Girl Died In Accident At Effingham County Fair

Unsafe Premises - August 24, 2023

5-Year-Old Girl Died After Being Hit In Head By Starting Gate of Horse Race At  Effingham County Fair —> GoFundMe Created To Help Victim’s Family

Girl Died In Accident At Effingham County Fair

EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS (August 24, 2023) – A 5-year-old girl has tragically died after being hit in the head by a gate at a harness racing event at the Effingham County Fair.

Effingham County Fair officials are saying that the accident took place on Sunday. When the race started the crossing gate’s arm crashed into the stands and hit the young victim in the head.

Paramedics were called to the Effingham County Fair in order to help the victim. She was transported to a local hospital but was later airlifted to a St. Louis hospital to receive better care.

Despite life-saving measures, she died later that night due to the severe nature of her injuries. You can help support the victim’s family through GoFundMe.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Deaths At The Effingham County Fair

Accidents at  fairs and amusement parks may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually fairly common. According to NBC News, “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 30,900 injuries caused by amusement park attractions were seen by hospital emergency departments in 2016 alone.” There are a number of potential hazards that people may encounter in an amusement park.

  • People may be injured on rides that are poorly maintained.
  • People may trip on cracks within a walkway.
  • People may be injured by animals in an amusement park.

Depending on the facts of any case, a property owner could face liability if someone is injured or killed on their property. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code 740 ILCS 130/2, all property owners in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice that their property is in a dangerous condition, they must take action to remedy the dangerous condition. Property owners must also warn guests about any non-obvious latent dangers on a property. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any accident at a fair or amusement park.

  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • A thorough investigation should be conducted.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any accident. But it is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. They have a right to know what may have caused any particular accident. The family of any person that died may also be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. Evidence is what will ultimately be needed to demonstrate liability for any civil claim.

Investigating Illinois Accidents At State Fairs

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the girl that died at the Effingham County Fair. This was a horrific tragedy that should not have taken place. It is our sincere hope that measures will be put in place to prevent other accidents like this in the future.

Do you need more information about an accident at the Effingham County Fair? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.