Teen Dies in Freak Accident at a Tennessee Adventure Park

Last month, a Knoxville Tennessee teenage tragically died in a freak accident at an obstacle course. The incident occurred in the morning at Ijams Nature Center’s new “canopy adventure course” ropes course. Greg Horan, 18 was doing an obstacle course with his sister when he slipped off a suspended log and ended up hanging himself from the log with his harness around his neck. By the time he was lowered to the ground, he was unresponsive. Emergency responders administered CPR and he was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. He was in critical condition for a week before he died at the hospital.

State inspectors in Tennessee suspended the newly-opened attraction’s operating license. The ropes course has been deemed “unsafe” and must remain closed until changes are made. According to police, Horan was moving through the obstacle course as expected, and was not “horsing around.”

Legal Claims for Injuries Sustained in Theme Parks

While specific legal claims differ depending on the nature of an accident, the two most common claims are brought under the theories of negligence and product liability. If injury or death was caused by the park’s own carelessness, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant did not behave carefully like a reasonable person should have, and this carelessness was the cause of the injury or death. Amusement parks are responsible for the actions of their employees, so parks may be deemed negligent when an employee does things like failing to post clear warning signs, improperly operating rides, failing to regularly inspect rides or attractions, etc.

Further, some amusement park accidents are caused by defective products such as structural design defects (ie. a poorly designed log). Plaintiffs must prove that the structure, equipment, or part was defective and that the defect specifically caused injury or death to the victim. In these instances, claims may be made against the manufacturer of the product.

Tennessee Wrongful Death Statute

Wrongful death gives dependents, spouse and parents of the deceased the right to collect financial compensation for their losses. This includes medical expenses, funeral expenses, pain and suffering of victim, loss of companionship, and lost future wages.

Nashville Wrongful Death Lawyers

Losing a loved one to an accident is devastating. At Calhoun Law, PLC, we understand the challenges faced by families that have lost a loved one. Our priority is to help you and your family get the security you need to begin the healing process. We will go through your case in detail and work with an independent investigator. Contact us today in Nashville so that we can ensure that you are properly compensated for you injuries. Consultations are free and confidential.