Millions of people visit Universal theme parks in the United States each year. Most guests leave with fond memories of rides, shows, and attractions. However, accidents can happen, and an injured guest may face medical expenses, missed work, pain, and questions about who may be responsible.

If a dangerous property condition, ride problem, or other wrongful conduct causes an injury at a Universal property, the injured person may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim. Whether compensation is available depends on the facts, the parties involved, and the law that applies where the accident occurred.

Universal Theme Parks in the United States

Universal currently operates the following theme parks in the United States:

• Universal Studios Hollywood in California
• Universal Studios Florida in Florida
• Universal Islands of Adventure in Florida
• Universal Volcano Bay in Florida
• Universal Epic Universe in Florida
• Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas

Universal Epic Universe officially opened on May 22, 2025. Universal Kids Resort officially opened on July 1, 2026.

Universal Volcano Bay contains water slides, pools, and other aquatic attractions. Guests injured at that property may also benefit from information about water park accident claims.

How Many People Visit Universal Theme Parks?

According to estimates in the 2024 TEA Global Experience Index:

• Universal Studios Florida received approximately 9.5 million visits
• Universal Islands of Adventure received approximately 9.45 million visits
• Universal Studios Hollywood received approximately 8.7 million visits

These figures are attendance estimates. They do not establish how frequently accidents happen or whether any particular park is safe or unsafe.

Accidents at Universal Theme Parks

Theme park accidents can happen on rides, in queues, at restaurants, on walkways, in parking areas, and in other locations throughout a resort.

There is no single public database containing every accident, injury, or request for medical attention at Universal’s United States properties. Reporting requirements also vary by state.

How Florida Reports Theme Park Incidents

Florida law exempts certain large permanent theme parks that employ at least 1,000 full-time employees and maintain their own full-time safety inspectors from many state ride inspection requirements. These parks submit certain incident information under an agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The department publishes quarterly reports about incidents submitted by participating parks. However, these reports should not be interpreted as a complete record of every accident or injury. They contain only the initial information reported and may not include later diagnoses, changes in a guest’s condition, or incidents that do not meet the applicable reporting criteria.

The reports also do not determine what caused an incident or whether a park was negligent. More information is available through the Florida amusement ride law and the state’s MOU Exempt Facilities Report.

Recent Florida Incident Reports

The Florida report updated in July 2026 included the following Universal incidents from May and June 2026:

• On May 3, a 17-year-old guest reportedly lost consciousness in connection with Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• On May 17, a 54-year-old guest reportedly experienced chest pain in connection with TeAwa The Fearless River
• On May 25, a 53-year-old guest reportedly experienced weakness and shortness of breath in connection with Jurassic World VelociCoaster
• On June 17, a 20-year-old guest reportedly experienced weakness and lightheadedness in connection with Monsters Unchained

These brief entries describe initial symptoms reported to the state. They do not establish that an attraction caused the medical event or that Universal was negligent.

Reported Universal Theme Park Incidents and Civil Cases

Past incidents and court cases illustrate some of the circumstances that can lead to investigations or personal injury claims involving Universal properties. They do not mean that every theme park injury results from negligence.

Stardust Racers Fatality at Epic Universe

Florida’s incident report lists a fatality involving Stardust Racers at Epic Universe on September 17, 2025.

According to an Associated Press report, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died from multiple blunt impact injuries after riding the attraction. The medical examiner classified the death as accidental.

Universal temporarily closed the ride and later stated that its review found that the ride systems functioned as intended and that employees followed established procedures. The attraction reopened in October 2025 with updated warning signs.

A medical examiner’s classification of a death as accidental does not, by itself, determine whether a person or company may have civil liability.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Verdict

Pamela Morrison was injured at Universal Studios Hollywood in September 2022 while attempting to exit Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

According to reporting by the Associated Press, Morrison alleged that she fell while moving from the attraction’s moving walkway to a stationary surface after a restraint failed to secure properly. She sustained a spinal compression fracture.

A federal jury awarded Morrison $7.25 million in 2025. Universal appealed the verdict. The Ninth Circuit docket shows that the appeal was voluntarily dismissed by stipulation on April 15, 2026.

This was the outcome of one particular case. It does not guarantee or predict the result of another claim.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry Claims

In February 2026, twin brothers filed separate civil cases alleging that they sustained neck and back injuries when Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at Epic Universe stopped abruptly on Christmas Day 2025.

The complaints alleged that the sudden stop caused the brothers to move violently in their ride seats and later require medical treatment. These were allegations in filed complaints, not findings that Universal was negligent. When the cases were initially reported by Law and Crime, the allegations had not been adjudicated.

What Types of Accidents Can Happen at Universal Studios?

A Universal Studios accident does not have to involve a roller coaster. Guests may be injured in many different areas of a theme park or resort.

Potential accidents include:

• Ride restraint or seating problems
• Sudden stops or unexpected ride movements
• Mechanical or electrical malfunctions
• Falls while entering or exiting an attraction
• Accidents involving moving walkways or loading platforms
• Slip and fall accidents
• Trip and fall accidents
• Water slide, pool, or aquatic attraction accidents
• Falling objects
• Unsafe crowd conditions
• Inadequate security
• Foodborne illnesses or allergic reactions
• Parking lot accidents
• Shuttle, tram, or other transportation accidents
• Dangerous conditions caused by inadequate maintenance

Determining how an accident occurred is important because the cause may affect who can be held legally responsible.

Common Injuries in Universal Theme Park Accidents

Theme park accidents can cause injuries ranging from temporary discomfort to permanent disability.

Commonly reported injuries include:

• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Shoulder, knee, and other joint injuries
• Cuts and lacerations
• Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
• Internal injuries
• Drowning or near-drowning injuries
• Emotional trauma
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Fatal injuries

The severity of an injury, the treatment required, and its effect on the injured person’s life can influence the damages available in a personal injury claim.

Who May Be Responsible for a Universal Studios Accident?

Being injured at a Universal property does not automatically mean Universal is legally responsible. The evidence must be evaluated to determine what happened, whether someone failed to act with reasonable care, and whether that failure caused the injury.

Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:

• The park owner or operator
• A ride designer or manufacturer
• A maintenance or inspection contractor
• A food or beverage vendor
• A security company
• A transportation contractor
• Another business operating within the property
• Another guest whose conduct caused the accident

The correct defendant may not always be apparent from the Universal name or branding at the property.

When Can Universal Be Liable for an Injury?

A claim against Universal may involve allegations that the company or another responsible party:

• Failed to maintain a ride or property in a reasonably safe condition
• Failed to correct a known dangerous condition
• Failed to conduct reasonable inspections
• Operated a ride improperly
• Failed to provide adequate instructions or warnings
• Used a defective restraint or other unsafe equipment
• Failed to train or supervise employees properly
• Created or allowed unsafe crowd conditions
• Failed to respond reasonably to a medical emergency

The precise legal requirements depend on the type of claim and where the accident happened.

California law will generally be important in a claim arising from Universal Studios Hollywood. Florida law will generally apply to accidents at Universal Orlando properties, while Texas law may apply to accidents at Universal Kids Resort in Frisco.

What Should I Do If I Am Injured at Universal Studios?

The steps you take after an accident may affect your health and your ability to document a potential claim.

1. Seek medical attention. Request emergency assistance when necessary and obtain appropriate medical care, even if the injury does not initially appear severe.
2. Report the accident. Notify a Universal employee or supervisor and ask that the incident be documented.
3. Request identifying information. Ask for an incident report number, the employee’s name, and instructions for obtaining a copy of the report if one is available.
4. Document the location. If it is safe to do so, photograph or record the ride, walkway, restraint, spill, warning sign, or other condition connected to the accident.
5. Record important details. Write down the attraction name, approximate time, seat or row number, weather conditions, and anything employees or witnesses said.
6. Get witness information. Ask people who saw the accident for their names and contact information.
7. Preserve physical evidence. Keep your tickets, receipts, clothing, photographs, videos, and other items related to the incident.
8. Keep medical and financial records. Save medical bills, treatment instructions, prescription receipts, wage records, and documentation of other accident-related expenses.
9. Be careful about recorded statements. Avoid guessing about what happened or minimizing your injuries when speaking with an insurance representative.
10. Review documents before signing them. A release or settlement agreement may affect your legal rights.
11. Consider speaking with an attorney promptly. Evidence can be lost, surveillance footage may be overwritten, and legal deadlines may apply.

What Compensation May Be Available?

If Universal or another party is legally responsible for an injury, recoverable damages may include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disability
• Scarring or disfigurement
• The cost of rehabilitation and assistive care
• Other losses allowed under applicable law

When an accident causes a death, qualifying family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. The damages and people permitted to bring that claim depend on state law.

How Our Personal Injury Attorneys at TORKLAW Can Help

A Universal Studios injury claim may involve park records, surveillance footage, maintenance documents, medical evidence, witness accounts, and more than one potentially responsible party.

Our personal injury attorneys at TORKLAW can:

• Review how the Universal Studios accident happened
• Identify potentially responsible parties
• Help preserve available evidence
• Obtain and evaluate medical records
• Document the injured person’s claimed damages
• Review available insurance coverage
• Explain the laws and deadlines that may apply
• Communicate with insurers and other involved parties
• Discuss the available legal options

If you or a loved one was injured at Universal Studios Hollywood, a Universal Orlando property, Universal Kids Resort, or another theme park, contact TORKLAW for a free case evaluation.