woman was sitting in the Gwazi Pavilion area around 11:50 p.m. when she felt pain in her lower left leg. Busch Gardens Medical Services assisted the woman and transported her to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

X-rays showed a bullet lodged in her leg, according to reports. No other injuries were reported at the theme park.

A Busch Gardens spokesman said it appears the gunfire came from off the premises.

The incident just reiterates how dangerous firing weapons into the air can be.

In 2012, a stray bullet came down and pierced the skull of a 12-year-old boy as he watched fireworks outside his family’s home in Ruskin. The bullet traced diagonally through his brain, leaving him comatose for several days.

Many people celebrate New Year’s Eve by firing guns into the air. However, what these people fail to realize is that this can cause serious injury or death. When bullets are fired into the air, they fall with great force, creating an impact substantial enough to cause serious injury and even death. The risk of fatality is usually far greater than for gunshot injury victims due to the fact that victims are usually struck in the head. Head injuries like these can mean loss of cognitive abilities, sensation and movement. Traumatic brain injuries from gunshot wounds often entail a lifetime of rehabilitation and medical bills.

December 6, 2014

Woman Files Lawsuit Against Disney World for Carousel Injury

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Jacksonville area woman has filed a lawsuit against Disney Parks and Resorts, claiming she has a permanent disability after she fell from a carousel horse at Walt Disney World in September 2013.

The lawsuit states that Disney was negligent.

According to the lawsuit, “Disney changed the design of the stirrup that had been in use on the Carousel for many years, in favor of another model, which provided less tread traction, without anti-slip resistant features and therefore was slippery and dangerous to patrons.”

The suit has been filed in Orange County Circuit Court. It also also states that Disney “failed to warn its invitees … of the dangerous condition.”

A Disney spokesman issued this statement: “We believe the lawsuit is without merit and we will respond to it in court.”

Disney has publicly appeared to place a strong emphasis on safety at its parks through various publications such as its “Report on Safety” and on its website.

According to the report, the company takes “pride in everything we do to promote safety at our properties – from the Imagineers who apply advanced safety technologies to our attractions to the Security Cast Members who patrol our properties in vehicles, on bicycles and on foot 24 hours a day.”

The lawsuit alleges that the woman hit her head on the ground after falling from a carousel horse and suffered brain damage.

Numerous factors can cause an amusement park injury. The most common reason these types of injuries occur is because an individual falls off of a ride. In fact, a study published in Clinical Pediatrics shows that individuals falling off of rides at amusement parks makes up 31.7 percent of all amusement park injuries. The second most common injury is riders striking their arms or other body parts against a wall or part of the ride. Injuries to body parts accounts for nearly 20 percent of all injuries. Other causes of injuries at amusement parks include clothing getting caught in a ride, injuries when boarding or exiting a ride and individuals being hit by a ride.

November 4, 2014

Kentucky Waterpark Countersues Over Alleged ‘Staged’ Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Kentucky Kingdom is now countersuing two patrons who claim they were injured at the park, alleging that the injuries were staged.

Reports indicate that the couple had derived some sort of plan to extort money from the park. The two recently filed a lawsuit accusing the park of negligently allowing them to go down a water slide using an incorrect inner tube.

The man and woman claim they were injured when they fell out of their inner tube on the Voodoo Express water slide, blaming the lifeguards and the park for their carelessness.

Kentucky Kingdom issued the following points in their countersuit against the couple.

Lifeguards don’t give tubes to guests. “Approved tubes are in the pen,” according to the park.
Kentucky Kingdom rides have height and weight limits, and the pair allegedly “exceeded the maximum weight limit by over 70 pounds.”
The pair failed to wait for lifeguard instructions before going down the slide.

Moreover, a friend of the couple has provided a sworn affidavit to Kentucky Kingdom that the injuries were part of a ploy to get money from the park. The friend claims that her friend mentioned “that she planned to intentionally get hurt at Kentucky Kingdom in order to obtain a settlement,” according to reports.

It was also noted by the park that four weeks before the pair filed their suit, the woman’s season pass was revoked “after she scaled a fence in a restricted area near a roller coaster.”

When the party originally being sued wants to sue the opposing party, this is what is called a counterclaim. Kentucky Kingdom was originally sued by the man and woman for their injuries, but the park is now countersuing based on the allegations that the two intentionally got hurt in order to obtain a financial award from the park. If the claims do continue to trial, a jury will likely have to determine if the two were actually victims of negligence or not.

October 17, 2014

Kentucky Waterpark Facing Two Lawsuits Over Slide Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

When a serious injury or wrongful death happens due to an amusement park accident, a thorough investigation needs to be conducted. While amusement parks, including waterparks, have plenty of insurance and plenty of lawyers to protect them when accidents arise to keep the blame away from them, having your own personal injury lawyer can be essential to the outcome of your case. Having good legal counsel in your corner can help you you recover the rightful compensation you need.

Kentucky Kingdom’s Hurricane Bay is currently the subject of two lawsuits alleging that staff allowed customers to use the wrong inner tube for a certain water slide. Two patrons have come forward and filed suits against Kentucky Kingdom for injuries that occurred after falling out of the slide.

The lawsuit claims that improperly sized inner tubes were the culprit in these two cases. Both allege they were given “the wrong size inner tubes,” which resulted in them tipping over and becoming injured.

It’s not entirely clear which ride the pair were on when they were injured, but the lawsuit clearly states that they blame Kentucky Kingdom and its staff for their injuries. One of the injury victims suffered a shoulder injury after the fall while the other suffered a head injury “which causes her seizures,” according to reports.

If it can be demonstrated that the Hurricane Bay ride’s operators were in fact negligent in giving the two individuals the wrong-sized inner tubes, Hurricane Bay could be found liable for the injuries that resulted. Negligent operation of rides as well as the improper maintenance of a ride are quite common ways for theme parks to be found liable in these types of cases.

If you or a loved one was injured at an amusement park or water park, a Florida Amusement Park Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help. Our team of attorneys work with experts to determine exactly how the accident happened. Additionally, we enlist the help of medical and financial experts to document the full scope of injuries, the long-term consequences and the full financial costs associated with an amusement park accident.

Amusement park rides and water slides must be designed properly, regularly inspected for maintenance and stay under close supervision in order to prevent accidents. When something goes wrong on these rides, the resulting injuries can be life changing.