Disneyland Work Injuries

The Walt Disney Company is the largest employer in Orange County. It runs two theme parks, three hotels, and the Downtown Disney outdoor mall thanks to 32,000 dedicated employees. These workers deserve to be well-compensated—even in difficult times.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has been hard for Disneyland workers recently. But even when the parks were open, many Disneyland workers have experienced hardship from work-related injuries and illnesses. During its 65-year history, Disneyland has had several publicly disclosed, serious work-related accidents. They include the following.

A History of Disneyland Work-Related Accidents

Slip and Fall. On July 8, 1974, a young employee slipped between a revolving wall and a stationary platform inside the newly opened America Sings attraction during a ride intermission. Tragically, the employee died.

Flying Debris. On December 24, 1998, a piece of heavy metal connected to the hull of the Sailing Ship Columbia tore loose and struck an employee while the ship approached its dock. Disney replaced a hemp rope that would safely break for a stronger nylon rope that caused it to snap dangerously.

Stage Accident. On April 22, 2003, a stage technician fell 60 feet from a catwalk in the Hyperion Theater. The stage technician died a few weeks later. After an investigation, Cal/OSHA fined the Disneyland Resort for safety violations related to the death.

Falling Accident. In November 2012, a worker fell in Space Mountain and broke several bones. Several months later, Disney closed Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Soarin’ Over California to review employee-safety protocols. Cal/OSHA fined Disney for safety violations.

Collapsed Float. On December 15, 2018, a float with Santa Claus collapsed during a parade, causing the cast member playing Santa to be thrown off the sled and left dangling by his safety harness. Thankfully, Santa was not seriously hurt.

Falling Object. On August 29, 2019, a steel plate fell on a construction worker who was working in a trench. The construction worker died after being taken to the hospital.

These are extreme examples and do not necessarily represent the likely danger of working at Disneyland. But as a workplace that requires operating heavy machinery, patrolling long distances, wearing full body costumes in hot temperatures, and performing stunts, among other things, work-related injuries at Disneyland are foreseeable.

If you are a Disneyland employee, you should know how the legal system can help care for you following a work-related injury.  

What Happens After a Disneyland Work Injury?

When you are injured or get sick while at work, you get treatment and support paid from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Disneyland, like any other California employer, carries workers’ compensation insurance.

If you are a Disneyland employee who is injured at work, you could receive the following workers’ compensation benefits:

·       Your total medical care

·       Temporary income payments while you are unable to work

·       Permanent disability payments if your injury totally precludes you from returning to work

How a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Helps

When you pursue a workers’ compensation claim, you may need to work with many different doctors, insurance representatives, and government agencies. Unfortunately, not all of them share your interests and they have a lot of resources to use against you, including attorneys.

But the attorneys at SoCal Workers Comp work for you. We honor our obligation to advise you on your best interests and protect your legal rights. We also care about your improvement, so we will ensure you get the right medical treatment at no cost up front.

Before you agree to any settlement offer after a work-related injury at Disneyland, get a second opinion from an experienced workers’ compensation professional at SoCal Workers Comp. Call or submit for a free consultation and get answers first. Not every claim needs a workers’ compensation attorney, but if your claim does, trust SoCal Workers Comp.

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