Woman falls to death in major premises liability incident

Thousands of people living in New York state and other areas of the country are avid amusement park goers. In fact, many people flock to particular rides and roller coasters for the thrill of moving fast and experiencing something new. And while roller coasters offer a kind of entertainment seldom experienced by many, they can also be very dangerous. Issues like sidewalk falls are common, but one family is forced to deal with the loss of a loved one since the woman died tragically in a roller coaster accident.

In mid-July of this year, a woman was riding a popular roller coaster the Six Flags amusement park in Texas when she fell to her death. The woman is reported to have been bracing herself in her seat at the time of the incident and allegedly fell while the ride was in motion. The victim’s daughter and son-in-law reportedly witnessed the woman’s struggle to remain in her seat but could not help.

The roller coaster in question moves at speeds up to 60 mph and is 14 stories high. The victim’s family is suing the amusement park for failing to properly maintain the roller coaster and safety equipment. The premises liability lawsuit claims that the harness intended to secure the woman malfunctioned.

It is still not known whether the safety equipment installed on the ride was designed to withstand the weight of larger passengers, or whether other factors contributed to the accident. As a result, the victim’s family is accusing the amusement park of negligence. Six Flags denies any wrongdoing and has recently reopened the ride. However, that particular roller coaster will be equipped with new safety restraints.

In their lawsuit, the victim’s family is requesting more than $1 million in damages and a jury trial.

Source: USA Today, “Family Sues Six Flags After Woman’s Fall From 14-Story High Roller Coaster,” Ryan Owens, Sep. 12, 2013