Tower Of Terror Too Scary? New Children’s Rides And Theme Park Risks

Dangers and risks associated with amusement park rides are often a hidden hazard for many Florida tourists and for families enjoying theme park rides around the world. All too often, these very rides that are meant to entertain become a real danger, resulting in injuries and deaths.

While ride-goers assume a certain level of risk when participating in theme park activities, the theme park has a specific level of responsibility for assuring the safety of all rides and activities. Personal injury attorney John Leighton takes this responsibility very seriously. Mr. Leighton adamantly defends those adversely affected by the negligent actions of others, including theme park owners and operators.

As an example, the Disney Tower of Terror opened in 1994 and has since been a source of several serious injuries, reported by several media sources. The Orlando Sentinel listed several incidents experienced in relation to the Tower of Terror. Several riders complained of neck and back injuries in 1998 after bolts on the ride broke and cables snapped, sending an elevator car plunging one floor down before an emergency brake halted the fall. On July 12, 2005, a 16-year-old girl experienced a heart attack within minutes after she exited the ride. Doctors later discovered bleeding on her brain. Just three months later, a man experienced an irregular heartbeat and memory loss after riding the Disney Tower of Terror. The Telegraph reported that a 12-year-old boy experienced paralysis after riding the Tower of Terror at Disneyland Paris.

These and several other incidents apparently linked to the Tower of Terror and similar rides recently prompted theme parks to start creating more rides specifically for younger children. Disney’s new Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios, the Sesame Street land opening at Sea World and the planned opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Hollywood Studios are some examples of amusement park rides aimed at younger children.

While these new rides and theme park areas cater more to younger children, the fact remains that theme parks pose a potentially hazardous risk for children and adults. A study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus Ohio reported that between 1990 and 2010, 92,000 children experienced injuries in amusement ride accidents.

Leighton Panoff Law has experience litigating cases against many theme parks and amusement ride providers for negligence in operating and maintaining rides and will continue to do so until injuries and deaths at them parks are a thing of the past. Do not pay the price for amusement ride and theme park negligence.