Our team is here to handle your SeaWorld injury cases on a contingency basis, so you don’t pay anything unless we recover money for you. There’s no retainer fee, and we don’t charge interest on your case costs.
Spetsas Buist is a SeaWorld Orlando accident lawyer near you in Orlando who represents guests injured at the park and its sister parks, Aquatica and Discovery Cove. If you or someone in your family got hurt on a ride or anywhere else on park property, call us at (321) 529-7848 for a free consultation with a lawyer.
You don’t have to live in Florida to bring a claim here. We’ve helped people from around the world who were hurt while on vacation in Orlando, and we can handle communications and court filings so you don’t have to keep traveling back and forth.
Why Did SeaWorld in Orlando, FL Close the Mako Roller Coaster?
SeaWorld Orlando closed Mako on October 13, 2026, one day after a man died in a fall from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The man was 42, and he was thrown from his seat onto other passengers before landing below the ride. Four other people were injured.
Mako and Goliath were both built by the Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, and the two coasters have similar restraints. SeaWorld said it closed Mako “out of an abundance of caution.” The coaster reopened on October 20, and SeaWorld didn’t say whether any changes were made to it.
We haven’t seen any report of a restraint failure on Mako. No official cause had been announced in the Georgia death as of early November 2026. Police, engineers and state investigators are looking at Goliath’s restraint systems and maintenance, along with surveillance video. Six Flags has said it will add seat belts to Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint.
If you were hurt on a SeaWorld coaster, we ask many of the same questions. Was the lap bar locked? Did the ride operator check it? What do the maintenance records show? Ride inspection experts told CBS News they expect the Georgia investigation to examine maintenance and design, along with human error. Those same issues can decide a case against SeaWorld.
Does the State Inspect the Rides at SeaWorld?
No, and this is a common misconception. Many visitors assume state inspectors check SeaWorld’s rides, but Florida exempts permanent facilities with more than 1,000 full-time employees and a full-time, in-house safety inspector. SeaWorld is one of the large operators in that group. Those operators file affidavits documenting their annual ride inspections and report ride deaths and certain injuries to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
The reporting rule is narrow. The quarterly report covers ride-related incidents that lead to a hospital stay of at least 24 hours, along with fatalities. An injury treated in an emergency room the same day generally wouldn’t appear, and neither would a fall in a parking lot or a walkway.
Here’s a real example. An Orange County woman sued SeaWorld in October 2025, alleging a duck flew into Mako’s path that March, hit her in the face and knocked her unconscious. News coverage said the incident wasn’t listed in the state’s quarterly report. Her complaint alleges that SeaWorld created a danger by running a high-speed coaster near water. Those are allegations, and in any coverage we've seen, SeaWorld hasn’t been found liable in that case.
SeaWorld Orlando reported no qualifying incidents for the second quarter of 2026. A blank report doesn’t mean nobody was hurt there, so we go after the park’s own maintenance records, video and incident reports. Our Orlando amusement park accident lawyers explain more about how this system works.
Common SeaWorld Orlando, Florida Accidents
People get hurt at SeaWorld in a lot of ways that never make the news. Some of the more common incidents we see include:
- Injuries on rides or attractions, including restraint problems and objects striking riders
- Slip and fall accidents on wet walkways
- Trip and fall accidents
- Escalator accidents
- Drowning or near-drowning incidents
- Injuries caused by falling objects or structures
- Tram or transportation accidents
- Assaults or altercations due to inadequate security
- Mobility scooter accidents
Past state reports show how varied these injuries can be. One report from 2022 listed a 12-year-old boy who hurt his leg on Ice Breaker and a man who dislocated his shoulder on the Ray Rush water slide at Aquatica.
Who Is Responsible for a SeaWorld Accident?
The park is usually the first place we look. SeaWorld owes paying guests a duty of reasonable care, and it can be liable if it failed to maintain the property or train its staff, or failed to warn you about a danger. A federal court filing lists Sea World of Florida LLC as the business operating as SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Its parent company is United Parks & Resorts.
Other companies may also share the blame. A ride manufacturer can be liable for a design or manufacturing defect, and an outside contractor can be liable for bad repair work.
Expect the defense to blame you too. Under Florida’s comparative negligence law, you can’t recover anything if you’re found more than 50 percent at fault for your own harm. If your share of fault is 50 percent or less, your compensation goes down by that percentage. Learn more about Florida comparative negligence.
Does Your SeaWorld Ticket Stop You From Suing?
It depends on what you agreed to, so don’t assume either way. Tickets, passes and online purchases can come with terms that affect how and where you bring a claim. The Florida Supreme Court has held that a release can bar a negligence claim even if it doesn’t use the word “negligence.” The court also said these agreements are disfavored and are enforced only when the language is clear.
Save your ticket, your pass, your confirmation emails and anything you signed at the park. We’ll read the actual language and tell you what it means for your case.
5 Steps to Take After an Accident at SeaWorld
What you do right after you’re hurt can seriously affect your case. We’ve seen how the defense attacks injured guests, and these are the steps we want our clients to take.
1. Get Medical Care Right Away
Your health comes first. There’s a legal reason too, because a personal injury claim puts your health at issue and the defense has every right to argue you aren’t really hurt. If you waited to see a doctor, they’ll use that delay in their argument. If you’re flying home, see a doctor there and keep your records.
2. Report the Accident to SeaWorld Staff
SeaWorld staff will probably take you to an office and ask you to fill out paperwork with your information and a description of what happened. You likely won’t get a copy of the incident report. That’s standard for the parks, and we often have to file a lawsuit to get it.
3. Take Photos and Get Witness Information
If you can, take photos and video of the area and whatever caused you to get hurt. Get the contact information for anyone who saw it, since we may need a statement from them later. Hold on to your wristband and receipts as well.
4. Don’t Talk With Claims Adjusters
SeaWorld’s claims adjusters may call soon after a serious accident. They want a recorded statement from you before you get legal advice, because they might get you to say something they can use against you. They may also push you to sign a release in exchange for vouchers, tickets or money. If you sign a release, you may not be able to sue later, so call a lawyer first.
5. Keep the Accident to Yourself
The defense will fight to keep you from getting compensation, and anything you say can be used against you. Don’t post about the accident on social media. As a general rule, the only person you should discuss it with is your lawyer.
How Long Do You Have to File a SeaWorld Injury Claim?
Florida’s deadline for most negligence claims is two years from the date of the injury, for injuries on or after March 24, 2023. A wrongful death claim generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. If your family lost someone, our Orlando wrongful death lawyers can talk through your options. If you wait too long, you may lose your rights.
Evidence is usually the bigger problem. Witnesses disappear, video gets erased and memories fade. When you hire us, we get to work gathering what’s available and send a letter of preservation, which puts the defense on notice of your claim. If they destroy evidence after that, we can file motions and use it against them.
What Is a SeaWorld Injury Case Worth?
Every case is different. Compensation can include your medical bills and lost income, along with pain and suffering, which adjusters tend to undervalue. Our case results include amusement park recoveries of $1 million and $600,000. Past results don’t guarantee the outcome of your case.
SeaWorld Accident Attorney Near You: FAQs
Q: Can I file a claim if I don’t live in Florida?
A: Yes. If you were hurt at SeaWorld Orlando, you can bring a claim in Florida no matter where you live, including another country.
Q: Was Mako unsafe if SeaWorld closed it?
A: The closure doesn’t tell us that. SeaWorld described it as a precaution, and the ride has reopened. If you were hurt on Mako, your case will depend on what happened on your ride and what the park’s records show.
Q: Can I still recover money if I was partly at fault?
A: Yes, as long as you’re found 50 percent at fault or less. Your compensation would be reduced by your share of the fault.
Q: What if my child was hurt at SeaWorld?
A: Parents can bring a claim on behalf of a child. Different deadlines can apply to minors, so call us and we’ll work out which ones apply to your family.
Q: How much does a SeaWorld accident attorney cost?
A: Your consultation is free. We work on contingency, so you don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for you.
Talk to a Nearby SeaWorld Orlando Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hurt at SeaWorld, Aquatica or Discovery Cove, call Spetsas Buist at (321) 529-7848 or contact us online. You’ll have your lawyer’s direct contact information for the length of your case, and we offer virtual consultations if you’ve already gone home.