Amusement parks are an exciting way to pass the time. While you and your family know there is a risk in riding a roller coaster, you do not imagine there will be a life-altering injury. Many people assume they will experience motion sickness as the worst outcome possible, not paralysis or another ailment. The truth is that there are real risks when you enter an amusement park and ride any rides. Many roller coasters will have warnings before you enter. An unexpected injury or accident can happen at any moment.
Amusement parks will have strict rules and regulations so that patrons stay safe, but that does not always happen. When a new roller coaster is created for a theme park, it must undergo rigorous testing. Among those tests are crash dummies which will fill the roller coaster seats. In a recent viral video, during one of those tests, all of the mannequins flew out of the roller coaster; while the video brings laughs, it also raises questions about safety. By the time a roller coaster uses dummies, it is very near completion.
After the dummy runs, real people will be the next ones on the roller coaster. Thankfully, the mannequins were the only ones injured in this incident, but it could have been human lives. If you have suffered an injury from a roller coaster, you need to contact a Philadelphia amusement park attorney to discuss your legal options.
What causes amusement park accidents
Amusement park injuries are rare, but the results are devastating when they occur. The amusement park and other negligent parties must be liable for their actions. Our firm handles cases of amusement park negligence, including:
- Serving expired food
- Lack of warning signs
- Ride malfunctions
- Mechanical failures
- Defective or missing safety equipment
- Lap bars and other restraints are not working
- Electrical accidents
- Negligent maintenance
- Reckless operator behavior
These are the most common ways amusement park accidents happen, but they are not the only ways.
What injuries can happen
Amusement park accidents can result in several injuries ranging from mild to severe. You will need medical treatment, which can often lead to months or years of additional care. Some injuries you can suffer are:
- Spinal cord trauma
- Head trauma
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Brain aneurysms
- Loss of limb
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
- Death
Wrongful death at amusement parks
The passing of a park guest is the last thing on anyone’s mind. When a tragedy like this does occur, you must seek justice. For death to occur, there must be serious negligence present. Several negligent actions likely resulted in a person’s death. A thorough investigation into the park policies and procedures must be completed. All of these parties must be held liable for their actions leading to the death of your loved one.
Statute of limitations for amusement park accidents
Since an amusement park injury falls under the personal injury umbrella, the statutes for those cases will apply. In Pennsylvania, you will have two years from the accident to file a claim and obtain compensation. That does not mean that you should wait two years to file. It is best to immediately contact a Philadelphia amusement park accident attorney to begin the legal process. Evidence collection is critical to these kinds of cases. Amusement parks will have hundreds of people moving throughout, meaning the evidence is lost or altered. While the evidence is not intentionally lost, it does still happen.
Roller coasters offer loopholes.
The federal government has a loophole when it comes to roller coasters. While they regulate mobile amusement parks, they do not regulate fixed amusement park rides. The loophole leads to dangerous situations. Pennsylvania has rules for state amusement parks, but many reports and inspections are not routinely completed.
Contact a Philadelphia amusement park accident attorney
No matter how the accident occurred, you must take legal action quickly. The ride operator, park employee, or ride manufacturer can be held negligently liable for their actions. A Philadelphia amusement park accident attorney will investigate your accident and will file a claim on your behalf. Contact Kwartler Manus, LLC at (267) 457-5570 to discuss your case today.