Amusement Park Ride Accidents Are No Laughing Matter

The school year is drawing to a close and many of us have summer vacation on the brain. While vacations can range from the Grand Canyon to Disney World, millions of families across the U.S. will be visiting an amusement park.

On average, 375 million people will visit one of the 400 amusement parks in the United States. The shrieks and laughter may be entertaining for many, but when something goes wrong it quickly becomes a national tragedy.

Within each state, a state government agency is responsible for regulating amusement parks and the safety of their rides.  In Georgia, this task falls upon the Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an amusement park accident, the most common claims for damages are negligence and product liability.

Negligence is considered to be a careless act or inattentiveness by the park or a park employee. The amusement park is responsible for the actions of its employees. Therefore, if an employee does or doesn’t do something that results in injury or death, then the amusement park is held responsible. Some examples are:

• Failing to notice warning signs such as customers who have high blood pressure or heart problems
• Failing to post warning signs regarding risks
• Failing to properly train the operators of the ride
• Failing to maintain equipment in a safe and functioning condition
• Failing to inspect rides on a regular basis
• Failing to provide instructions to riders prior to the ride

Product liability is the second most common claim. In this type of situation, the victim or plaintiff must prove that the structure, equipment, or part was defective and that the defect specifically caused the injury or death.  Some examples include:

• Defective rides
• Defective components
• Improperly or poorly maintained equipment
• Improper inspection
• Improper operation and/or use

Given these two claims, it is extremely important to receive legal assistance. We want your vacations to be fun-filled and safe, but if you find yourself suffering this type of tragedy, please don’t hesitate to contact Kaine Law.