Universal Orlando Resort is facing yet another lawsuit over its Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, with a woman claiming she sustained traumatic injuries while riding the iconic coaster. The suit comes just months before the grand opening of the highly anticipated Epic Universe.
The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, known for its towering 167-foot lift hill and thrilling custom soundtrack, has long been a favorite attraction at Universal Studios Florida. However, the ride has also seen its fair share of accidents, and this latest lawsuit adds to the growing list of legal troubles tied to the coaster. The ride, located in the Production Central area, is scheduled to close later this year, making way for a new attraction.
This most recent case involves Yolian Vargas Velez, a woman who alleges she suffered multiple traumatic brain and spine injuries while riding Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit in 2024. According to the complaint, unsafe conditions caused Vargas Velez's head to shake violently, ultimately resulting in injury.
In the filing, Vargas Velez's attorneys argue that the ride's only restraint—a lap bar—is insufficient for a coaster that reaches speeds of up to 65 mph. The lawsuit claims this lack of adequate safety features contributed to the injuries sustained during the ride.
The attorney representing Vargas Velez, Justin Bailey, shared details about his client's experience in a recent interview with WDWNT. Bailey explained that, after the ride, Vargas Velez began experiencing symptoms typical of a brain injury, including nausea, dizziness, and photophobia. “
As soon as she was off, she started experiencing symptoms consistent with brain injury: Nausea, dizziness, photophobia,” Bailey said. “She also felt pain in her neck, pain in her head, and eventually she passed out.”
Despite the seriousness of her injuries, Vargas Velez struggled to communicate the severity of her condition due to a language barrier. She eventually returned to her room at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, where she called the front desk for medical assistance.
“There was some medical practitioner sent up to her room,” Bailey added. “She left the next day.”
Vargas Velez's condition worsened after returning home to Puerto Rico, where she was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and multiple disc injuries to her cervical spine. According to her attorney, she continues to experience ongoing symptoms, including vertigo, severe mood swings, and neck pain. She is currently under the care of a neurosurgeon, but her prognosis remains uncertain.
While Universal Orlando Resort has not yet issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit, the case comes at a time when the park is preparing for significant changes. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is set to close in December 2025, though rumors about the ride’s replacement have already started circulating. Universal has remained tight-lipped about the new attraction, but fans eagerly await more information about what’s coming.
Are you sad to lose Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
