Boy Injured In Fall At Morton Pumpkin Festival
Unsafe Premises - November 29, 2024
Six-Year-Old Boy Injured After Falling From Ride at Morton Pumpkin Festival
MORTON, ILLINOIS (November 29, 2025) – A boy was injured in an accident while at Morton’s Annual Pumpkin & Pals festival while exiting some type of ride.
Tazewell County officials are saying that the incident took place on Thursday. A 6-year-old boy was riding the Sizzler with an adult when the boy became agitated.
The ride operator attempted to stop the ride. As the ride was slowing down, the boy was able to jump down and was injured in the process.
The boy was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment. A full investigation into the accident at the Morton Pumpkin Festival remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Tazewell County Fair Accidents
Fairs and carnivals are very popular and attract many people each year. But they are also plagued by a high number of accidents. According to Kiss 106, “From 1993 through 2000, there was a statistically significant increase in the total number of amusement ride injuries. Mobile rides accounted for 3,990 of the total injuries in 2000. There was no significant trend in mobile ride injuries from 1993 through 2000.” There are a number of factors that can contribute to accidents at county fairs.
- Poor maintenance or design flaws in amusement rides can lead to malfunctions.
- Improper assembly of temporary rides and structures might lead to them not being set up correctly.
- Untrained or inattentive ride operators may not properly follow safety protocols.
Companies and municipalities that set up festivals could potentially be liable when any person is injured during these events. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/), property owners have a legal duty to use reasonable care to maintain their property in a safe condition. When a property owner fails to take reasonable measures to keep guests safe, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of festival accidents tend to suffer very serious injuries.
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
The vast majority of accidents that take place at festivals are preventable. They tend to involve preventable safety lapses. Part of the problem is that many of the rides and attractions at festivals are not permanent structures, unlike those at amusement parks. They are constantly being built, torn down, and rebuilt. This leaves room for a number of potential errors. Any person injured in an accident at a festival may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Tazwell County Festival Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the child injured in this accident at the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar incidents.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured at the Morton Pumpkin Festival? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. 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.
