Tragedy at The Midway

Recent deaths and injuries on amusement rides highlight a serious problem plaguing amusement parks, carnivals, fairs and other such venues. Many tourists, guests or attendees at such events face a variety of hidden hazards.

July 26, 2017 likely began as a fun, opening day at the Ohio State Fair for riders of the Fireball. Then the ride broke apart, leaving Tyler Jarrell lying lifeless and others, such as Jennifer Lambert, severely injured. She required long-term care until her death from liver failure in September 2018, more than a year after the Fireball broke apart.

The catastrophe also left Keziah Lewis in a wheelchair. She underwent 12 surgeries and painful physical therapy. She recently teamed up with Tyler’s mother, Amber Duffield, demanding change in the form of safer amusement rides, through Tyler’s Law.

In another instance, a 10-year-old boy died of a fatal neck injury in Kansas in August 2016 while on Verruckt, billed as the “World’s tallest water slide.” Just two months later, on October 25, four people died at Australia’s “Dreamworld” after experiencing injuries on the Thunder River Rapids Ride.

These are not the only serious cases. NBC News reports that U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics indicate that in 2016 alone, an estimated 30,900 emergency room visits were the result of amusement park attraction incidents.

CNN reports there is a lack of complete data on injuries and deaths at amusement parks caused by lax standards, no uniform oversight and potentially rare inspections.

Attorney John Leighton understands the multiple issues involved with the lack of training and oversight at amusement parks. He represents victims of amusement park, resort and theme park injuries. These injuries, explains Leighton Law, fall under Resort Torts, or injuries occurring at a resort, vacation, travel or recreational setting. They include a variety of personal injury cases involving risks experienced while traveling, vacationing or engaging in recreational activities.

Leighton Law obtained a substantial number of recent verdicts and settlements directly related to Resort Tort and resort/vacation injuries.

Contact Attorney John Leighton and learn more about Resort Torts and the fight that Leighton Law leads for enhanced safety for Florida’s visitors, while providing the highest quality legal representation.