Tragedy at The Midway

On July 26, 2017, tragedy struck the Ohio State Fair when the Fireball ride broke apart on opening day. Tyler Jarrell was killed, and Jennifer Lambert sustained devastating injuries that required long-term care until her death from liver failure more than a year later. Another victim, Keziah Lewis, was left in a wheelchair after undergoing 12 surgeries and extensive physical therapy. This catastrophic event led to renewed calls for ride safety legislation, including efforts behind “Tyler’s Law.”

Yes, amusement park ride accidents are more common than most people realize. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 30,900 emergency room visits in 2016 alone were related to amusement park attraction incidents. These injuries highlight the dangers that can exist at amusement parks, carnivals, and fairs, where hidden hazards and mechanical failures may not be visible to attendees.

A combination of factors contributes to amusement ride tragedies: lax safety standards, lack of uniform oversight, rare inspections, and insufficient staff training. CNN reports that inconsistent regulation and poor data collection hinder efforts to track and prevent these incidents. As a result, rides like the Fireball or Verruckt can fail catastrophically, sometimes with fatal consequences, long before safety flaws are discovered or addressed.

Tyler’s Law was proposed as a response to the Fireball ride disaster that killed Tyler Jarrell. The legislation aims to improve safety on amusement rides by requiring more thorough inspections and increased regulatory oversight. Advocates, including Tyler’s mother and survivors like Keziah Lewis, continue to push for its adoption to prevent further injuries and deaths at amusement venues.

Resort Torts refer to personal injury cases that occur in recreational, travel, vacation, or resort settings. These include amusement park accidents, theme park injuries, and other incidents occurring during leisure activities. Attorney John Leighton and Leighton Panoff Law specialize in these complex cases, using their deep knowledge of liability in resort environments to help victims recover damages for serious and often life-changing injuries.

Attorney John Leighton is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and founding partner of Leighton Panoff Law. He represents victims of amusement park, resort, and vacation-related injuries—cases categorized under Resort Torts. Mr. Leighton understands the unique risks and legal challenges posed by these environments and has secured numerous verdicts and settlements on behalf of those injured due to inadequate safety measures and negligent oversight.

Leighton Panoff Law has a proven track record of successfully litigating Resort Tort cases, including those involving theme park and fairground injuries. The firm is committed to advocating for enhanced safety for Florida’s visitors and delivering high-quality legal representation to individuals and families harmed during vacations or recreational activities. Victims of negligence at amusement venues trust Leighton Panoff Law to fight for accountability and compensation.