Amusement park rides are designed to give you an adrenaline rush without the risks of more dangerous thrill-seeking activities like skydiving or motocross. But despite the best efforts of thrill ride manufacturers to ensure the safety of amusement part goers, serious accidents do occur, sometimes leading to death.
The most serious amusement park injuries occur on rides, including:
- roller coasters
- adult and family fixed rides
- children’s rides
- inflatable slides and bounce houses
- water park slides
- mobile carnival rides
Statistics on Amusement Park Injuries
From a statistical standpoint, roller coasters appear relatively safe. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), roller coaster deaths are rare, and injuries accounted for only 0.62 injuries per million rides in 2017.
But statistics aside, when you or a loved one is the victim of an amusement park accident, it can be costly on many levels. Medical expenses, time off from work, pain and suffering and emotional trauma all take a huge toll on you and your family.
About half of all amusement park injuries happen to children, especially in the 10 to 14 year age group. Three quarters of injuries sustained from falling or being ejected from a ride happen to children. The majority of injuries happen on family and adult rides, roller coasters and children’s rides.
The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital conducted a study in 2013 that examined children’s injuries from rides at fixed-site amusement parks, mobile carnival rides, and rides located at malls, stores, restaurants and arcades.
The study uncovered the following data about injuries by type:
- 28% of injuries were to the head and neck
- 24% were arm injuries
- 18% were to the face
- 17% were leg injuries
Of those injuries, 29% were to soft tissues, 21% were sprains and strains, 20% were cuts, and 10% were broken bones.
Laws Governing Amusement Park Rides
It may be surprising to learn that there is no federal oversight for fixed rides located at amusement and water parks. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission investigates accidents and oversees ride manufacturers, but only for mobile rides like those found at traveling carnivals.
Safety and inspection of fixed rides falls on the shoulders of local and state governments, in jurisdictions where the parks are located. They must conduct data and analyze trends, investigate accidents and work with manufacturers to mitigate defects. Unfortunately, the laws of many states that are home to major theme parks do not grant investigative authority to government agencies.
What to Do if You or a Loved One is Injured at an Amusement Park
A serious injury at an amusement park can mark the end of a day of fun for not only the victim, but for thousands of visitors who are confronted with shutdowns and the arrival of emergency personnel. Getting medical attention for the injured party should be your top priority, but you should also try to get some pictures and testimonials from eyewitnesses, along with their contact information.
Documenting the incident can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case if you file a lawsuit against the park or against a ride manufacturer. In addition to photos and witness reports, be sure to collect copies of medical reports and receipts, waivers, prescriptions and receipts for medications, and any other documents related to the incident.
Keep in mind that your battle will likely be with a large corporation and its insurance company, who will have their own teams of legal experts. Finding a competent attorney with experience in amusement park injury litigation is crucial to winning a large accident settlement. Contact your attorney early on, so they can get started on your case while the incident in still fresh in the minds of both victims and witnesses.
Pre Settlement Lawsuit Funding for Amusement Park Injuries
Even with the best legal team in your corner, an amusement park injury lawsuit can take months or even years to settle. Meanwhile, you have to worry about medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, pain and suffering. Meeting your monthly financial obligations in the weeks following an accident can be a challenge, and it doesn’t take much to fall behind, damaging your credit and putting you in debt. Accident victims often take out bank loans or max out their credit cards, trying to stay afloat while waiting for their case to settle, but those approaches only put you deeper in debt.
Cronus Capital Group offers medical loans, pre settlement cash advances and post settlement funding to accident victims and their families. Rather than adding more monthly payments to your already strained budget, a personal injury cash advance from Cronus is repaid directly from your settlement award. You make no monthly payments, and if you lose your case, you walk away without repaying a cent.
The application for a cash advance from Cronus is quick and easy. Just contact our friendly staff at any of our NYC locations, or fill out our easy online form. Once we talk to your lawyer and approve your medical loan, you could have the cash in as little as 24 hours.
