California Injury Lawyers Blog

In Orange County Superior Court, the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation has filed a lawsuit accusing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc. of exposing kids to excessive levels of lead at Disneyland. The environmental group wants the amusement park to either put up health warnings or cover up the items and attractions that it believes contain too much lead.

Among the items at Disneyland the environmental group says has too much lead:

• Doorknobs and drinking fountains at popular attractions, such as the one at Minnie's house
• Brass rail chains
• Leaded glass windows, including the ones at the beauty salon in Cinderella's castle
• The handle of the sword in Sword in the Stone attraction

According to the Baltimore Sun, Mateel conducted wipe testing, which imitates what occurs when someone has physical contact with items that are tainted with lead. Test results showed that lead exposure on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the Haunted Mansion, and the Peter Pan ride was above .5 micrograms/day--state law mandates that anything over this amount must come with a warning.

Lead Poisoning
While the development of serious side effects from lead poisoning doesn't generally occur from having contact with too much lead just once, exposing kids to too much lead is never a good idea. Please contact our Anaheim personal injury law firm if you suspect that your son or daughter got sick or developed disabilities because of lead poisoning.

It wasn't until 1978 that lead in paint was banned for use in houses. Unfortunately, there are still homes that were made before then that may still be using paint containing too high levels of lead. Even if the paint has deteriorated to dust and chips, this still can seep into the air and cause health complications. That said, all property owners should make sure that kids and adults are not exposed to high levels of lead while on their premises.
Also, In recent years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has had to recall millions of toys and kids' products because they contained too much lead. Many of these toys were made in China.

A child's body will more easily absorb lead into its gastrointestinal tract. Lead poisoning can cause permanent injury, as well as inattentiveness, irritability, and hyperactivity. Lead exposure can impact the brain, cause learning disabilities, hearing loss, delayed growth, permanent brain damage, and even death.

Attractions, other sites at Disneyland expose visitors to lead, group says, Baltimore Sun, October 18, 2011

Lead Danger at Disneyland, Watchdog Says, NBC, October 18, 2011

Lead, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lead Poisoning: What It Is, How to Test, What to Do, WebMD

Consumer Product Safety Commission

More Blog Posts:
California Burn Injury Settlement Over Hot Nacho's at Disney's Magic Kingdom is Under Consideration, California Injury Lawyers Blog, July 28, 2011

Huntington Beach Premises Liability Claim Seeks $500K from City Over Hemet Boy's Burn Injuries from Fall Accident into Fire Pit, California Injury Law, August 18, 2011

Los Angeles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Compton Unified School District by Parents of Boy Who Died in PE Class, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 5, 2011

Continue reading "Disneyland Sued For Allegedly Exposing Visitors to Lead" »

The family of a 4-year-old Isaiah Harris is asking the California district court to approve the $50,000 California burn injury settlement that they've reached with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Harris sustained burn injuries to his face and lips last year at Disney World when a paper cup of nacho cheese ended up on his face after he grabbed a table to avoid falling from an unsteady chair.

His parents filed a California injury to a minor lawsuit on his behalf accusing the amusement park company of not trying to regulate/monitor the nacho cheese's temperature even though it knew that young kids would be eating it and of failing to provide any warning. They said that as a result of Walt Disney's negligence, Harris suffered second and third-degree burns. He underwent treatment for his injuries for almost a year.

Burn Injuries
Burns can be very painful and--depending on the severity of the injuries--can result in scarring, swelling, blistering, shock, disfigurement, and death. Sustaining a burn injury can also be emotionally traumatic. While minor burns may only require over-the-counter medication, some burns are serious enough to require hospitalization, skin grafts, surgery, and rehab. Some severe burns can take months to recover from. In some cases, permanent disfigurement may be the outcome.

It is the responsibility of premise owners to make sure that there is nothing on their property that could cause serious burns to visitors, patrons, customers, or guests. This includes making sure that foods and liquids are served are not too hot that they can cause burns to the mouth or other parts of the body.

Amusement Park Lawsuits
If you were injured while at a theme park, you may have grounds for filing an Orange County, California amusement park accident lawsuit. The injury doesn't need to have occurred while on an amusement park ride. Like all property owners, amusement park owners are responsible for minimizing any hazards on the grounds that could cause serious injuries to a minor or an adult.

Family sues Disney when hot nachos burn son, Signon San Diego, February 11, 2011

Family of Boy Injured at Disney's Magic Kingdom Accepts Set, Injury Board, July 28, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Walt Disney World

The Burn Resource Center

More Blog Posts:
6-Year-Old Sustains Orange County, California Burn Injuries After Fall Into Beach Fire Pit, California Injury Lawyers Blog, May 20, 2011

Huntington Beach Personal Injury Claim Seeks Over $500,000 for 11-Year-Old's Burn Injuries from Trip and Fall Accident into Fire Pit, California Injury Lawyers, March 17, 2010

Children of Elderly Couple Killed When Bathrobe Caught Fire File California Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleging Products Liability, California Injury Lawyers, November 5, 2009

Continue reading "California Burn Injury Settlement Over Hot Nacho's at Disney's Magic Kingdom is Under Consideration " »

According to The OC Register, in 2009 and 2010, there were 284 incidents in 2010 resulting medical problems at seven Orange County, California amusement parks that required investigation by the state. Under California law, venues and theme parks with permanent rides are supposed to turn in reports to the state every time a patron gets medical help beyond first aid for incidents that occurred on amusement park rides.

The seven locales where state investigations took place were Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Disney California Adventure, Knott's Soak City, Wild Rivers Waterpark, Adventure City, and Westfield MainPlace mall. Approximately half of the 284 incidents reported involved medical issues affecting the head area, torso, neck, back, face, or spine. Fortunately, most of the injuries were not "serious," which means that they were primarily amusement park injuries not requiring hospital stays lasting more than 24 hours.

Also, per The OC Register's review:

• Out of the 76 rides instigated, 10 of the rides experienced at least 10 medical issues resulting in state investigations.


• Ride adjustments, employee training, and other changes were ordered by the state in 33 cases.


• 168 of the state investigations took place at the two Disneyland Parks.


• 89 investigations occurred at Knott's Berry Farm.

Our Anaheim amusement park ride attorneys represent clients throughout Orange County, California. We are conveniently located near many of the theme parks in the county and we are familiar with the injuries that can result.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 8,800 people got hurt in US amusement park accidents in 2006. This figure includes only those with injuries serious enough to warrant emergency room care. It also doesn't include the 3,600 patrons who got hurt on inflatable amusement park rides and the other 3,100 who were injured on public water slides. About half of the people who got hurt were kids.

Common causes of amusement park injuries:
• Improper ride operation
• Mechanical failure
• Rider misuse or not following instructions
• The way the ride is designed makes injuries more likely

State probes 284 O.C. theme-park medical problems, OC Register, June 10, 2011

O.C. theme park ride safety report

Related Web Resources:
CPSC

Amusement Park Accidents, NOLO

More Blog Posts:
Buena Park Police Brutality Alleged in 2009 Incident Involving Man Arrested at Knott's Berry Farm Amusement Park, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 17, 2011

Buena Park Roller Coaster Accident at Knott's Berry Farm Injures 10 People, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 8, 2010

Anaheim Fall Accident Injures Man Waiting in Line At Disney's California Adventure Park, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 30, 2010

Continue reading "Orange County, California Amusement Park Accidents: OC Register Reports 284 Injuries Over 2 Years" »

Brian Lamar Love has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Buena Park police of Orange County, California police brutality. Love claims that during Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm in 2009, officers Tasered him several times, squeezed his genitals, and struck him with a baton. The 31-year-old Pasadena man claims he did nothing to provoke then.

Love, who was arrested on suspicion of battery on a peace officer and interfering with a police animal, was acquitted by a jury on five counts. A sixth count was later dismissed.

According to Love, he and friend Derica Johnson were in line to get on the GhostRider roller coaster when he left the line to use the bathroom. When he returned to the ride area, the park's security accused him and his friend of trying to cut in line. They told them to leave the park.

Per the federal lawsuit claiming Buena Park personal injury, city cops escorted Johnson and Love to the tunnel that links the amusement park to the main parking lot. Love claims that he then gave Sgt. Michael Lovchik a "man hug" to show he didn't have any hard feelings and that this was when the officers started to assault him. Love then slipped on a wet incline, hitting the horse that one of the cops was on. The animal fell to the ground and that was when another cop allegedly Tasered him several times while another squeezed his testicles.

Police Brutality
Police brutality can cause serious injuries and violates the victim's civil rights. Unfortunately, many incidents of excessive use of police force never come to light because people don't realize that what happened to them was wrong and against the law. Police brutality doesn't have to be an extreme act of physical violence. In some instances, verbal abuse or unnecessary/excessive user of a Taser can be acts of police violence. A police shooting can also be an incident of excessive force especially if the suspect could have been apprehend in less forceful ways.

Suit: Police abused man after 'man hug', The OC Register, February 17, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Knott's Berry Farm

Buena Park Police

More Blog Posts:

$20M Orange County, Wrongful Death Lawsuit Accuses Santa Ana Police of Shooting Man in the Back of the Head, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 3, 2011

Los Angeles County Wrongful Death Lawsuit Expected in Police Shooting of Long Beach Man Holding Hose Nozzle, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 17, 2010

Laguna Beach and Orange County, California Settle Taser Lawsuit by Dana Point Man in Wrongful Arrest Case, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 19, 2010

Ten people were hurt on Thursday night at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. The Orange County, California roller coaster accident happened when two of the cars "made contact" on the Pony Express ride while close to the ride's boarding area.

The ten riders were treated at different hospitals near the park. They all reported minor neck and back injuries. The cause of the Orange County, California amusement park accident is not known at this time.

Roller Coaster Accidents
According to studies, thousands of people are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year because of injuries they sustained on roller coasters. Although roller coasters and other amusement park rides are known for their fun, thrills, and chills, the flipside is that serious injuries can result in the event that a ride malfunctions or someone with a preexisting medical condition suffers a heart attack or some other serious illness while on the ride.

Recently, the family of 13-year-old Teagan Marti agreed on a pre-lawsuit amusement park accident settlement with Extreme World in Wisconsin Dells for an undisclosed amount. Marti sustained serious injuries, including brain swelling, severe fractures to her pelvis and spin, and lacerations to her spleen, liver, and intestines when she fell 100 feet to the ground from the Terminal Velocity ride. The air bags and nets that were supposed to catch riders had not been raised.

The ride operator, Charles A. Carnell, has been charged with one count of first-degree reckless injury. The 33-year-old man says he "blanked out" and did not see the "all clear" signal before he released the girl. Marti's family is considering filing a products liability lawsuit against Montic, the ride's manufacturer.

Roller coaster crash injures 10 people, CNN, October 8, 2010

APNewsBreak: Settlement in Wis. ride accident, Google/AP, October 2, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Pony E. Express, Knott's Berry Farm

RideAccidents.com

Continue reading "Buena Park Roller Coaster Accident at Knott's Berry Farm Injures 10 People" »

In a recent Anaheim injury accident at Disney's California Adventure, a 20-year-old man received medical care after he fell 25 feet from a platform while in line to ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. According to a Disney spokesperson, the man climbed over a barrier and lost his balance. Following the incident, Disney shut down the ride while paramedics provided the injured parkgoer with medical care.

Amusement Park Accidents
Like other premise owners, amusement park owners must ensure there are no hazards on the property that can cause serious injuries or deaths to visitors. This means making sure that the attractions are safe for parkgoers to ride and that safety precautions have been put in place to prevent slip and fall accidents, fall accidents, violent crimes, and other injury accidents from happening.

Injury accidents that occur on amusement park rides can prove catastrophic. Just recently, a 12-year-old suffered serious injuries on a freefall ride at Extreme World in Wisconsin on July 30. Teagan Marti fell 10 stories to the ground when the harness that was holding her released her.

Ride operator Charles Carnell has said that he "blanked out" and took off the girl's harness before the safety nets could catch her. He is charged with first degree reckless injury. Doctors say that Marti may be paralyzed.

Some other recent amusement park accidents:
• A 45-year-old woman and 36-year-old man experienced back pain after riding the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster at Universal Studios Florida.

• A 54-year-old man had a heart attack and a 74-year-old man became ill after riding the Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

• A 68-year-old woman who rode Spaceship Earth at Epcot experienced chest pain.

• A 27-year-old man became ill after getting on the Mission: Space at Epcot Center

• A 65-year-old man experienced chest pain and a 72-year-old woman had a seizure after riding Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney World's Animal Kingdom.

• A 61-year-old woman broke her arm and a 68-year-old woman broke her hip when exiting the Mad Tea Party in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World.

A woman is also suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for the injuries and post-traumatic stress she says that she suffered Disney employee dressed as Donald Duck grabbed one of her breasts and molested her at Epcot Center in 2008. She is seeking damages for negligence, battery, and infliction of emotional distress.

Disney, Universal report amusement park accident, Orlando Sentinel, August 30, 2010

Man falls 25 feet from ride line at Disney park, CNN, August 20, 2010

Park "Repairs" at Crime Scene Where Girl Fell, CBS News, August 20, 2010

Delaware County woman claims Donald Duck groped her, Philly.com, August 12, 2010

Related Web Resources:
RideAccidents.com

AccidentWatch, Theme Park Insider

Continue reading "Anaheim Fall Accident Injures Man Waiting in Line At Disney's California Adventure Park" »

According to a Cal/OSHA investigation, the 2009 Orange County, California roller coaster accident at Knott's Berry Farm that hurt two people was preventable. Citing improper maintenance, the investigation places the blame on Intamin AG, the Xcelerator's manufacturer, and the amusement park.

The incident occurred on September 16, 2009. An on-board video camera of the Buena Park accident shows the cable snapping loose while debris sprays the riders. The cable cut a 12-year-old boy on the leg while an adult male sustained back injuries.

Cal/OSHA said that Intamin AG's ride maintenance instructions were "confusing" and not clear on whether the roller coaster cable needed to be checked every six months or once a month. While the manufacturer intended that the examination should take place once a month, the amusement park was checking it twice a year. The state blames Knott's for being more than two weeks overdue on its six-month cable inspection when the Buena Park roller coater accident happened.

The Xcelerator, which was shut down after the Orange County, California amusement park accident happened, reopened last week. Per the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health's requirements, Knott's has added additional safeguards to the hydraulic launch accelerator coaster. Knott's and Intamin will work together to modify the maintenance instructions.

This is not the first time Intamin and Knott's have been involved in roller coaster accidents. In 2004, metal debris from a launch cable also struck passengers on the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Ohio, Knott's sister park. Intamin was also the manufacturer of that roller coaster. In 2001, a woman died at the amusement park after falling from Perilous Plunge water ride, which was also made by Intamin.

Amusement Park Accidents
Unfortunately, amusement park rides can deliver more than just fast thrills and laughter. In the event that a ride malfunctions, injuries can result, ranging from bloody noses to bank injuries, broken bones, severed limbs, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and even death.

The competition to build and run the highest and fastest rides should not compromise rider safety. You may have grounds for filing a California products liability case against a negligent ride manufacturer and/or an amusement accident lawsuit against the thrill park.

Knott's Berry Farm, manufacturer faulted in roller coaster accident that injured two, Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2010

Accidents Involving Injury at Perilous Plunge, Theme Park Insider

Related Web Resources:

Knott's Berry Farm

RideAccidents.com

Continue reading "2009 Knott's Berry Farm Roller Coaster Accident Caused by Improper Maintenance, Say California Investigators " »

Continue reading "Anaheim Personal Injury Lawyers: Disney Settles California Amusement Park Lawsuit with Woman Critically Injured in Tram Accident" »

Eight years after falling under one of the cars belonging to the Roger Rabbit Car Toon Spin ride, 13-year-old Brandon Zucker has died in Orange, California. The teenager sustained catastrophic injuries during the amusement park accident, and he continued to receive ongoing care and medical support for those injuries until his death on January 25. 

The Disney amusement park accident happened in September 2000 in Anaheim when Brandon fell out of one of the ride's "taxicab" and got trapped beneath another car, which rolled over him. He suffered traumatic brain injuries and was never able to walk or talk again. His family would later settle their California personal injury lawsuit with Disney for an undisclosed amount. The injured boy would spend the rest of his life going in and out of hospitals until his death at Children's Hospital.

Investigators from California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health found that Disney workers failed to make sure that Brandon was properly seated and securely fastened to the Roger Rabbit ride. Following the accident, the state of California mandated that major safety changes be made to the Disney attraction.

To date, there have been 11 fatalities involving people who were injured because of a Disney ride.

Amusement Park Ride Accidents

Over the years, millions of people have traveled to Southern California from around the world and the rest of the United States to visit one of the many amusement and theme parks in the area for their entertainment and thrill seeking pleasure. Disneyland Resort, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Legoland, and Universal Studies are just some of the venues that have become popular destinations for kids, friends, and families that wish to ride a rollercoaster, sit on a ferris wheel, or go for a spin in a revolving tea cup.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for everyone, amusement park operators are supposed to make sure that their rides are working properly, all safety precautions are implemented, and employees are properly trained to operate the attractions. When negligence, employee error, or carelessness leads to an amusement park ride accident, the amusement park company and other liable parties, such as the manufacturer of a defective amusement park attraction, can be held liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

Brandon Zucker dies at 13; injury at Disneyland brought focus to amusement park safety, Los Angeles Times, January 27, 2009 

Boy Dies After Disneyland Ride Accident, Fox News, January 27, 2009 

Related Web Resources:

Disneyland Resort

Accident Watch, Theme Park Inside

Continue reading "In Orange, California, Boy Who Sustained Traumatic Brain Injury During Fall Accident from Disneyland Ride Eight Years Ago Has Died" »