$310 Million for Florida Family of Teen Who Died on Amusement Park

A Florida jury has awarded $310 million to the parents of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old who died in a tragic amusement park accident at Orlando’s Icon Park in 2022. The teen was ejected from the 400-foot Orlando Slingshot ride, falling approximately 100 feet after his safety harness wasn’t properly secured.

The case exposed critical safety failures by ride manufacturer Funtime. Most notably, the ride lacked basic seat belts, a safety feature that would have cost merely $22 per seat, totaling $660 for the entire ride. Sampson, who weighed around 400 pounds, exceeded the ride’s 285-pound weight limit, but there were insufficient safety measures to prevent him from boarding or to secure him properly during the ride.

The jury’s decision represents a landmark verdict in amusement park safety. The tragic incident has already prompted significant changes. The Orlando Slingshot has been dismantled, and Florida enacted the “Tyre Sampson Act” in May 2024, strengthening safety requirements for amusement park attractions.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed under the same or similar circumstances, call the law firm of Abraham Watkins today. It is imperative that you find a law firm to manage your claim as soon as possible following an injury or death of a family member. Further, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling these cases to ensure that the responsible parties are held fully accountable.

The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at 713-222-7211 or 1-800-870-9584 for your free consultation.