Florida ride stops midair leaving riders hanging on to the bars
A tragedy was narrowly avoided last week at the Florida State Fair in Tampa where an amusement park ride stopped abruptly midair with passengers onboard. What makes this seemingly mundane incident so dangerous is that the ride, called the “Enterprise,” uses momentum to keep riders inside the carriage and on their seats, so there are no restraints. When the ride stopped, it obviously lost momentum. Some of the carriages flipped back and forth repeatedly and many visitors were left hanging upside down. Panicked people had to hang on to the bars in their carriages until they were rescued.The malfunction didn’t cause any serious injuries, but the people were pretty shaken when they got down. The ride was immediately shut down.
Thousands of people injured in amusement park accidents each year
This is not the first and, unfortunately, won’t be the last safety incident at a Florida amusement park.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2019 there were 1,299 injuries from amusement park accidents in the US. On average, 4 people die each year following amusement park accidents.
To file a personal injury lawsuit against an amusement park in Florida If you have suffered injuries due to the negligence of the park or its employees, you need to contact experienced Florida personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. Keep in mind that large companies operating theme parks across the country have powerful legal teams. Without legal counsel, you may not be able to recover the damages you deserve.
What to do after being injured in an accident
In Florida, personal injury claims against amusement parks are governed by the state’s premises liability laws. These laws require property owners to take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe and free from hazards. If an amusement park fails to meet this duty of care and someone is injured as a result, the victim may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The first thing you need to do is to document your injuries. If at all possible, take photos of the scene and any of your visible injuries. Also, make sure to get the contact information of all witnesses. Your Florida personal injury lawyers may need their testimony when you file a claim.
Next, you should see a doctor. If you’re only visiting Florida, go to the ER, no matter the costs. Your personal injury lawyers will tally all your medical expenses when determining how much money you should seek.
You can also seek compensation for lost wages, past and future.
If you sustained a serious injury, you may seek pain and suffering damages as well. In Florida, there is no cap on pain and suffering damages.
However, keep in mind that Florida uses the comparative negligence rule. Your overall damages may be reduced if you were somewhat negligent yourself and your actions may have contributed to your injuries.
If you were recently injured in an accident caused by negligence in the Daytona Beach area, schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney at the Pappas & Russell PA law firm and have them review your case.
Contact info:
Phone: (386) 254-2941
213 Silver Beach Avenue
Daytona Beach, Florida 32118
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