FreeFall Operator Faces First Hearing In Orlando After Teen’s Death
It has been many months since Tyre Sampson fell to his death at the age of 14, but now a hearing has been set against the companies responsible for maintaining the FreeFall ride he was enjoying moments before his passing. The operators of ICON Park have already ordered the FreeFall ride to be shut down completely, but there are still many questions that must be answered. Hopefully, this hearing is just the beginning of a more in-depth look into what actually happened on that day.
The Factors that Will Be Raised During the Hearing
During the hearing, the plaintiff’s legal team will point out that putting seatbelts on the ride would have cost the operators just $660. The following questions will also be raised:
- Why weren’t there visible warnings about height and weight restrictions?
- Why was the ride still able to activate if riders were not properly secured?
- Why were operators able to adjust the proximity sensors?
- Why wasn’t a proper monitoring system in place that ensured restraints were in place?
The issue over sensors will play an especially vital role. A forensic investigation found that the operator of the ride manually manipulated the sensors. The details of this adjustment are not clear, although the family members argue that this made the ride completely unsafe.
Will They Win?
It’s too easy to tell whether or not this lawsuit will prove successful. In order to receive compensation, the family must prove negligence. There are four elements to negligence, including:
- Duty of Care
- Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Injuries
A theme park obviously has a duty of care to its visitors – but did ICON Park breach this duty? One might argue that the manipulation of the sensors constitutes a breach of duty, but this isn’t exactly the strongest argument. We will need to wait and see what the defendants say about this factor, and why the employee was given the ability to make these adjustments. It will also be interesting to see whether Tyre committed any form of negligence himself, such as leaning out of the ride in an unsafe and improper manner.
The family is seeking compensation for a range of damages, including funeral expenses and medical expenses. This would suggest that Tyre underwent medical treatment after the fall in an effort to save his life – and the family was left holding the bill.
Where Can I Find an Orlando Injury Attorney?
For help from an Orlando personal injury attorney, look no further than Payer Law. Over the years, we have assisted numerous plaintiffs in the Florida area – and we know full well how serious theme park injuries can be. By filing personal injury lawsuits, injured victims can send a clear message to theme park operators. With any luck, dangerous rides will be removed from Florida forever in the years to come. Until then, contact us today to book your consultation and get compensation for your injuries.
Sources:
clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/10/11/hearing-set-in-lawsuit-against-orlando-freefall-operator-after-teens-death/
washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/14/tyre-sampson-amusement-park-death/
