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Can I Be Injured at an Amusement Park?

Warm weather draws millions of people in the US to theme parks and fairs each year. However, you could also suffer injuries at these establishments. The CPSC estimates that emergency rooms treated 30,000 amusement park injuries in 2016. Rides only causes a fraction of these injuries.

Several recent amusement park accidents have captured the national spotlight. In 2016, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated on the “world’s tallest waterslide” at a Schlitterbahn in Kansas City. Recent court documents show the park’s management hired a team without the technical skills necessary to safely build the slide. Two individuals responsible for constructing the slide are facing manslaughter charges.

Another accident occurred at a Six Flags in New York last year. In this case, a 14-year-old girl fell 25-feet from a ride. Several other people on the ground caught her, possibly saving her life.

What Causes Amusement Park Injuries?

There are several reasons why an amusement park might be liable for a ride-related accident. Amusement parks could be liable if they did not perform proper maintenance on rides or if their staff members improperly operated rides. The manufacturer of a ride could also be liable for injuries or deaths.

There are also accidents at amusement parks that do not involve rides. Slip and fall accidents can injure park patrons. In addition, amusement parks may have areas that are dangerous to patrons because they contain moving parts or are under construction. Accidents can happen if these areas are not clearly marked.

Many amusement parks require you to sign liability waivers. Amusement parks may use these legal documents to protect themselves if there are injuries and deaths at their establishments. However, there are still cases where you could successfully bring a claim against the park or other parties. You should still speak to an attorney even if you have signed one of these waivers.

The Colorado premises liability lawyers at Lampert & Walsh, LLC could help you determine whether it is possible to recover compensation for an amusement park injury. You can contact us at no cost for a free consultation.