Injured At An Amusement Park, Water Park, or County Fair?
It’s our job to help you recover after suffering an injury, fall, broken bones, or catastrophic accident.
You’ve spent months planning a vacation for yourself and family. You’ve chosen the dates, reserved your hotels, gone clothes shopping, and purchase tickets to your favorite amusement parks. Upon arrival at your first theme park destination, you and your family are full of excitement; however, a series or unforeseen events lead to an accident where you or a family member have been severely injured.
This is not an uncommon story for many park attendees. Florida is the scene of many amusement park injuries every year. Carnivals and theme parks designed to entertain, delight, and thrill can unwittingly place you and your family at risk for horrendous accidents. While it’s true that reputable parks do focus on safety, gaps in these safety processes can and do cause accidents—often on the most surprising rides and under the most unexpected of circumstances. In 2018, there were 42 injuries at Central Florida theme parks, including one death. Common causes of amusement park injuries include:
- Improper operation of the ride—may include improperly attached seatbelts.
- Mechanical failure of the ride—like a lap-bar detaching, a roller coaster car coming free, etc.
- Passenger misuse or failure to follow instructions.
- Inherent nature of the ride.
If you or a family member are injured or a loved one has died because of an amusement park company’s negligence, you have the right to file a lawsuit to seek compensation for this damage. Our firm will investigate the details of your case and go over every possible course of action for you to consider.
Our team of amusement park accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. understand your legal rights and are not only committed to getting you the maximum amount of compensation possible, but helping you recover from your loss, so you can move forward as soon as possible.
Amusement Park Accident Liability Cases
Amusement park rides can be fun, but unfortunately, if they are not properly maintained and operated, in some situations they can cause serious injury or death. Bumper car rides, roller coasters, and spinning rides cause many injuries, including whiplash from the head being thrown back and forth. Ferris wheels, roller coasters with high dives, and any ride involving height or being lifted in the air can cause falls if riders aren’t appropriately secured. Water parks need to be properly staffed with trained lifeguards to prevent accidental drownings on their rides.
Possible injuries at amusement parks include:
- Death as a result of falling or being thrown from a ride
- Stroke from trauma to ligaments in the neck
- Head, neck, and back injuries from bumper car rides or from being whipped around on spinning rides and roller coasters
- Traumatic brain injury from G-forces and stresses imposed on the brain by extremely rapid speeds or from detached objects hitting the rider’s head
- Brain aneurysms from roller coasters or other fast rides
If you or a loved one have suffered an amusement park injury, it may fall into one of several case types. There are fall injuries, soft tissue/whiplash injuries from fast/forceful rides, drownings, or speed injuries like traumatic brain injury and aneurysms.
Common Amusement Park Injuries
The list of ways a person can be injured in an amusement park is lengthy. Depending on the circumstances, your investigative team should decide on the best approach to examine all aspects of your case. The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. have a team of attorneys dedicated to analyzing all angles of an amusement park accident from the physical evidence, police report, etc. Possible injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Lacerations, broken bones, and torn ligaments
- Drowning on water slides, “lazy river” rides, or other water rides
- Broken Neck
- Paralysis
- Chest/Rib Injuries
- Soft Tissue Injuries or Whiplash
Amusement parks are not the only places ride injuries may take place. Carnivals and fairs also feature rides, and in some cases, may be more dangerous than amusement parks. Keep in mind that carnival rides are taken apart and put together every time the attraction moves to a new venue, leading to many opportunities for things to go wrong, or sloppy work to occur. Traveling attractions should ensure employees are paying attention to details, check all rides for safety standards, and ensure riders are tightly secured in their seats before the ride starts. Failing to follow these steps could lead to serious injury for guests.
The amusement park accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. will take the time to investigate the details of your case and work alongside you to determine the most advantageous legal strategy to pursue to obtain the most compensation possible for your injuries.
Liability & Damage Recovery
Amusement park companies and any business that operates a fair or carnival with rides has a responsibility to ensure those rides are safe, so they do not endanger guests or workers. When that duty is ignored, riders may be harmed due to poorly maintained equipment, negligent employees, or sloppy safety standards.
The amusement park is then liable for bodily injuries or deaths that take place as a result of this negligence. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in an amusement park accident, the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. may be able to secure the compensation that you are entitled to. Amusement park accident compensation may include:
- Hospital & Medical Bills
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Cost of Future Care
It is unlikely the amusement park’s insurance company will step up and make you a fair offer. Their employees work for them, and their job is to save the insurance company and the park money, not ensure your fair compensation. It is important that you never agree to or accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without first speaking to an experienced amusement park personal injury attorney.