Few things are more exciting than spending a day at an amusement park. The entire atmosphere exudes fun – from fascinating foods to entertaining games to exhilarating rides. We all love entertainment, and what’s more entertaining than thrill rides? Roller coasters, bumper cars, spinning rides and even water rides are abundant and can be found in almost every kind of theme park. Today rides are constantly being upgraded to be bigger, taller, faster, better – but at what cost? People expect fun at amusement parks, not danger. No one is willing risk a serious injury or, worst-case scenario, give up their life for a few moments of exhilaration. Most people will be able to experience the thrill and excitement these rides have to offer, but unfortunately, some will experience painful injuries from malfunctioning rides, defective rides or negligent staff. Sometimes there are hidden dangers and grave safety concerns that are overlooked or even denied by theme park operators. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), amusement park accidents that required a visit to an emergency room increased more than 85 percent over the last five years. In 2012 the CPSC recorded that 1,239 people sustained amusement park injuries serious enough to merit hospital visits – sadly, the majority are for children ages 5 to 14.
Common injuries from amusement parks include:
Causes of amusement park injuries include operator behavior, mechanical failure, design defects, inherent nature of the ride, negligent supervision, poor maintenance and missing safety equipment.
These injuries take place in part because theme park owners are always working on increasing the popularity of their rides. Of course the thrill park industry is in the business of making money, but when corners are cut and negligence ensues all in order to meet the bottom line, people end up paying the price. Although the government regulates amusement park rides, park owners are ultimately responsible for making sure rides are safe, and employees are working in a safe environment. The security and well-being of both guests and workers should always remain first and foremost. Amusement park accidents are devastating for the victim as well as their loved ones. If you or a loved one is the victim of an amusement park accident due to negligence, know that it is not your fault. No one should have to endure the physical pain, financial loss and mental anguish suffered from an amusement park accident.
A few recent accidents in the news include (from RideAccidents.com):
Swing ride injures 13 at carnival
(September 8, 2013) - At a carnival in Norwalk, Connecticut, 13 people suffered minor injuries when a swing ride called Zumur stopped suddenly. The accident caused the ride's swings to lose momentum and crash into each other and into the center structure of the ride. The injured included 12 children and one adult. All but one of the injured was treated at local hospitals; the other was admitted with injuries that were not life-threatening.Woman injured while exiting Zipper ride
(July 30, 2013) - At the Montana State Fair, an accident involving a Zipper ride injured a woman who fell 8-10 feet as she was exiting her car. "It looks like one of the cars may have been higher than it should have been during regular unloading," said John Hanschen, the president of Mighty Thomas Carnival, which operates the ride. The woman suffered an apparent head injury and was hospitalized.
When there’s an injury at a theme park, there are several areas of personal injury law that can help the victim and their family. These areas of law can be complicated and confusing. It’s best to have an experienced lawyer on your side when you file a claim. The Miami Injury attorneys at Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada, P.A. have more than 100 years of combined experience in the legal system. Our door is always open for amusement park accident victims. To discuss your options with an experienced Florida attorney, contact our personal injury firm online or call 305-448-8585. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All consultations are free and confidential.