Amusement Park Injuries
cartwrightlaw - January 25, 2023 -
California is home to numerous amusement parks, and the San Francisco Bay Area especially boasts a significant number of attractions. California’s Great America, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and Children’s Fairyland, U.S.A. are just three of many different offerings throughout the area.
Families travel to the West Coast from all over the nation and attend many of these parks with simple hopes of a joyous day out, but things can go awry when one person suffers an injury at an amusement park. Many people harmed in these cases suffer from immediate confusion about what their rights are and what they should do.
The first thing to do is consult with an injury law firm that handles amusement park cases.
Common Kinds of Amusement Park Accidents
An amusement park typically offers an assortment of different attractions, so people can suffer injuries in a wide range of scenarios. When it comes to roller coasters or carnival rides, there could be cases of defective parts, inadequate maintenance, or improper operation that are to blame for a person’s injuries.
Some people could also suffer injuries such as whiplash because of sudden jolts on certain rides, and all rides should have proper signs posted warning about the dangers of the rides. When a ride involves a water slide or swimming pool, then there can be an increased risk of a person drowning.
It is also possible for people to suffer injuries because of basic slip and fall accidents when amusement park employees do not quickly clean up messes. Other issues relating to unsafe walking surfaces, faulty handrails, or defective stairs can also be present in certain cases.
Amusement parks should also invest in necessary security, as people could have claims of inadequate security when they are the victims of assaults or sex crimes at amusement parks. If people fall from rides while they are in motion, then there could be possible defective design claims.
Amusement Park Injuries
A person hurt at an amusement park could suffer any one of multiple kinds of injuries. Certain injuries may be minor and not require medical attention, while many others will involve several rounds of treatment.
Some of the most common kinds of injuries people can suffer at an amusement park include:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Skull fractures
- Closed head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Back injuries
- Leg injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Permanent nerve injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burn injuries
Amusement Park Accident Statistics
In a recent year, CNN reported that according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 30,000 injuries linked to amusement parks. The commission said it was aware of 22 deaths since 2010 associated with amusement attractions.
The International Association for Amusement Parks reported 1,508 ride-related injuries among park attendees who went on rides in its most recent report, which was a 32 percent increase from the 1,146 the year before. The report did not include information about fatalities.
The CPSC reported that there were an estimated 4.5 amusement-ride fatalities per year, and there were 52 deaths connected to amusement park rides over a recent 15-year period, according to the CPSC.
Losses from Amusement Park Injuries
If you suffered injuries in an amusement park mishap – or your child did – you are likely facing a wide range of costly losses. These can include:
- Medical expenses – Injured individuals often require emergency treatment, ambulance transportation, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, repeated doctor visits, medication, and more. If an injury has lasting effects, there might be ongoing medical costs for the rest of your life.
- Lost income – For many people, a broken bone or serious brain injury will keep them out of work for some time. If you miss work, you will likely lose income, which can put a lot of financial stress on your household. If your injury caused a permanent impairment, you might never return to work or earn as much as you did pre-injury.
- Non-economic losses – These are losses that stem from your intangible experience from your injuries – not specific financial bills or losses. These include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disabilities, permanent disfigurement, and more.
Future losses and non-economic losses are more difficult to value and prove. You want an experienced attorney to calculate your losses and ensure you receive the full amount you deserve.
Wrongful Death
There are about 30,000 amusement park injuries each year and only four or five fatalities. While fatal amusement park accidents are relatively rare, they can be particularly gruesome accidents, often involving falls from high places. Families who lost a loved one at an amusement park should discuss a wrongful death claim with our legal team.
Liability for Amusement Park Injuries
The most important question following an accident is whether the amusement park can be held responsible for your losses. Generally, the answer is yes, as long as something went wrong or occurred that never should have happened. Parks can be liable for:
- Negligence of ride operators or other employees
- Negligent hiring or supervision of employees
- Negligent security
- Premises liability accidents
- Improper maintenance
These are only some examples of when an amusement park should be liable for resulting injuries and losses. Allow our attorneys to review your situation and options.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bay Area Amusement Park Accident Attorney
If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in an accident at an amusement park anywhere in California, do not wait another moment to get yourself legal representation. The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. understands how stressful and confusing these cases can be for people, so we will help ensure that you are able to get justice.
Our firm knows what will be necessary to prove these kinds of claims, and we will work closely with you to make sure that nothing is forgotten. You may call (415) 851-6486 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with our Bay Area amusement park accident attorney.
California is home to numerous amusement parks, and the San Francisco Bay Area especially boasts a significant number of attractions. California’s Great America, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and Children’s Fairyland, U.S.A. are just three of many different offerings throughout the area.
Families travel to the West Coast from all over the nation and attend many of these parks with simple hopes of a joyous day out, but things can go awry when one person suffers an injury at an amusement park. Many people harmed in these cases suffer from immediate confusion about what their rights are and what they should do.
The first thing to do is consult with an injury law firm that handles amusement park cases.
Common Kinds of Amusement Park Accidents
An amusement park typically offers an assortment of different attractions, so people can suffer injuries in a wide range of scenarios. When it comes to roller coasters or carnival rides, there could be cases of defective parts, inadequate maintenance, or improper operation that are to blame for a person’s injuries.
Some people could also suffer injuries such as whiplash because of sudden jolts on certain rides, and all rides should have proper signs posted warning about the dangers of the rides. When a ride involves a water slide or swimming pool, then there can be an increased risk of a person drowning.
It is also possible for people to suffer injuries because of basic slip and fall accidents when amusement park employees do not quickly clean up messes. Other issues relating to unsafe walking surfaces, faulty handrails, or defective stairs can also be present in certain cases.
Amusement parks should also invest in necessary security, as people could have claims of inadequate security when they are the victims of assaults or sex crimes at amusement parks. If people fall from rides while they are in motion, then there could be possible defective design claims.
Amusement Park Injuries
A person hurt at an amusement park could suffer any one of multiple kinds of injuries. Certain injuries may be minor and not require medical attention, while many others will involve several rounds of treatment.
Some of the most common kinds of injuries people can suffer at an amusement park include:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Skull fractures
- Closed head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Back injuries
- Leg injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Permanent nerve injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burn injuries
Amusement Park Accident Statistics
In a recent year, CNN reported that according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 30,000 injuries linked to amusement parks. The commission said it was aware of 22 deaths since 2010 associated with amusement attractions.
The International Association for Amusement Parks reported 1,508 ride-related injuries among park attendees who went on rides in its most recent report, which was a 32 percent increase from the 1,146 the year before. The report did not include information about fatalities.
The CPSC reported that there were an estimated 4.5 amusement-ride fatalities per year, and there were 52 deaths connected to amusement park rides over a recent 15-year period, according to the CPSC.
Losses from Amusement Park Injuries
If you suffered injuries in an amusement park mishap – or your child did – you are likely facing a wide range of costly losses. These can include:
- Medical expenses – Injured individuals often require emergency treatment, ambulance transportation, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, repeated doctor visits, medication, and more. If an injury has lasting effects, there might be ongoing medical costs for the rest of your life.
- Lost income – For many people, a broken bone or serious brain injury will keep them out of work for some time. If you miss work, you will likely lose income, which can put a lot of financial stress on your household. If your injury caused a permanent impairment, you might never return to work or earn as much as you did pre-injury.
- Non-economic losses – These are losses that stem from your intangible experience from your injuries – not specific financial bills or losses. These include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent disabilities, permanent disfigurement, and more.
Future losses and non-economic losses are more difficult to value and prove. You want an experienced attorney to calculate your losses and ensure you receive the full amount you deserve.
Wrongful Death
There are about 30,000 amusement park injuries each year and only four or five fatalities. While fatal amusement park accidents are relatively rare, they can be particularly gruesome accidents, often involving falls from high places. Families who lost a loved one at an amusement park should discuss a wrongful death claim with our legal team.
Liability for Amusement Park Injuries
The most important question following an accident is whether the amusement park can be held responsible for your losses. Generally, the answer is yes, as long as something went wrong or occurred that never should have happened. Parks can be liable for:
- Negligence of ride operators or other employees
- Negligent hiring or supervision of employees
- Negligent security
- Premises liability accidents
- Improper maintenance
These are only some examples of when an amusement park should be liable for resulting injuries and losses. Allow our attorneys to review your situation and options.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Bay Area Amusement Park Accident Attorney
If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in an accident at an amusement park anywhere in California, do not wait another moment to get yourself legal representation. The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. understands how stressful and confusing these cases can be for people, so we will help ensure that you are able to get justice.
Our firm knows what will be necessary to prove these kinds of claims, and we will work closely with you to make sure that nothing is forgotten. You may call (415) 851-6486 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with our Bay Area amusement park accident attorney.
“Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.
Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner