How Common Are Amusement Park Accidents?

Based on a sample of 1,288 injuries reported by 96 hospitals, the

Are Amusement Parks Liable for Injuries?

Amusement parks and ride manufacturing companies may be held liable for injuries in certain circumstances. Generally, to secure compensation from these parties, you need to prove that they were negligent in some way. This typically means that the amusement park’s actions or lack of taking action in some way breached a duty of care it owed to you, the guest, and that this negligence caused your injuries. For example, a ride attendant may have been negligent if they ignored height requirements or failed to secure riders safely into the ride. A ride manufacturer may have been negligent if flaws in the design or defective components contributed to the accident. The amusement park might be responsible for a trip and fall accident if it allowed a safety hazard to exist on the premises. However, amusement parks may not be liable for injuries that don’t result from negligence. If, for example, a person fell while running but didn’t trip on any sort of safety hazard or leaped from a platform instead of using the stairs, the amusement park may not be responsible for the consequences. Speaking to a Philadelphia amusement park injury lawyer can help you sort out liability and decide how to move forward with a claim.

How Long Do I Have to Sue for an Amusement Park Injury?

Generally, adult victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit according to the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania. For minors, the clock begins running when they turn 18, giving them until their 20th birthday. Victims shouldn’t wait to involve a lawyer in their amusement park injury claim. Speaking to an amusement park injury attorney in Philadelphia, PA, promptly will help them get through the legal process with minimal hassle, gather the evidence needed to support their claim, and start the process of recovering compensation sooner.

Philadelphia Amusement Park Injury Lawyer

Amusement Park Injury Attorney in Philadelphia, PA, Helps Victims of Ride and Theme Park Accidents Pursue the Compensation They Deserve

The questions and worries that arise from an amusement park injury can make your head spin. Besides coping with serious injuries, you’re trying to understand who’s to blame for this accident and whether you can hold the theme park or ride manufacturer accountable.

You don’t have to navigate the complex process of seeking compensation for an amusement park injury alone. Turn to a Philadelphia amusement park injury lawyer at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim for legal guidance.

Types of Amusement Park Accidents

Amusement park injuries encompass any physical harm sustained at sites like the following:

Fixed theme parks and amusement parks
Mobile fairs and carnivals
Water parks
Go-kart tracks
Indoor playgrounds
Hayrides

Some amusement park accidents are minor, while others are devastating. Examples of amusement park accidents include:

Slips, trips, or falls, including falls from heights, on rides and loading platforms, or elsewhere in the park
Ride mechanical failures and structural design flaws
Ride malfunctions, including those that lead to derailments
Safety restraint malfunctions, including failures of seat belts, lap bars, and safety locks
Fires
Shock and electrocution injuries from high-voltage areas or exposed electrical wires

Call 215-486-0123 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation Form.

Common Amusement Park Injuries in Philadelphia, PA

Pennsylvania is home to more than 10,000 amusement park rides, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Rides and Attractions. Many of these rides are here in the Philadelphia area, at amusement parks and seasonal attractions such as:

Sesame Place Philadelphia
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
Thrillz High Flying Adventure Park
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

Amusement park injuries range from minor and superficial to life-changing and life-threatening. Some of the types of injuries for which you might consult a Philadelphia amusement park injury lawyer include:

Concussions, other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and other head injuries
Spinal cord injuries, which may leave victims partially or fully paralyzed
Dismemberment and amputation
Broken or fractured bones
Burn injuries
Internal bleeding
Internal organ injuries
Nerve injuries
Joint injuries
Herniated discs
Facial injuries
Whiplash
Cuts and lacerations deep enough to require medical attention

Some of the body parts most commonly affected by amusement park injuries are:

Head
Neck
Hands
Wrists
Arms
Elbows
Shoulders
Hips
Legs
Knees
Feet

The injuries you sustain in an amusement park accident could affect you for the rest of your life. For victims who suffer from permanent scarring, long-term physical disabilities, critical losses of physical or cognitive function, or mental health consequences like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), life may never go back to ‘normal.’ That’s what makes it so important to file an amusement park injury claim before it’s too late.

Philadelphia Amusement Park Injury Lawyer for Wrongful Death Claims

Although most amusement park injuries aren’t fatal, horrific instances of deadly accidents at theme parks, water parks, and mobile carnivals have happened. Our compassionate Philadelphia amusement park injury attorneys can help your family move forward with a wrongful death claim.

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Causes of Amusement Park Injuries in Philadelphia

Many of the cases an amusement park injury attorney handles involve mechanical malfunctions or negligence on the part of the ride operator. Other factors involved in accidents include the design of the ride itself, negligent ride maintenance, and unsafe premises.

Causes of amusement park injuries include:

Defective structural design of ride tracks, carts, and loading platforms
Improper ride installation or assembly
Unsafe, inaccurate height, weight, or seat fit requirements
Dangerously inadequate lighting that hinders visibility
Unsafe conditions in ride loading and unloading areas
Loose or malfunctioning components, including screws, cables, and wires
Poor maintenance or inspection of rides, loading and unloading stations, and park grounds
Missing ride warning notices or notices that contain incomplete information
Failure to close off unsafe areas with fences, gates, signage, and other safety measures

What makes amusement park injury claims so complex is that the accident isn’t always the result of a single factor. Often, multiple failures combine to create a dangerous situation for guests and riders.

Ride Operator Negligence

Guests at amusement parks put their safety in the hands of ride operators, who aren’t exactly highly trained or experienced. Negligence on the part of these ride operators and attendants can cause or contribute to amusement park injuries in several different ways.

For example, failure to enforce ride safety requirements may put riders at risk of getting hurt. This includes allowing riders who don’t meet height or weight restrictions onboard, where their safety restraints may not be secure. Permitting guests to ride with unsecured loose clothing, too, can be dangerous. In go-karts, roller coasters, and other amusement attractions, these loose items could get stuck or wrapped around ride components and cause serious injuries.

If something unexpected does happen, the ride operator needs to take the appropriate action to minimize the danger. Failing to initiate emergency braking protocol to stop the ride when necessary may contribute to preventable injuries.

What’s behind amusement ride operator negligence? In some instances, investigations find that ride attendants were under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the accident took place. Other investigations reveal that the attendant wasn’t properly trained to operate the ride safely.

The ride operator is unlikely to volunteer information about their negligent behavior. A thorough investigation by experienced amusement park injury lawyers can get to the bottom of what caused the accident.

Contact us online or call (215) 486-0123 to schedule a free, in-person consultation with a member of our legal team today.

What to Do After an Amusement Park Accident

When you get injured at an amusement park, it can bring the day to a sudden, screeching stop. You’re in shock and not sure what to do next.

Step 1: Get Medical Attention

First, seek medical care right away. What at first seems to be a minor injury could turn out to be more severe. Even traumatic brain injuries, which can be life-threatening, aren’t always obvious.

Don’t just rely on the park to take care of things. A serious amusement park injury may constitute an emergency and warrant calling 911.

Step 2: Report the Accident

You need to document the accident to protect your legal rights. If you’ve called 911, report the accident to the police. Otherwise, report it to park employees, and insist that they put down your account in writing.

Step 3: Speak to a Philadelphia Amusement Park Injury Lawyer

In general, regulation of the amusement park industry is spotty. Fixed parks generally don’t fall under federal regulation. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Division of Amusement Rides and Attractions registers, inspects, and regulates amusement park rides throughout the state but has come under fire before for not tracking inspection reports, according to PennLive.

You can’t count on the amusement park to investigate itself or a state department to make your accident a priority. You need an amusement park injury lawyer in Philadelphia on your side who will represent your interests, demand answers, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Philadelphia Amusement Park Injury Lawyer Today at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim for a Free Case Evaluation

If you have been injured in an amusement park accident, getting the compensation you deserve may not be easy. You’re going to need an experienced amusement park injury lawyer in Philadelphia to fight for you.

Don’t trust just any attorney with your case. Put your claim in the hands of an experienced Philadelphia amusement park injury lawyer at van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim. For your free consultation, contact us online or call 215-486-0123 today.

Amusement Park Injury Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Amusement parks and ride manufacturing companies may be held liable for injuries in certain circumstances. Generally, to secure compensation from these parties, you need to prove that they were negligent in some way. This typically means that the amusement park’s actions or lack of taking action in some way breached a duty of care it owed to you, the guest, and that this negligence caused your injuries.
For example, a ride attendant may have been negligent if they ignored height requirements or failed to secure riders safely into the ride. A ride manufacturer may have been negligent if flaws in the design or defective components contributed to the accident. The amusement park might be responsible for a trip and fall accident if it allowed a safety hazard to exist on the premises.
However, amusement parks may not be liable for injuries that don’t result from negligence. If, for example, a person fell while running but didn’t trip on any sort of safety hazard or leaped from a platform instead of using the stairs, the amusement park may not be responsible for the consequences.
Speaking to a Philadelphia amusement park injury lawyer can help you sort out liability and decide how to move forward with a claim.
Generally, adult victims have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit according to the statute of limitations in Pennsylvania. For minors, the clock begins running when they turn 18, giving them until their 20th birthday.
Victims shouldn’t wait to involve a lawyer in their amusement park injury claim. Speaking to an amusement park injury attorney in Philadelphia, PA, promptly will help them get through the legal process with minimal hassle, gather the evidence needed to support their claim, and start the process of recovering compensation sooner.

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