Guests may have been feeding alligators before Disney attack

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Premises Liability, on Monday, June 20, 2016

Massachusetts residents have probably heard about the fatal alligator attack that recently took place at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. On June 14, a toddler was killed by an alligator when the animal dragged him into the water at the Seven Seas Lagoon. Since the fatal incident, reports have emerged that the Walt Disney World Resort knew about the alligators on its property but did nothing to warn guests in high-risk areas of the property. According to reports, several theme park employees had expressed their concerns about alligators to management. Employees had warned their managers that guests staying at high-priced rooms in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort were feeding alligators as they swam by their rooms. Since the Bora Bora Bungalows opened in April 2015, guests paying more than $2,000 per night have been able to get very close to alligators. Many of these guests fed the alligators, and the alligators became desensitized to humans. A custodial employee at the Polynesian Village Resort said that he warned his employers about alligators that were regularly swimming close to the shore. He recommended the installation of a fence to protect resort guests. Signage around the area said “no swimming” but did not give any warnings about alligators.An owner that knows about a dangerous property condition but fails to correct it may be found financially responsible for an invitee’s injuries. A person who was injured in such a manner at a resort, hotel, restaurant or retail store may want to speak to an attorney about filing a premises liability lawsuit seeking compensation for the losses that have been sustained.