Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Slapped With A Wrongful Death Lawsuit

• (Photo : Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Slapped With A Wrongful Death Lawsuit)

190,000 Americans die annually from a wrongful death incident. Wrongful death lawsuits may stem from fatal circumstances in medical malpractice, product liability, homicide, elder abuse, workplace injuries resulting in death, or vehicular accidents. On October 20, 2021, the amusement park, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, was slapped with a wrongful death lawsuit for the death of Wongel Estifanos.

What Happened in Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

6-year old Wongel Estifanos rode the Haunted Mine Drop on September 5, 2021 while on vacation with her family. The operators of the ride did not notice that she wasn't wearing the seatbelts meant to secure children. A warning light went off, but the operators carried on with the ride anyway. After the ride, her uncle noticed that she wasn't beside him anymore. She fell 110 feet to her death. 

Lawsuit Against The Amusement Park

The family of Wongel Estifanos filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Glenwood Caverns for recklessness. The operators have the responsibility to check if the riders' seatbelts are secure and they failed to respond appropriately even when the warning light went off. In a wrongful death case, the claimants must be able to prove that death transpired because of negligence or breach of duty, and these directly led to the death of the victim. Glenwood Caverns have been ordered by the State of Colorado to submit all complaints against the Haunted Mine Drop made by customers in 2018 and 2019, but the amusement park has failed to do so.

Wrongful Death Claims

A wrongful death claim is a civil action suit that's meant to assuage the consequences of losing a loved one due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual or company. The surviving family may experience emotional trauma and financial burdens brought upon the death of the family member. This is one of the reasons why families who find themselves in such scenarios are advised to seek advice from a wrongful death law firm. In cases like the Glenwood incident, families can claim compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, loss of companionship, loss of income, and/or mental health treatment. Also, only the spouse, parents, biological and legally adopted children of the deceased, or the combination of these parties may file a wrongful death suit. In this case, the parents of Wongel Estifanos were the ones to file. 

Amount Of Compensation

As each case of wrongful death is different, there is no arranged amount for lawsuit settlements or rulings. There are many factors that are taken into consideration before a court can award an amount. In a statement made by the lawyer representing the Estifanos family, there was no amount for damages indicated. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park did not comment on the case filed against it but sent their condolences through e-mail. It will not be that remarkable if the amusement park decides to settle. Most entities prefer to settle to avoid more negative publicity.