Bus Incident - WWYD

[Allegro]

This isn't me but someone I "know" from another board (a non-Disney board). She posted the following today:

We just returned from FL. We spent the last 4 days of our vacation in Disney World. My mom has timeshare points and we were in the Old Key West Resort. For anyone who has not experienced Disney, they have buses that take you from the resorts to the parks, the airport, the cruise ships, etc. We spent yesterday at MGM Studios. We took the bus over early in the day and had a good time. Just after 3:00, we got on the bus to head back to the resort. Thea led us to the back of the bus (because that's where the cool kids sit). The bus is configured with 5 seats across the back and then 2 or 3 seats facing the middle of the bus on the sides. Thea sat on one of the five seats across the back. DH and I sat in the seats facing inward right behind the wheelchair lift. My parents sat facing me and DH.

There are 4 bus stops in the Old Key West property because it is HUGE. All of the departments (housekeeping, maintenance) have modified golf carts to move about the property with their supplies. Between the first stop and the second stop, a housekeeping cart stopped REALLY short in front of us to pick up 2 housekeepers. The bus driver had to slam on the brakes to avoid rear-ending the cart. Long story short (I know - too late), Thea and DH went FLYING. Thea landed on the floor but thankfully, because 6 year olds bounce, she wasn't hurt badly. She complained of some pain in her leg, but didn't even cry. Why not? Because she was SO worried about DH. He was thrown sideways (toward the front of the bus) and slammed his head into the metal box that houses the controls for the wheelchair lift. His glasses and cell phone (which was in his hands) went flying. He ended up with a cut on his right eyebrow / temple area that bled heavily (as all head lacerations do...). The driver continued to the next stop and then came back and checked on us. She was limping and clearly injured her knee in the incident. After radioing in, she told us we needed to stay where we were and wait for the manager. Five minutes later, she came back and told us that she was to take our information and the manager would get in contact with us. She took us to our bus stop and we went back to the room. I immediately called and got the hotel manager on the phone. I declined an ambulance because firstly, DH never lost consciousness and overall was OK (other than the bleeding thing), and second, I didn't want to freak Thea out if it wasn't absolutely necessary. The manager offered to send a van from the medical center but I told him I had a car and could drive him if he would give us directions. I took DH to the care center and they had to superglue the cut. They also did a neurological exam to assess for concussion, etc. Aside from the lovely bruising that's formed since the incident, he's been fine. We were there for just under 2 hours. The manager had asked me to call him when we got back and let him know how we were doing. I tried to call but got left on hold for 5 minutes before I hung up….and we had a dinner reservation to make…

When we got back from dinner, the manager had left us a voice mail at 7:10 to check on us. Also, at 8:45 one of the managers from Disney Bus called “because he just saw the incident on the log and thought he’d give a call” to see how DH was doing. WHAT?!?! What happened to the bus manager getting in touch with us?! I did go to the front desk and talk to the manager. He asked us to provide written statements. I took the forms back to the room and me and my dad each wrote one. I brought them up to the office this morning and spoke to the manager on duty (a different one). In speaking to the two managers from the property, it was pretty clear that they had limited authority to do anything for us…not that we asked for anything.

OK….so here’s the issue. My father, the lawyer, is yelling SUE, SUE! Permanent scarring! On his FACE! Cha-ching! Part of me is angry enough to do just that. File a lawsuit since it was THEIR housekeeping staff that caused it, on THEIR bus, on THEIR property AND their follow-up SUCKED. I don’t want to be a typical American who tries to cash in on every little incident that befalls them, but I do feel that Disney should do *something* for us. But what? DH is going to have a scar on his face for the rest of his life. It is right on his brow line about a fingertip from where his eyebrow ends, and a 3/4 of an inch long. Worse is the image my daughter has of her daddy bleeding heavily for 35 minutes (in her presence). I am feeling very badly about Disney today and don't know that I want to ever return there. I know that's coming from an emotional place but I don't feel *safe* there now. Also, today I felt like crap all day and sat out all the rides, etc because I was exhausted and nauseous for most of the morning (which further distressed Thea....). Frankly, I don't feel like anyone really gave a **** about what happened to us.

So...WWYD?

 

[DisTeach1]

Okay, you asked...I would do nothing...because I don't want " to be one of those Americans" who sue for everything. Does he have a permanent disability? Would he want to get plastic surgery? Does he need plastic surgery? If it were his fault, would the scar bother him? Or are you thinking of suing just because you know you could get money from Disney and don't want this opportunity to go by. In my opinion, if the scar doesn't bother him and if the situation were different, he knew he wouldn't bother with plastic surgery, then you are suing just because you can.

If it were me, I know my mother would be saying the same as your father. But, I just would feel ridiculous suing for extensive damages unless the scar really bothered me and I was prepared to follow up with plastic surgery,

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

the whole post i said: wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...Bam!!

My father, the lawyer, is yelling SUE, SUE!

Ah...the American way. Where's my check? Pay me now.
Seriously? did this man miss any work? permanent disability? at most Disney could offer to cover the trip to the E/R. But I see my ticket prices going up even more in the future so your 'friend' can get paid.

 

[Allegro]

By the way, what *I* would do is write a letter (e-mail probably) to Disney detailing the incident. If they did want to do anything for me - yay Disney. I they didn't, well it *was* an accident and really the only thing that would upset me was the whole "no one seemed to care" part of it all.

 

[newharmony]

I agree, I would do nothing. DH and I were involved in two bus incidents. Once, someone in a small Disney van pulled out in front of our bus. The driver had to slam on the brakes and people went flying. No one was seriously hurt, but the bus does not come equipped with seat belts for everyone. We all know that getting on a bus, even a school bus, can be dangerous if the driver has to stop suddenly. The driver was very kind and made sure everyone was okay. The van driver probably lost his job. In another incident, someone hit our bus from behind. (We stopped, they didn't!) This time there were police officers and Disney officials. They made sure we were okay, moved us to another bus, took statements from everyone. I think if I had been cut and received the medical care your family member received, that is all I could ask for. I could get an ugly cut from tripping on a sidewalk. Life is risky.

 

[BillSears]

Personally for a small scar I'd just do nothing. Accidents happen and nothing serious occured.

 

[Bill From PA]

Real injuries with possibly permanent results occured. I would be sorely tempted to at least visit a lawyer with the evidence in hand, hopefully some of it in the form of photos of the blood on the face, clothes, floor etc., and see what they had to say. If they recommended a suit, I'd go with it only if they agreed to take it on a contingency fee basis. Another factor is how this would play out with me living in Pa and with a lawsuit in Fl. If you lose a limb in such an accident, you go to the wall regardless. For this, it might not be worth the trouble. I would think that a good local lawyer might convince Disney to settle out of court. FWIW, my thought process is not affected by the fact that it's Disney, one way or another. We love the place, and would return again after going through this. This would be my thinking no matter what corporation was involved.

Bill From PA

 

[kt_mom]

I would probalby write a letter to Disney. But in the spirit of, "Please have a talk with your workers driving the golf carts". What if the bus hadn't stopped in time. The driver of that golf cart could have been seriously injured or worse. There also could have been pedestrians cuaght up in it that could have been injured had the bus had to swerve to miss the cart.

I would also be upset that I wasn't made a higher priority. It doesn't sound like there was much Disney magic surrounding that situation. When we were there last year at Chef Mickey's my DD was really excited after singing the Micky Mouse Clubhouse song to Mickey and he danced to it. She turned around really fast after he walked away and hit her head, right above her eye on the back of the chair next to her. She cried of course and had a little bruise, but nothing serious. The waitress rushed right over to check on her and left and came back immediately with the manager. He brought ice and asked if there was anything he could do. We of course said no, she would be fine. He did go get Mickey and he came back to our table and sat with her for a minute and gave her a big hug and stuff. (which cleared the tears up pretty quick!)

My point is that she hurt herself, by no fault of Disney at all and it sounds like she got better treatment. And I think your friend should include a complaint about their treatment in a letter. But not sue. That would be taking it too far.

 

[glitterkittyy]

If he was able to go out for dinner, he wasn't hurt too badly IMHO.

And this comes from a lady who has two scars on her face....it hasn't ruined my life.

 

[Tinkim]

I don't think I would do anything either. Last February we stayed at a vacation rental condo and I went to open the shower door to get in and the glass literally shattered (we're talking a million pieces here). My arm was cut in about 7 places and was bleeding all over the place. My DD was 9 at the time and was freaking out. I did contact the owner and she lives in a different state but she was wonderful. She sent someone in to clean it up while we were gone that morning and was very apologetic and nice about the whole thing. She did do something for me at the end of the vacation but I didn't ask her to nor did I expect her to. These things happen unfortunately.

It sounds like Disney was concerned about her DH but they maybe wanted some kind of compensation, not just the concern. While it would be nice for Disney to offer something to them they don't have to and I think I would have just chalked the incident up to bad luck and moved on. FWIW . . . I just contacted the owner of the vacation condo to book my next trip with her.

 

[mom2my3kids]

If he was able to go out for dinner, he wasn't hurt too badly IMHO.

And this comes from a lady who has two scars on her face....it hasn't ruined my life.

Ditto!!! But he will sue everyone is sue happy these days..

 

[Heidict]

I wouldn't expect anything except maybe for Disney to pay for the medical care.

He will have a small scar, less then an inch long. I have one also, close to the same place he does (or at least it sounds like it), let him know it will fade with time, and now over 25 years later you can hardly see it!!

Also, the whole, "my poor DD saw her father bleed" line. Um, I'm still trying to figure out how that could have scarred her for life. Heck, when I was her age, I saw my uncle get kicked in the head by a steer. He had blood streaming out from between his fingers. Tons of blood everywhere. I also saw our dog bite my father in the face. I wasn't traumitized by either of them.

I'm sure the DD will be okay. Kids are alot more resiliant then we give them credit for.

I really hope she doesn't sue over something so small, all because she didn't get the reaction and follow-up from them that she wanted.

 

[Grumpy's_Gal]

The only thing I might do is write a letter to Disney, but honestly, by the time I got home I'd probably not even do that. It seems to me they were concerned...they made a couple of phone calls to check up and offered transportation to medical care and an ambulance. What else should they do?? It was an accident.

 

[AshleyMWC]

I wouldn't do anything either. I mean it stinks that it happened, but life is basically one big risk, and accidents happen every day. If emailing or making a follow-up call to Disney makes you feel better, I don't think that's out of line, but if everyone who fell down or ran into something as a result of "negligence" sued, it would be out of control. Just my 2 cents worth.....

 

[mom2my3kids]

At work the other day another waitress I guess did not hear the lady ask for decaf coffee, when she went to give her more she said this is decaf right? The waitress said no and the lady freaked out and acted like she was having a attack the waitress said "Mame do you need medical attention". She said OH no and the waitress asked is there anything I can do and the lady said yeah a free meal.. What I am getting at if they were REALLY hurt they would of gotten medical attention right then and there..

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Did she want to sue before her father mentioned it? Probably not..

I don't mean to sound rude, but I think she wants an excuse to sue. "Worse is the image my daughter has of her daddy bleeding heavily for 35 minutes (in her presence)." Seriously?

But anyway- I probably wouldn't sue but bring the issue up with the Disney executive office.

 

[glitterkittyy]

Head wounds bleed. Big deal. Put a cloth on it and take the offer of an ambulance. If you didn't do that, you weren't hurt that badly. If you went out to eat, you weren't hurt that badly. She took her sweet ole time getting him to the hospital then gets home and sounds like a whiny crybaby poopoo pants if you ask me.

I know when I had a serious head injury (leaving me the two facial scars I have), I took the dang ambulance to the ER and got 18 stitches. I didn't wait until someone could drive me then go out to eat.

 

[bopper]

This is the way I think about it...what damages did the person truly incur?
1) Hospital/Doctor copay
2) Messed up day at Disney
3) Temporary pain
4) Scar

I might write a letter that states what happened, and since he was sitting as he was supposed to in the bus and a disney vehicle cut them off and then he hit his head on the metal box that is not protected, then he would like to be compensated for the copay and would like replacement tickets for the day of the incident at a minimum. Unless he is a model, the scar will not monetarily affect him.

 

[LilGMom]

What would I do? Write a letter and get something in writing that Disney will cover the medical bills incurred on the day of the incident. Other than that, personally I'd do nothing.

Did the DH lose work? Probably not since they were on vacation. Is the DH a male model in that having a scar could adversly affect his career? Those would be the only questions that I would think would have any monetary amount tied to them. The DD seeing her dad hurt and upset, imho, isn't worth any money but then again I don't tend to agree with the whole "pain and suffering" aspect of lawsuits. Missing a days worth of rides because you were stressed doesn't carry a dollar amount. Heck, I was stressed on my last trip because my MIL wouldn't shut her mouth about how unhappy she was about her FWC campsite - guess WDW should give me some money too.

This is coming from a person that was involved in a near head-on accident at the age of 17 (other guy pulled directly into my lane - wasn't my fault) and as a young lady with a permanent scar on my face I could have sued and sued. But we just wanted the cost of the car and medical bills covered - nothing for "pain and suffering", etc. Granted the guy probably didn't have the deep pockets that WDW has but still if there is no loss of limb or life I don't tend to agree with that.

 

[Finally08]

Oh man...while I wouldn't sue if it turned out the same for me, what if someone had a baby or something they were holding that went flying towards the front of the bus?? A small child or infant could be killed. They (disney) are lucky that wasn't the case, and it was an adult who suffered an injury.