College Athlete Sues Disney World After Getting Hit With a Scooter Costs Him His Season
According to a piece in today’s Orlando Sentinel, an accident that occurred at Walt Disney World cost one college basketball player a season after being hit with an electric scooter and he has filed a lawsuit.
According to reports, David Maynard was visiting Hollywood Studios when a scooter driver approached him from behind and ran into him in May 2018. The crash severed 97% of his left Achilles tendon. As a result, Maynard needed surgery and extensive physical rehabilitation.
This meant that Maynard missed his basketball season and is now seeking $30,000 in damages according to a suit filed in the Orange Circuit Court. The lawsuit says, “Maynard has suffered great pain and anguish of the body and mind.” The suit also argues that Disney allows scooters too close to pedestrians and does not provide training for those renting the items on property.
Andrea Finger, a Disney spokeswoman said, “This is a matter between two guests and we’ll respond to the allegations as appropriate in court.” Though the suit doesn’t reveal where Maynard plays sports, Orlando Sentinel did some research and it looks like he’s linked to the team at Colgrate University.
According to a story in the Sentinel last year, scooter-related lawsuits have increased at all of Orlando’s theme parks. This is a complicated matter for the theme parks as its difficult to regulate who can drive them. Though accidents do happen, for many guests they are an essential lifeline to be able to cover the 7 miles a day that most people walk during a Disney theme park visit.
The lawsuit filed by Maynard is one of four lawsuits related to scooter accidents filed in the Orange Circuit Court this Spring. Darlene Anchikites from New York sued Disney this past March after she tipped over on her scooter when her resort bus took a sharp turn in 2017.
Last September, Orange County Sheriff’s Office also included a report where a man traveling at a fast speed on a scooter struck another guest, ran over her foot and then tried to leave the scene on his scooter. The woman having just had surgery said her bones were fragile and the crash resulted in a broken pinky toe and bruises.
It will remain to be seen whether thinner crowds and social distancing measures will quell the rise of scooter-related incidents at the park. This is a story that we here at MickeyBlog will be following closely. Readers are encouraged to keep checking in for further news and updates!
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Source: Orlando Sentinel
I believe it is Colgate University, not Colgrate.