Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A 44-year-old woman is currently in critical condition suffering from a brain injury after she was struck by an “L-shaped” piece of metal that dislodged from a roller coaster at Cedar Point.
The woman was apparently waiting in line for the Top Thrill Dragster when the metal piece that is about the size of an adult male’s hand struck the back of her head.
Bystanders described the metal bracket as a giant Jenga block.
Officials with the Ohio Department of Agriculture said that an inspection showed that half of the bolts from the metal plate were missing, but they have yet to uncover what caused the bracket to come off the roller coaster track.
The ride inspector did verbally stop the operation of the Top Thrill Dragster immediately following the accident.
Officials from the ODA did say there was an inspection conducted on the ride on May 14. They also said that Cedar Point oversees executing “preopening inspections” for every ride daily.
Cedar Point announced last week the ride will be closed for the rest of the 2021 season. The investigation is ongoing.
When you decide to visit an amusement park, theme park, water park, carnival, or fair you place a lot of trust in the employees and operators of these facilities to ensure your safety. It is only fair for you to expect that you and your family will be able to enjoy your time at the facility without the worry of any potential dangers or hazards. However, as this case highlights, this is not always the case.
There are a great number of theme parks and water parks in the state of Florida. While most of these facilities are run safely, the bottom line is that amusement parks require a great deal of care and maintenance, especially for larger roller coasters. Amusement and theme parks should not be dangerous places, but there are times when these facilities drop the ball and serious accidents occur. There are many reasons amusement park accidents can occur, the most common being:
- Lack of sufficient security
- Poorly trained staff
- Not paying close enough attention to the maintenance needed for the park and roller coasters
- Cheaply constructed roller coasters
- Poorly designed or faulty restraint systems
- Roller coasters not being properly operated by park staff
When it comes to roller coaster injuries, there is no such thing as a minor accident. The sheer size and speed of roller coasters and the heights they can achieve with passengers only makes these accidents more severe and often fatal.
Our Florida Roller Coaster Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have seen the harm that is the result of roller coaster and other theme park and amusement park accidents. Injuries could include broken bones, disfigurement, spine injury, amputations, heart attacks, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and sadly even wrongful death.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a roller coaster accident, then there are a few things you should do. The first thing is to seek immediate medical care. You then want to report the accident to the police and the park manager. Next, take pictures and videos of the ride and where the injury happened. It is also helpful to get the names and contact information for all witnesses and the ride operator. You also want to keep all documentation of your injuries and the costs associated with your treatment. The last thing is to get in touch with our Florida Roller Coaster Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton so that we can start building a successful case on your behalf. We can conduct our own investigation into the accident and make sure that you are compensated fairly for your suffering. We encourage you to call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation. We can begin helping you right away. We take cases involving Walt Disney World, Legoland, and Universal Studios