Details are slim about who was injured and how on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket roller coaster in Universal Park Orlando yesterday. The only information released by the park is that the rider was female, the injury was minor, and that after treatment she was released back into the park.
This minimal information is probably all we will find out about the injured woman who caused the ride’s closure. Florida theme parks are not required to release any additional details, and in fact, we can find no regulation that would require them to release any information about why the ride was closed.
Permanent Florida theme parks and amusement rides fall under the purview of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. That said, they are little regulated even by this group. Most of the checks on the safety of the park and the rides is up to the owners and operators of that establishment. In fact, there is more regulation, safety checks, and government oversight on a baby stroller than there is on a 167 foot roller coaster with a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Injuries on this type of ride are not uncommon either. While this injury caused the ride to be closed for inspection, other injuries occur on roller coasters on a regular basis that have no such side effect. Many injuries sustained by riders go unnoticed in the short run and only become obvious hours, and even days later. Those injuries, and many others go unreported as the parks are under no requirement to do so.
If you have been injured while visiting and amusement park, please contact us and let us know what occurred. We will be happy to discuss your case and let you know what we can do to help you.
Wooten Kimbrough, P.A. Orlando Theme Park Injury Attorneys
