Amusement parks are a fun experience for the entire family. Some of the world’s finest amusement parks are in Texas, from Six Flags Over Texas to ZDT’s Amusement Park. However, amusement parks also contain many dangers that can lead to serious injury or even death.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 30,900 amusement park injuries ended up in the emergency room in 2016. Rather than having a national agency that oversees regulation for fixed-site rides, state and local governments are mainly responsible for inspections and maintenance.
The following are some of the common causes of amusement park accidents in the United States:
-
Mechanical failures – Lack of proper inspections and maintenance, as well as manufacturing defects, can result in mechanical malfunctions. Common examples include when the structural component breaks, detaching lap bars, and detaching roller coaster cars. Amusement parks and ride manufactures can be held responsible for causing an accident in such instances.
-
Improper ride operation – Ride operators may also be responsible for amusement park accidents by committing an error. Common examples include incorrectly latching a rider’s seatbelt, stopping the ride abruptly, or increasing the speed of the ride. Operators can be sued for improperly operating a ride and providing incorrect instructions to rides, while amusement parks can be held liable for their failure to train ride operators.
-
A ride’s inherent dangers – Amusement park accidents are also caused by rides that are inherently dangerous based on the construction and nature of the ride itself. Park owners are responsible for posting warning signs about the dangers of certain rides. Failure to post clear warning signs can result in a lawsuit if a ride suffers an injury from an inherently dangerous ride.
-
Ride misuse – If a rider fails to follow safety instructions and suffers an injury as a result, then he/she will solely be responsible for their negligence. Common examples of rider misuse include not complying with age, weight, and height limits, sitting improperly, standing up mid-ride, and intentionally rocking the car.
Amusement park officials have a duty to ensure the park is safe for all patrons. Not only must they keep the rides in great and working condition, but they must also keep the park grounds danger-free. If you are injured in an amusement park and the park fails to keep the property safe, you may be entitled to financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against the park.
Injured in an amusement park accident in Dallas, Houston, or Chicago? Call the Dallas injury lawyers at Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers at (214) 739-0100 or complete our online contact form today to schedule a free consultation. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients!