A Brazilian boy’s leg was recently crushed while riding the E.T. attraction at Universal Orlando, according to a lawsuit filed in late January in Orange Circuit Court.
Located at Universal Studios Florida, the “E.T. Adventure” is a slow-moving attraction, which takes guests on a tour through the story of the famous Steven Spielberg motion picture, E.T. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the boy in question, 11-year-old Tiago Perez, got his left foot stuck between the right vehicle and the cement area riders step off of at the end of the ride. In what has been described as a bloody scene, the boy’s left foot was crushed and his shoe fell off, resulting in multiple broken bones in his toes, foot, and leg.
The boy’s mother, Roberta Perez, filed a lawsuit on Jan. 31st, seeking upwards of $15,000 in damages. “Prior to this incident, [Universal] had knowledge that the design, manufacture, testing, construction, and/or operation of the ‘E.T. Adventure’ ride, created an unreasonably dangerous ride resulting in injuries to guests, but [Universal] continued to market the ride as safe to the unsuspecting public,” the suit claims. The lawsuit also notes that Tiago and his mother did not speak English, so they would not have been able to read the ride’s warning signs.
“E.T. Adventure” is one of the oldest attractions at Universal Studios Florida, and has been a feature at the park since it opened in 1990. The ride gives park attendees the chance to fly with E.T. on bicycles, recreating one of the most iconic scenes from the film it is based on. Video shows that Tiago’s feet were not on the pedals of the bike, but safely inside the ride vehicle at the time of the incident. The Sentinel is reporting that the ride underwent additional safety checks on the Monday following Tiago’s accident, with employees stopping the attraction and checking to make that riders’ arms and legs were secure in the car.
Reports from Brazil indicate that Tiago, who is being treated by an orthopedic surgeon, still has not returned to school in the weeks since his injury. An active child who enjoyed playing soccer, his family remains extremely worried about his health and well-being in the future.
This is not the first time a child has been injured on “E.T. Adventure.” In March of 2002, Universal reported that a 13-year-old boy’s right foot had been hurt.
When Amusement Park Accidents Occur, We Will Be There
E.T. might have had to phone home, but when you or a loved one are injured on an amusement park ride, you should make sure to phone a lawyer. At Paulsen Law Group, our Dunedin amusement park injury attorneys have been advocating for the people of Florida for years. We have extensive experience in premises liability and personal injury matters, and have the knowledge and skills needed to secure maximum compensation in your case. Don’t allow theme parks get away with what happened to Tiago. Call Paulsen Law Group today to hold negligent parties accountable.
For a free consultation, call (727) 270-8260, or contact us online.