Deadly Disney Monorail Accident Caused by Operator Error, Report Finds

Added: (Tue Jan 31 2012)

Pressbox (Press Release) - LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA (January, 2012)
Operator error is likely to blame for a fatal Walt Disney World monorail accident, a government investigation has found. But the report also indicates that Disney contributed to the accident by not having standard operating procedures in place for the monorail system.
The July 5, 2009 accident – in which two monorails crashed -- killed one 21-year-old Kissimmee operator, sent another to the hospital with injuries, and caused $24 million in damage to the system. No passengers were hurt.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report indicates that the accident occurred after a shop panel operator failed to properly position a switch-beam, and that a central coordinator for the monorail system failed to verify the position of that switch-beam before authorizing one monorail to move in reverse.
Essentially, the operator became distracted from positioning the switch-beam when there was a report of a malfunctioning door on another monorail train. The improperly positioned switch-beam caused a direct collision.
The NTSB also concluded in its report that Walt Disney World did not have standard operating procedures or policies in place for the monorail, which contributed to the errors made by the monorail operators. Since the accident, however, Walt Disney World has taken many steps to correct its lack of operating procedures for the monorail system, including the following:
● Revising operating procedures and guidelines for all types of monorail operators;
● Providing more training for monorail operators;
● Updating monitoring system software used in the monorail operation;
● Installing additional video cameras; and
● Reconfiguring the monorail braking system.
The mother of the employee killed in the accident initially filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walt Disney World, but the suit was voluntarily dismissed in 2011 following a settlement with the resort.
Unfortunately, your South Florida injury lawyer knows that workplace injuries and fatalities often occur due to the negligence of employees, as well as due to the failure of employers to implement proper operating and safety procedures and guidelines. When an incident results in injuries or fatalities, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit may result.
If you find that your or a loved one has suffered such an injury, you should immediately contact an experienced South Florida injury lawyer for assistance. Call Reifkind & Thompson, P.L., at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a consultation with a quality South Florida injury today.