People flock from all over the world to visit Orlando’s world-famous amusement parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World. Usually, visitors go back home with a tan and a great story about the amazing rides they braved while on vacation. An injury accident that occurs while at an amusement park can turn a much-anticipated vacation into a costly and painful nightmare. If you have been injured at an Orlando amusement park, you may be entitled to compensation for your physical and emotional injuries. First, however, you need to know what to do following an amusement park injury accident.
If you were injured or lost a loved one at an Orlando amusement park it can be very stressful to try and focus on locating medical care while also trying to understand and navigate the legal system to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries. An Orlando amusement park accident lawyer at Bailey Fisher can help. Let us put our dedication, experience, and resources to work for you to ensure that the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable, and that you are fully compensated for the injuries you suffered. Contact the team at Bailey Fisher today by calling 407-628-2929 or submit our online form to find out how we can help you.
What Causes Orlando Amusement Park Accident?
A virtually unlimited number of factors could contribute to an Orlando amusement park accident; however, some common causes include:
- Mechanical failure. This includes situations where a ride was not properly inspected and maintained, the original design for the attraction is defective, a specific part or system has a defect, or the ride was not constructed properly.
- Rider error. A rider error can occur when a rider fails to read or adhere to posted safety instructions, ignores height or weight restrictions, brings potentially dangerous items on the ride, or intentionally stands, rocks, or sticks limbs out of a ride.
- Operator error. A ride operator may lack the knowledge or training to safely operate the ride, become distracted while operating a ride, operate the ride while under the influence, or fail to follow known safety protocols.
- Failing to maintain the property. The owners of an amusement park are required by law to protect visitors from hazards that can lead to injuries, such as uneven or crumbling pavement in parking lots or concrete, broken handrails, unsafe escalators, loose wiring and other tripping hazards, and slippery walkways.
What Steps Should I Take after an Orlando Amusement Park Accident?
If you find yourself injured in an Orlando amusement park accident, the steps you take in the hours and days immediately following the accident will be crucial both in your healing process and in the legal process that seeks to recover compensation for your injuries. With that in mind, take the following steps after being injured in an amusement park accident:
- Report the injury. Always report an injury to the appropriate park officials. For serious accidents, law enforcement officers may be called to the park. If that is not the case, locate a park security guard or official and tell them you wish to make a formal report documenting your injuries.
- Seek medical attention. Always go to the hospital and submit to a complete examination to determine the full extent of your injuries. Not only does this serve to document your injuries for any subsequent legal action, but it can uncover serious injuries that may not yet be exhibiting symptoms, such as a traumatic brain injury.
- Document the accident. When possible, take pictures of the accident scene to document how the accident occurred and try to get names and contact information for anyone involved in the accident or who witnessed the accident. Request a copy of the report you filed, and also request that the amusement park operator preserve any video footage from security cameras on the property that may have captured the accident or your activities in the park leading up to the accident and the response of park personnel after the accident occurred Making a written request that the park preserve any such video footage helps to avoid claims by the park that any footage that was captured was inadvertently lost or destroyed, and can give rise to inferences arising from spoliation of evidence if the video is not preserved. Request that any video of the area where the accident occurred show at least an hour of footage before the accident occurred and an hour afterwards, because the events preceding the accident and those that are shown on video after it happened can be critical to establishing the park’s notice of a problem.
- Consult with an experienced Orlando amusement park accident lawyer. You may be contacted by an insurance adjuster for the insurance company that insures the amusement park in the days following the accident. Do not speak to anyone about the accident until you have consulted with an experienced Orlando amusement park accident lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for My Orlando Amusement Park Accident Injuries?
Determining fault in an Orlando amusement park accident can be a very complex and convoluted process because of the numerous parties that could share in the responsibility for an accident. The park owners could be liable as could anyone involved in the design, manufacture, installation, or operation of a ride involved in the accident. If another party (or parties) caused or contributed to the accident in which you were injured, you could be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages, including compensation for medical and hospital bills, lost income, emotional distress, pain, and suffering.
If you lost a family member in an Orlando amusement park accident, you may also be entitled to pursue compensation through a Florida wrongful death lawsuit.
An Orlando Amusement Park Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you were injured, or you lost a family member, in an Orlando amusement park accident, you need an experienced attorney on your side right away. At Bailey Fisher, our Orlando amusement park accident lawyers are committed to utilizing their experience and resources to ensure that the party or parties responsible for your injuries is held accountable and that you recover the maximum compensation available for your injuries.
Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando amusement park accident lawyers will evaluate your case for free and advise you on the next steps.
