Disneyland: Lights and Shadows

Known as ‘the happiest place in the world’, Disneyland has hidden many gloomy stories since it first opened its doors in 1955. As we will see below, both Disneyland Park in Anaheim and Disney World in Orlando have had tragic moments because of an accident that resulted in injuries and deaths.

As much as an amusement park is a happy place, it does not ensure that it is always safe. To date, 83 incidents have been reported, resulting in a total of 87 fatalities. Eighteen have been Disney employees, accounting for 21% of the number of casualties.

The reported accidents have many causes, involving both park employees and guests, ranging from malfunctions in the ride’s operating mechanism that resulted in injuries to fatal falls during ride rehearsal.

Despite the deaths caused by accidents and the financial losses they entail for the family, 65% didn’t file a lawsuit.

Disney Accident Statistics

Fourteen percent of the accidents that resulted in a lawsuit were successfully resolved with Disney. Six percent of the remaining incidents have an unknown status; six percent of the incidents resulted in OSHA fines; five percent were claims against a third party, and four percent were dismissed.

When an accident occurs, Disney is known to sign and have all involved parties sign confidentiality agreements, so not many settlements are reported. According to what is known, the highest compensation paid by Disney was $25 million in 1998, when a tourist died at an attraction.

Natural deaths are the most common cause of death among the registered cases, accounting for 22. Suicide and drowning are the second most frequent reasons, accounting for 10, followed by eight fall accidents.

Being crushed or brain injuries, are another cause (five), as is blunt force trauma (four). Disney vehicle ride accidents were the cause of many injuries. This was either due to being run over (three), being struck, or due to malfunctions, each with 2 incidents.

Other causes of death with single incidents include shootings, stabbings, decapitation, explosions, and crocodile attacks.

Disease Outbreaks

The world’s most famous theme park has also been the site of numerous disease and infection outbreaks. The most recent was COVID-19 in 2020.

In late 2014, Disneyland was the scene of a measles outbreak that affected 59 people, both visitors, and employees.

In 2017, Disney was forced to close two cooling towers due to another potentially fatal illness. The Anaheim park recorded Legionella bacteria, which affected 9 park visitors, leaving several in critical condition.

Should You Sue for Wrongful Death?

Whether you suffered a traumatic injury or a loved one died as a result of carelessness or negligence at an amusement park, you must seek justice.

Even though going to a theme park like Disney involves risks, the person or organization at fault must be responsible for the accident. Obtaining financial compensation for negligence will also assist in covering funeral costs, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit with a team of experienced legal professionals ensures you have a good chance of obtaining the economic compensation you deserve.

Adamson Ahdoot, your Reliable legal representation

Every day, amusement parks are at risk for a variety of mishaps. If your day of fun, turned into a day you want to forget, call us. In that case, it’s critical to have honest and experienced Disney lawyers who understand how the legal process works. The injury attorneys at Adamson Ahdoot LLP have over 100 years of combined legal experience in wrongful death accidents. We can get you maximum compensation for your injuries.

Let us give you the opportunity to get justice for you. We can win a fight that will give you the peace of mind and economic recovery you deserve. Make an appointment for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today to guide the next steps on your claim. Call (800) 310-1606 today!