Nevada residents may think twice about amusement parks after hearing about a Daytona Beach, Florida, roller coaster accident. The Daytona Beach Boardwalk features a ride called the Sand Blaster, which has been in use there since 2013. It was made 40 years ago and previously belonged to an amusement park in Delaware.
On the night of June 14, this roller coaster derailed and sent two people plummeting to the ground 34 feet below. They survived but with traumatic injuries. Two other riders were left dangling in midair until fire crews rescued them. There were a total of 10 riders, nine of whom were admitted to a nearby medical center. The severity of the victims’ injuries is not known.
The rescue operation was time-sensitive, but a fire team specializing in high-rise rescues was able to pull it off before the derailed cars could fall. The incident is now under investigation. Though it may seem like a case for OSHA, the safety organization is not involved because no employees were injured.
Two inspections in May revealed deficiencies in the structural integrity of the Sand Blaster. These were fixed, and a subsequent inspection on the morning of June 14 revealed no problems. However, a second inspection right after the accident revealed an issue in structural integrity.
Under premises liability law, the victims of accidents such as these could file a claim in an effort to be reimbursed for short-term medical expenses, rehabilitative care, lost wages and other losses. During a case evaluation, a lawyer could have experts look into the accident to find out just how the owners of the park failed in their responsibility toward their guests. After estimating a fair settlement, an attorney could negotiate for it out of court, litigating only if an agreement cannot be reached.
Source: CNN, ‘Florida agency probing roller coaster derailment in Daytona Beach,” Jamiel Lynch, Holly Roberts and Joe Sutton, June 16, 2018
