A male guest in his 30s died after riding the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe on Wednesday evening, September 17, 2025. Orange County Fire Rescue officials confirmed the guest became unresponsive after riding the attraction and was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to witness accounts, the man appeared to lose consciousness during the ride and may have struck his head. One witness standing in line reported seeing a frantic family member, possibly the victim's mother, desperately seeking help when the ride returned to the station. Universal Orlando immediately closed the attraction and released a statement expressing devastation over the tragic event.
The Stardust Racers attraction, located in Epic Universe's Celestial Park, features dual-launch racing tracks spanning 5,000 feet. The roller coaster reaches speeds of 62 miles per hour and heights of 133 feet, incorporating multiple inversions and powerful launches. This incident marks the first fatality at Universal's newest theme park, which opened in May 2025.
History of Injuries at Universal Studios
Universal Orlando Resort has experienced several serious incidents resulting in guest injuries and lawsuits over recent years. These cases highlight ongoing safety concerns at Florida's major theme parks.
ET Adventure Ride
In January 2019, 11-year-old Brazilian tourist Tiago Perez suffered crushing injuries to his foot on the ET Adventure ride at Universal Studios Florida. The child's foot became trapped between the ride vehicle and the unloading platform, resulting in multiple broken bones requiring orthopedic surgery. The boy's mother, Roberta Perez, filed a lawsuit against Universal in February 2019. The case settled in January 2022 for an undisclosed amount.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster
Geriann Clem sustained what she described as a traumatic brain injury while riding Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit in February 2023. According to the lawsuit filed on February 28, 2024, Clem's head repeatedly struck her seat's headrest throughout the ride, which reaches speeds of 65 miles per hour and heights of 167 feet. The repeated head strikes are what she claimed caused her injuries.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Courtney Delphey of Manatee County suffered partial finger amputation on Skull Island: Reign of Kong in 2021. The incident occurred during a 3D segment where the ride vehicle shakes violently as part of the experience. Delphey's finger was crushed between two metal components when she braced herself during the shaking sequence. She filed a lawsuit seeking over $100,000 in damages, which settled in 2023.
How to Sue Universal Studios for Wrongful Death
Families considering legal action after a fatal accident at Universal must prove four essential elements of negligence to succeed in a wrongful death claim.
First, they must establish that Universal owed a duty of care to keep guests reasonably safe while using their attractions. Theme parks have a legal obligation to maintain safe premises, properly design and maintain rides, and warn guests of potential dangers.
Second, plaintiffs must prove Universal breached this duty through action or inaction. For example, the plaintiffs might allege inadequate maintenance, failure to address known hazards, insufficient safety warnings, or improper ride operation.
Third, families must demonstrate causation – that Universal's breach directly caused or substantially contributed to their loved one's death. This requires showing the death wouldn't have occurred but for Universal's negligence.
Finally, plaintiffs must prove damages resulting from the death. Florida law allows recovery for various damages in wrongful death cases, including:
- Lost wages and benefits the deceased would have earned
- Medical and funeral expenses
- Loss of companionship and guidance for surviving family members
- Mental pain and suffering of surviving spouse and children
- Lost parental guidance for minor children
These damages aim to compensate families for both economic losses and the immeasurable emotional impact of losing a loved one.
Our Experience Fighting Theme Parks in Orlando
Every case is unique, but there are patterns we see from the defense attorneys in all these cases. Typically, they will argue that it was somehow the victim’s fault. If you read through prior incidents, you’ll see that they often blame the riders themselves. If the rider is a child, they’ll often blame the parents.
Universal Studios is self-insured, which means they have their own team navigating injury and death claims. This also means that Universal pays the settlements and verdicts. The money comes out of their own pockets.
They will generally approach these types of claims with a tough negotiation, with the goal of settling the case for the least money possible. They also will hold onto incident reports and other evidence until they are forced to turn it over during litigation. Thus, you should not expect to get the evidence, like video footage and reports, unless you are prepared to file a lawsuit and push the case into litigation.
For this reason, they have tough adjusters and defense attorneys that know how to fight these cases. Our attorneys spent their careers representing insurance companies and major corporations before representing injured people. We are well-equipped to handle these cases, and we know how to hold these entities accountable.
Who Brings a Lawsuit in a Wrongful Death Case in Florida?
The laws of Florida governing wrongful death provide that only the personal representative of the deceased person's estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit. The court appoints the personal representative, and then the personal representative acts as the plaintiff in the lawsuit. Essentially, the personal representative or “PR” steps into the shoes of the deceased and brings the lawsuit on behalf of the estate and surviving family members.
Sometimes, the deceased names the personal representative in their will. However, many people don’t have a will when they pass away.
If no will exists or if the will exists but doesn't name a PR, the court will appoint one. Typically, the personal representative is the surviving spouse, if there is a surviving spouse. However, the PR could also be an adult child, parent, or another close relative. In some cases, the court may appoint someone outside the family.
The personal representative files the lawsuit for the benefit of the estate and specific survivors identified under Florida's Wrongful Death Act. These survivors typically include the spouse, children, parents, and any relatives who depended on the deceased person for support.
Contact a Universal Studios Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you've lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries at Universal Resort or Universal Epic Universe, you deserve answers and closure. You may also be entitled to compensation. Our law firm routinely handles cases against the theme parks and amusement parks in Orlando, and we help people from all over the world that come to Orlando to visit.
Call 321-LAWSUIT today for a free consultation. When you call, we will make sure to put you on the phone with a lawyer from our office, not a customer service representative or some call center operator. We'll listen to your story, explain your legal options, and help you understand your rights moving forward.
Most importantly, you pay nothing unless we win your case because we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that our payment comes only from the compensation we recover for you. We don’t charge any upfront costs, there are no hourly fees, and thus there is no financial risk to you.
Don't wait to seek legal help. Florida law limits the time you have to file a wrongful death or personal injury claim. The statute of limitations in Florida for a wrongful death case is 2 years from the time of death.