Six Flags Reopens: Injured Guests' Rights in Georgia

Six Flags Over Georgia reopens Friday, October 16, for weekend operations — five days after a rider was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster and killed. The park was closed all week. The Goliath itself remains closed indefinitely, nine similar coasters are shut down at six parks nationwide, and state and county investigators are still examining what went wrong. If you or your child was injured in the incident, the reopening changes nothing about your rights. But evidence does not wait for an investigation to finish — what you do this weekend matters.

Here is what happened, what the reopening does and does not mean, and the steps injured guests and their families should take right now under Georgia law.

What happened on the Goliath

On Monday afternoon, October 12, a rider was ejected from the Goliath and died after falling from the coaster. Four other riders were injured. Cobb County Police later confirmed that all four injured riders were juveniles. The park evacuated guests and closed for the rest of the week.

Two investigations are active: the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire — the agency that inspects and permits amusement rides in Georgia — and the Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit. The coaster's manufacturer is also examining the ride. As of now, no official cause has been announced.

The park reopening does not settle your claim

Reopening is the park's operational decision. It is not a finding that everything is safe, and it does not affect any injured guest's right to bring a claim. Civil injury claims are entirely separate from the state's regulatory investigation — you do not have to wait for investigators to finish before protecting your rights, and in fact you should not.

There is a practical reason to act now. With Fright Fest weekend crowds expected, the scene changes: rides run, staff rotate, memories fade, and video footage gets overwritten. The longer you wait, the harder key evidence becomes to recover.

Preserve your evidence this weekend

Whether your injuries are serious or still developing, take these steps now:

• Keep treating and keep records. See a doctor promptly, follow through on referrals, and save every bill, discharge summary, and prescription receipt. Gaps in treatment get used against injury claims.

• Save what you have from that day. Photos, videos, tickets, wristbands, parking receipts, and credit card statements all help establish where you were and what you experienced.

• Write down witness information. Names and phone numbers of the people around you — including other riders and bystanders — before you lose track of them.

• Keep a daily journal. Note pain levels, missed work or school, activities you cannot do, and how injuries are progressing. Contemporaneous notes are powerful evidence.

• Save every communication from the park. Emails, letters, texts, or calls from Six Flags or anyone claiming to represent it should be kept unanswered-by-you until you have counsel.

• Stay off social media about the incident. Defense lawyers and insurers routinely pull posts, photos, and check-ins. A smiling weekend photo can be twisted into an argument that you were not hurt.

• Do not throw away what you wore. Clothing and shoes from the ride can matter in a product or negligence case.

Do not sign anything yet

After high-profile incidents, injured guests are sometimes approached with offers — reimbursement of medical bills, a settlement check, a release to sign — often quickly. Do not sign a release, waiver, or recorded statement without a lawyer reviewing it first. An offer to cover this month's bills is not the same as fair compensation for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering, and signing the wrong paper can waive claims you do not yet know you have.

Who can be held responsible under Georgia law

Several parties may bear responsibility, and claims can be pursued against more than one:

• The park operator. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-3-1, the owner or occupier of land owes invitees — paying guests — a duty to exercise ordinary care to keep the premises safe. For an amusement park, that includes daily inspections and maintenance, properly functioning restraints and safety sensors, trained ride operators, and following its own safety procedures.

• The ride manufacturer. If the coaster, its restraint system, or its sensors were defective, Georgia's product liability statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11) allows claims under strict liability — meaning you do not have to prove the manufacturer was careless, only that the product was defective and caused the injury. The manufacturer's own investigation does not limit your right to bring a claim.

Special rules when the injured rider is a child

Cobb County Police confirmed the four injured riders were juveniles, so this section matters: a minor cannot file a lawsuit on their own — a parent or guardian brings the claim for them. Georgia law generally pauses (tolls) a minor's two-year filing deadline until the child turns 18 (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90). But the parents' own claims — for their child's medical expenses and related losses — usually still face the standard two-year deadline (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Do not assume you have years to act. And settlements involving minors often require a judge's approval, so having counsel early keeps the process on track.

Common questions

Does the reopening mean the rides are safe now? No. Reopening is the park's business decision while the investigation continues. The Goliath itself remains closed with no announced reopening date, and similar coasters at other parks were shut as a precaution.

Can I still bring a claim while the state investigates? Yes. Your civil claim is independent of the state's regulatory investigation and the police inquiry. You do not need to wait for their conclusions.

My child was one of the riders hurt — is it too late to do anything? No, but document everything now and talk to a lawyer promptly. The tolling rule protects your child's deadline, but your own deadline as a parent for medical-expense claims is much shorter.

The park offered to pay my medical bills. Should I accept? Not before getting legal advice. Accepting payment — or signing anything connected to it — can affect your broader claim. Have a lawyer review any offer or paperwork first.

How long do I have to file? Generally two years from the date of injury under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, with tolling for minors under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-90. Deadlines can be shorter in special circumstances, so do not rely on the general rule alone.

If you or your child was injured on the Goliath, you do not have to navigate this alone. Call Hasan Claxton Law at (404) 669-6119 to book a free consultation. We will review what happened, explain your options under Georgia law, and help you preserve the evidence that protects your claim — before the weekend crowds make it harder.

Disclaimer: This post is general information only, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee any outcome.