On October 12, a man died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, and four other people were transported to the hospital with injuries. According to the Cobb County Police Department, the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Authorities have not released the cause of the fall.
What Has Been Reported So Far
According to witnesses, the rider struck the coaster cars several times during the fall, and the moment was captured in a souvenir photo. The ride stopped on an incline, and park staff evacuated the remaining riders four at a time.
Six Flags has stated it is cooperating with authorities and supporting affected guests and employees. Cobb County detectives are investigating, andstate regulators opened a separate investigation the following morning.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Liability for a Fatal Amusement Ride Accident
Amusement parks open their property to paying guests. Under Georgia premises liability law, a park owes those guests a duty to exercise ordinary care in keeping its rides reasonably safe. Depending on the findings of the investigation, more than one party may share responsibility:
- The park operator controls staffing, employee training, and rider loading procedures.
- Maintenance contractors handle routine inspections and repairs.
- The manufacturer is accountable for restraint design and the quality of its components.
Evidence to Preserve Early
Restraint data, maintenance logs, operator training records, and ride photos can be overwritten or discarded within days. A park that has been ignoring warning signs, such as earlier restraint complaints or delayed repairs, rarely volunteers that history.
An Atlanta, GA amusement park injury lawyer can send written preservation demands before that evidence disappears. Prompt action helps protect the evidence a claim depends on.
Claims Available to Families and Injured Riders
When a person dies on an amusement ride, certain family members may bring a wrongful death claim. Georgia law measures this claim by the full value of life of the deceased, which includes both lost future earnings and the intangible value of the life itself.
The estate may also pursue a separate survival action to recover medical expenses, funeral costs, and the conscious pain and suffering the person endured before death.
Riders who survive an incident have their own claims. These accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage, and amusement park paralysis claims frequently involve lifelong medical and care expenses. Compensation may also include lost income and emotional distress.
How Our Firm Approaches These Cases
Deitch + Rogers has represented crime and injury victims and their families in cases against negligent property owners and businesses for more than 40 years. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, advancing all investigation and litigation expenses, and our fee is paid only from the amount recovered.
Families should not have to take on a corporation’s legal team while grieving. An Atlanta wrongful death lawyer at our firm can manage the investigation and legal process so the family can focus on recovery.
If your family was affected by the Goliath incident, or if you were injured on a ride at another Georgia park, contact our office to speak with an Atlanta amusement park injury lawyer about your legal options.
