A seven-year-old girl fell off the gondola ride at the Florida State Fair on the evening of Saturday, February 12. She was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken wrist.
She and two of her siblings, all less than 10 years old, were riding the gondola along the fairgrounds at approximately 8:40 p.m. when she slipped underneath the safety bar, falling 35 to 40 feet to the ground below, which was fortunately a grassy area.
The ride was immediately shut down for inspection before it resumed operation later in the evening. Detectives who came to investigate the incident determined it to be an accident.
Amusement park accidents happen; fatalities rare
There are around 10 people killed every year at amusement parks and traveling carnivals, but quite a few more injuries. In some cases these injuries might be the result of poor maintenance or design of rides. In other cases these injuries could be a result of negligence on the part of park visitors, or in negligent safety standards by the park itself.
In any circumstance, it is critical for amusement parks to do everything they can to ensure the safety of rides. This includes setting (and enforcing) height minimums and weight maximums for people on rides, performing regular maintenance and safety inspections and having enough staff to ensure rides are safe for use.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident at an amusement park and believe another party to be liable, contact a skilled Bradenton, FL personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh to learn more about your possible legal options.