More Information Comes Out After Death Of 14-Year-Old

More information has come to light following the tragic death of a 14-year-old at an Orlando amusement park. Just before the ride took off, someone could be heard asking why the ride didn’t have a clicking device like a seatbelt. An employee could be heard yelling to check the boy’s seatbelt as the ride ascended. It has recently come to light that the boy slipped through a harness and the seat before falling to his death.

Now, multiple parties are being sued including the theme park and the ride’s manufacturer. Both are strictly liable for this accident, but determining how the accident occurred will determine who takes the brunt of the hit from the wrongful death lawsuit.

Recent details appear to shift the negligence away from the ride manufacturer and onto the theme park for failing to check all the safety harnesses prior to beginning the ride. Further, the ride’s manufacturer lists the maximum weight as 287 lbs. The 14-year-old was quite large for his age at 6’5” and over 300 lbs. No signs were posted near the ride and the weight restriction was not enforced.

Safety controls disengaged 

The ride was fixed with a kill switch that would prevent the ride from working if all of the safety harnesses were not engaged. However, the sensors on the descendant’s seat were manually adjusted to allow the ride to move even when the harnesses weren’t engaged.

Nonetheless, the amusement park is pointing fingers at the manufacturer claiming that all safety protocols outlined by the manufacturer were followed prior to the death. In a situation like this, where you cannot place blame on the victim, you’ll often find two culpable parties pointing the finger at each other. This reduces their liability. Whatever happens, both the amusement park and the manufacturer will pay out the wrongful death lawsuit. The only question is how much of the blame will be assigned to each.

In this case, it looks like the evidence is pointing toward the theme park for disabling safety protocols, failing to ensure the seat was locked, and allowing someone who was too big for the ride to use the ride.

The family contends that the amusement park and ride manufacturer are responsible for the accident. They claim that the addition of $22 seat belts would have prevented this tragedy. So, the plaintiffs are making direct claims of negligence against the ride manufacturer. While their liability may not be as great as the theme park, the plaintiffs contend that an effort to reduce costs resulted in a preventable death.

The ride remains closed after the tragic accident.

Talk to a Miami Amusement Park Liability Attorney 

Payer Law files lawsuits against amusement parks when a patron is injured by a dangerous ride. Call our Miami personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.

Source:

floridatoday.com/story/news/2022/04/28/orlando-ride-amusement-park-death-lawsuit-filed-missouri-boys-family/9556500002/