Are amusement park dangerous or liable for accidents?
Amusement parks offer entertainment throughout the year, thousands of people visit theme parks every year because of the social experience, fun, and excitement. However, not all parks have the proper maintenance for their facilities and much less safety protocols to protect the visitors.
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), estimates that each year, approximately 300 million people visit the 400 amusement parks in the country. The United States has 9 of the 25 most visited parks in the world.
All types of incidents and injuries are reported frequently in amusement parks in the United States.
On May 2021, still in pandemic time, an accident was recorded at the Castles N’ Coasters amusement park, a popular attraction in Phoenix, Arizona, where 22 people were trapped on a roller coaster for 2 hours. They were trapped 20 feet above the ground.
An 11-year-old boy died, 3 injured after raft overturns on water ride at amusement park. The accident occurred on July 3rd, 2021, at Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa, when a boat on the Raging River ride overturned with six riders on it, according to a statement from the amusement park.
In 2016, a 10-year-old boy died in a horrific accident when the raft he was riding on the Verruckt waterslide went airborne and hit a metal pole supporting a safety net at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas. Numerous Park visitors had repeatedly reported injuries from that same water slide.
The Kansas City Star details the park’s lack of accountability for safety measures that repeatedly resulted in injuries to park visitors.
The Real Cause of Amusement Park Accidents
Non-compliance, negligence, breach of safety standards and protocols are the leading cause of theme park accidents. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, is looking closely into that, aims to protect the visitors from possible risks or injuries associated with these amusement parks.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that in 2016, emergency room departments registered 30,900 injuries associated with amusement attractions, including rides, for both mobile and fixed-site parks. This number is not an exact count and is an estimate from emergency room data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
It is of the utmost importance that the companies that manage amusement parks follow the safety protocols stipulated by the corresponding authorities. Negligence on the part of the management can lead to serious injuries and wrongful death.
Compensation in case of amusement park accidents
Like any other accident, the first action should always be to call 911 so that the corresponding authorities can officially record what happened.
If it is proven that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the park administration, the visitor may receive compensation for the injuries suffered. Since these attractions must comply with safety protocols and pass inspection tests, they should be held liable for your injuries.
After all, you are paying for a service, which must guarantee your fun and safety.
