Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Authorities recently released their findings following an investigation into the death of a 6-year-old girl at a Port St. Lucie Urban Air Adventure Park in December 2025, according to reporting from national media.
The probe revealed that Emma Riddle, who died in a go-kart crash at the facility, was not old enough or tall enough to be behind the wheel and this is just one of multiple violations, according to ABC News.
The incident happened on Dec. 6, 2025, around 8:40 p.m. while the minor was behind the wheel of a double-seated go-kart. Her mother was in the passenger seat of the kart when they collided with the track barrier as the race began, officials said in the report. Emma was taken to a local hospital and died later than night of blunt force trauma injuries to the torso.
Neither Emma nor her mother were wearing seatbelt restraints at the time of the crash.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has proposed a $300,000 settlement agreement with the facility, citing manufacturer requirements for drivers’ height and age. In the report, officials stated that drivers of the double-seat go-kart must be at least 18 years and at least 60 inches tall. Emma, officials noted in the report, was 49 inches tall.
Officials claim that the signs visible at the track did not list age requirements and posted height restrictions that were “contradictory to the manufacturer’s requirements.” They also allege that the ride operator did not deliver an “effective” safety briefing to the mother on proper go-kart operation, ABC News reported. Officials also purport that the operator did not enforce additional safety rules related to cell phone usage and seatbelts for riders, which are further violations of Florida statutes.
A spokesperson told ABC News reporters following Emma’s death that the company is “heartbroken by the traffic incident” and that they are working with state and local officials as the investigation continues.
“Our policies, procedures and equipment are designed to keep children and families safe, and the well-being of the children and families we serve is always our top priority,” they said.
Leesfield & Partners
For over 50 years, Leesfield & Partners has worked tirelessly to secure justice on behalf of injured clients and grieving families. From tourists injured at amusement parks to a minor who died in an electrical incident at a Florida resort’s mini golf course, our attorneys help families and individuals navigate the uncertainties of this legal landscape with the compassion and diligence they deserve. Leesfield & Partners is committed to holding responsible parties accountable for their actions.
The firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, was involved in nationwide litigation focused on ATV accidents involving minors. Manufacturers of these devices often marketed these vehicles as toys for children. While these vehicles may seem harmless, the reality is starkly different. he U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that there are about 100,000 ATV-related injuries requiring emergency room visits in the U.S. annually. Of these ATV incidents, approximately 650 people died, the data showed. Florida was among five states in the U.S. that accounted for more than 30% of the off-highway vehicle deaths from 2018 through 2020, CPSC data showed. Other states where these deaths — about 613 — occurred included Pennsylvania, California, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Children are particularly at risk of dying or being injured in ATV accidents, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is because of their lack of experience operating such a vehicle and a lack of judgement that can result in them taking bigger and more dangerous risks. One out of three ATV deaths and injuries requiring emergency room treatment involves a child under 16 years old.
“In the large majority of children’s deaths resulting from the use of an ATV, the child was not wearing a helmet,” Leesfield & Partners said in a previous blog post.
As a result of these cases, Mr. Leesfield secured more than $10 million in verdicts and settlements for the children injured in these crashes in their families. In many of the cases handled by the firm, the children had been given these vehicles as holiday and birthday gifts.
Previous ATV Cases
Previously, the firm settled an ATV products liability case for $5 million, causing a ripple effect throughout the entire industry. This case was one of several handled by the firm that highlighted the instability of these three-wheeled vehicles. As a result, the ATV industry abandoned their previous design and added a fourth wheel.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys were obtained to represent the family following the tragic death of their teenage daughter following an ATV crash. The girl, 15, was riding a recreational vehicle when she was killed.
The firm secured a $4.5 million settlement for the negligent entrustment of a recreational vehicle to a minor and the failure of the responsible parent to supervise the children.
Leesfield & Partners previously handled a cruise ship excursion case in which multiple people were injured in an ATV incident. In that case, a rollover crash occurred on a cruise-sponsored shore excursion, causing serious injuries to multiple passengers.
The firm settled the case for over $1.2 million.
Previous Tourist Destination and Amusement Park-Related Cases
Leesfield & Partners handled the wrongful death case of a husband and wife who were involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida while visiting from the U.K. The two had come to the area specifically for a motorcycle tour that was happening in the area.
Leesfield & Partners obtained a $1 million partial settlement with the uninsured motorist insurance policy.
A newlywed German couple on their honeymoon were horrifically burned when an uncapped gas pipe in their vacation accommodations caused an explosion. The wife died as a result of her devastating injuries.
A multi-million-dollar award was secured for the husband in that case.
The firm previously represented a husband who lost his wife due to the negligence of a jet ski rental company. Under Florida law, these rental companies must ensure that every guest understands safety briefings given before they are set out on the water. A French-speaking tourist in this case, however, did not understand the tutorial, given in English. Asa result, this tourist eventually crashed into our client’s wife, causing fatal injuries.
A multi-million-dollar result was secured for the husband in that case.
A tourist from Brazil was brutally attacked while at a theme park in Central Florida. Leesfield & Partners obtained a confidential settlement for the victim in that case.
A student from Massachusetts was killed in a horrific car accident while visiting Daytona Beach. The bad faith case – meaning that the insurance company denied the claim without sufficient reasoning, evidence or proper investigation – was resolved with a $1 million award for the grieving family.
Leesfield & Partners represented the family of a man who died while visiting Dry Tortugas National Park with his wife on a boat tour. The man was found dead after officials with the tour company directed him to an area they assured him was “good to snorkel.”
The firm secured a $600,000 recovery for a client who was severely injured in a fall at a Florida amusement park.
Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, returned a six-figure verdict for a woman who was injured at a popular Florida tourist attraction. In that case, the property’s sidewalk was flanked by a sharp divot with no railing to prevent falls. This hazard was known to property managers who regularly tasked employees to fill the trench with gravel.
When the narrow walkway became too crowded, our client stepped off it and into the trench. As a result, she lost her balance and violently fell to the concrete ground, shattering her hip.
If you were hurt in an incident in Florida, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today to see if you may be eligible for compensation. Call: 305-854-4900.
