Theme Park Accidents That Could Lead to a Personal Injury Lawsuit

 Posted on May 30, 2019 in Premises Liability

For some, the thought of riding a huge rollercoaster at a theme park is exhilarating. Others avoid amusement park rides entirely. One reason people may hesitate before getting on an amusement park attraction is because they have seen footage of deadly amusement park accidents on the news. While major injuries and deaths at amusement parks are rare, these types of accidents can happen. Most theme park injuries are not related to malfunctioning rides but instead are caused by more mundane issues like uneven walkways and spilled liquids. When an amusement park is not adequately maintained and this negligence leads to a guest’s injury or death, the park and its ownership can be held liable.

Amusement Park Attractions Must Be Inspected

In Illinois, the Carnival and Amusement Rides Safety Act requires theme park attractions to be inspected before they are opened to the public and to be re-inspected annually. Every year, operators must obtain a permit from the Illinois Department of Labor that serves as proof of the inspection. If a ride or another theme park attraction is operated without a permit or inspection, the operator may face criminal charges. If someone is injured on a ride which was not properly inspected, this could give rise to a negligence claim and, in fact, a presumption of negligence on the part of the park operator.

An Environmental Hazard Can Lead to an Injury Claim

Most of the amusement park injuries we hear about on the news are catastrophic injuries or deaths caused by a malfunctioning ride or attraction. Many remember the tragic events which took place at the Ohio State Fair in July of 2017 when a piece of the “Fireball” ride broke off and sent riders plummeting to the ground. A young man was killed and several others were injured during this accident. It was eventually discovered that excessive corrosion had caused the ride to break apart.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that hospital emergency departments saw over 30,000 injuries that were caused by amusement park attractions in 2016 alone. Many more injuries, however, occurred at amusement parks but were not related to a catastrophic ride failure. A large number of park injuries occur due to poorly maintained grounds or inadequate security. Even a spilled drink which is not cleaned up in time, for example, can lead to a slip and fall injury. Amusement park injuries can also be caused by:

• Loose floorboards on ride entrances and exits;
• Broken or cracked sidewalks, steps, or stairs;
• Wet or slippery floors or walkways;
• Unsafe pools or water attractions;
• Unsecured carpeting or rugs;
• Concealed extension cords;
• Faulty electrical systems; and
• Other environmental hazards.

Contact a Winnebago County Premises Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one have suffered due to an accident at an amusement park, contact a Rockford personal injury attorney at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, for help. Call us at 815-215-7561 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/number-accidents-due-amusement-park-rides-might-be-higher-you-n787286

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/07/catastrophic-fire-ball-accident-at-ohio-state-fair-caused-by-corrosion-ridemaker-says/?utm_term=.5c6cd6acf00b