Amusement parks are a popular destination for many Americans each year. Unfortunately, accidents can happen. There are thousands of amusement park-related injuries each year, with more than 70% of them occurring between May and September, according to USA Today. The exact number of injuries or deaths related to amusement parks is hard to determine. This is because there are no state or federal agencies dedicated to enforcing ride standards. Data on accidents are often well-guarded secrets by parks that do not want the negative publicity generated by lawsuits.
Amusement Park Injuries Are Difficult to Report
There is no uniform system in place at this time for reporting amusement park accidents. The amusement industry is highly unregulated. This means that the parks themselves are policing the accidents, making it possible to keep minor injury-related incidents under wraps. Victims may find it hard to file a lawsuit because there could be several different types of legal areas involved, such as product liability, premise liability, and personal injury.
Types of Accidents Occurring in Amusement Parks
The following are just a few examples of the types of injuries that can occur in an amusement park setting:
- Falling objects
- Unregulated rides
- Slips and falls (particularly in water parks)
- Unsafe carnival games
- Food poisoning
- Broken machinery
One basic but common cause of injuries at amusement parks is when park visitors are not strapped in safely on a ride. This is especially common among young children who might not know how to properly buckle themselves in safely.
Common Causes of Amusement Park Injuries
Accidents do happen, even in the best of situations. If you or a family member is injured at an amusement park, you need to assess whether the accident was preventable or not. In many states, the park is responsible for their guests’ safety under liability laws. This means that the park management needs to conduct a routine maintenance program and immediately fix any hazardous conditions to ensure safety.
When these management teams fail to do their part, park visitors of all ages can get hurt. A lawyer, like a personal injury lawyer trusts may help those injured by the following issues:Mechanical defects resulting from poor maintenance
- Mechanical defects resulting from poor maintenance
- Negligent amusement park ride operation by an employee
- Inherently dangerous design of a ride
- Failure to prevent a violent attack on the part of park security
- Tripping hazards located throughout a park
- Defectively manufactured ride components
- Faulty lap belts or safety harnesses
If you or a family member has received an injury due to any of these circumstances, don’t hesitate to contact your local personal injury lawyer for more information about amusement park accidents. If the amusement park could be held negligent or liable for your injury, you may be able to file for compensation under a civil lawsuit.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Cannon Hadfield Stienben, LLC for their insight into an amusement park and personal injury cases.
