Lady Falls From Darien Lake Motocoaster... Injured.

This isn't too big of a story, but because it happened at a park... it's worth noting.

A lady didn't feel good on Motocoaster, so she got off & fall off the PLATFORM, not really the ride itself. She fell around 10' injuring herself. Here's the story from the local news:

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A woman is recovering from back injuries after falling about 10 feet from the Motocoaster platform at Darien Lake Tuesday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the park said the patron got on the ride in the station, but decided to get off the ride before it started because she was not feeling well. As the woman got off the ride, the spokesperson said, she fell about 10 feet to the ground.

The woman was taken by park personnel to a Batavia hospital to be checked over as a precaution.

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Even though the park is most likely not at fault (definately not a ride or ride-op error), in this sue-happy country, do you see a lawsuit forming just because?

My question is how a person falls 10 feet. Where on the platform did this happen? Was there no railing or barrier there? Did she go over or through a railing that was there?

I've never seen the ride or platform, but I'd tend to think with that kind of drop, codes would require there be something there to keep people from falling over the edge.

^Exactly. Lack of a railing on a platform that high might be a cuase for litigation all on its own. Reminds me a little of RotM, when a man fell from the platform onto the track in front of the ride (IIRC, he died of head injuries). Almost immediately, new short fences were installed to prevent riders from getting to any place in front of the boarding train.

I wonder if she lost here balance/strength due to not feeling well and tumbled when she was trying to step off of the seat. The only place I can think of this happening is at the front of the train, as there is a railing at the back of the train for wheelchair access, and all of the cars have platforms, so there is not gap to fall onto the track within the train.

My guess is, she walked forward of the train.

Seen here:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig4138.htm?picture=2

There's a slight area, but it looks like it would have taken some effort and a conscious decision to go that route. Unless, of course, she was leaning over that railing and collapsed. I really can't tell.

Let the lawsuits fly.

It's probably something to be thought about in terms of platform safety.
It is absolutely possible to return dizzy from a coaster ride, so it would be advantageous to have "dizzy safe" exits.
But on the other hand, nobody can ever predict every eventuality that can possibly happen...
At a certain point, the parks need to make sure that it's clear that people are responsible for their own well being.

But the lawyers don't see it that way. They feel people should be prevented from being able to injure themselves.

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superman said:At a certain point, the parks need to make sure that it's clear that people are responsible for their own well being.

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Spoken like a European to be sure... ;)

Obviously your point has a ton of merit, but that's not really the American way....

For example: My can of peanuts has a warning that it contains peanuts and is produced in a facility that handles peanuts and tree nuts. I'm just thankfulm someone TOLD me... :)

I just bought a new lawn mower & i'm surprized that there isn't a warning lable about not using to cut hair. :)