According to The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, hospitals see about 30,000 amusement park-related injuries a year. When planning for a day of fun at the park with your loved ones, being severely injured is rarely something that crosses your mind.
The truth is, thousands of Americans are injured on roller coasters, bumper cars, and more of your favorite rides daily. Being injured by a theme park ride can result in a negligence claim against the park and its employees.
These injuries can also lead to a product liability claim against the manufacturer of the defective ride. It's essential for people who have been injured in an amusement park to understand what a theme park injury is and what they should do if they believe they have a case.
Common Amusement Park Injuries
Amusement park accidents are severe and can range anywhere from broken bones to head trauma (in the most extreme instances, death). Some of the most common types of injuries found in theme parks include:
- Death caused by falling or being thrown off of a ride
- Back, neck, or head injuries from bumper cars or being thrown around on rides
- Brain aneurysms from fast rides
- Broken bones or torn ligaments
- Drowning on water slides or "lazy rivers"
- Stroke from trauma to ligaments in the neck
Causes of Injuries
Amusement park injuries can be a result of many determining factors. Most of these injuries are caused by:
- Passenger Misuse. When a rider fails to follow instructions, the ride could become very dangerous and potentially cause injuries. This is usually seen when the rider intentionally rocks the car back and forth, stands up when told not to, sits incorrectly, or removes safety restraints.
- Mechanical failures. Sometimes rides detach the lap bar mid-ride, or a structural component may break, resulting in serious injuries. These issues could be caused by a manufacturing defect or the park's lack of ride maintenance.
- Improper Operation. Employees are trained on how to safely operate the ride. Injuries can occur if the ride operator abruptly stops the ride or fails to latch the safety restraint correctly.
- Inherent nature. Beyond mechanical and operational errors, the rides themselves pose inherent dangers to theme park goers. There have been reported cases of cerebral and retinal hemorrhage, along with other medical issues associated with rides because of the rapid spinning and jerking.
Do I Have A Case?
If you or someone you know has been injured at an amusement park, financial compensation may be owed. Park owners must provide a safe environment for their customers to be held liable for injuries or damages. When those responsible for keeping theme parks a safe place fail to adhere to their responsibilities, they could face a lawsuit based on multiple causes of action. These include:
- Premises liability
- Negligence
- Product defect liability
When considering filing an amusement park personal injury claim, you should strongly consider contacting a lawyer. Going through the claim process can be challenging when you don't know what to expect.
Working with a skilled professional can help you fully understand your rights and increase compensation amounts. Here at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC, we are committed to fighting for your rights. Our years of experience have taught us everything we need to know to fight for the compensation you deserve. You are not alone. We have handled many cases just like yours.
Let us be your voice. Contact the skilled team at Kamper & Estrada, PLLC today to discuss the details of your case by calling (602) 230-1234 or by filling out the online contact form.