If you’ve been injured in an amusement park accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, and we believe you should contact an Orlando amusement park accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. The personal injury attorneys at Spetsas Buist PLLC know what it takes to pursue an amusement park injury claim and we will fight to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

People are injured in amusement park accidents more often than you would think. For example, in June 2021, two amusement park visitors suffered serious injuries on a log ride at a Six Flags in New Jersey. Similarly, in August 2021, an amusement park visitor suffered severe head injuries at an amusement park in Ohio. Tragically, in September 2021, a 6-year-old girl suffered fatal injuries on an amusement park ride in Colorado. These are just a few examples of amusement park accidents from 2021. Now, let’s talk a bit more about amusement park accidents.

Common Causes of Amusement Park Accidents

orlando-amusement-park-lawyerThere are many different things that can cause an accident at an amusement park, and some are quite horrific. Victims often wonder if they have a viable lawsuit for their amusement park accident. Therefore, we listed some of the more common ways people get injured at amusement parks.

  • Improperly maintained amusement park rides
  • Mechanical failures
  • Manufacturing defects
  • Defective restraints
  • Falling pieces of plastic, metal, or glass
  • Slip and fall accidents caused by slippery substances
  • Improperly trained ride supervisors
  • Loose materials from fellow passengers
  • Whiplash

Common Types of Amusement Park Accident Injuries

There are a variety of injuries a person could suffer at an amusement park because amusement parks present many different hazards. Moreover, the different resulting injuries vary greatly in severity. Therefore, we have listed some of the more common types of amusement park injuries for you below.

Head and Brain Injuries

Abrupt stops and sharp turns can cause a rider’s head to strike a hard object like a restraint or can cause things like aneurysms or strokes. So, head and brain injuries are among the more serious types of amusement park injuries.

Neck, Back, and Spine Injuries

The violent bumps, twists, and turns on amusement park rides can cause whiplash and other neck and back injuries. Thus, these types of injuries are quite common amusement park injuries.

Soft Tissue Injuries

An amusement park visitor can suffer a variety of soft tissue injuries, including bruises, cuts, sprains, and dislocations. Therefore, because of the fast rides and multiple hazards, soft tissue injuries are a common type of amusement park injury.

Drowning

There are many water-based amusement park rides, like log rides and river rides. Therefore, these types of rides pose a threat because people can drown.

Types of Damages Awarded in Amusement Park Accident Claims

If your Orlando amusement park accident attorney proves that the defendant is responsible for your injuries, you can recover damages. Therefore, we have listed several types of damages a defendant might be liable for, including the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost present and future wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement, scars, and shame
  • Psychological and mental suffering

Each case is unique, and so the amount of money a person may receive for his or her amusement park injury claim varies depending on the facts. However, there are some factors that can affect compensation in most cases. For example, some of the factors that might affect the amount of compensation are the severity of the injury, the type of the injury, and the degree of the defendant’s culpability. Thus, the value of each case must be determined individually on a case-by-case basis.

What Should I Do After an Amusement Park Accident?

After you or a loved one have been injured in an amusement park accident, you should get to safety and seek medical attention immediately. Moreover, you should quickly preserve evidence for your future amusement park injury claim. So, here are some steps you can take to help yourself and protect valuable information for your amusement park injury claim.

Get Medical Help Quickly

If you feel like you sustained injuries in an amusement park, seek medical help as soon as possible. If you don’t get your injuries treated soon after the amusement park accident, they may get worse. Additionally, if you seek medical help, your injuries are on the record, and this can help you establish your damages later in your amusement park injury claim. Thus, you should seek medical attention after an amusement park accident.

File a Report

Typically, a business like an amusement park will have an office where you can file a report about your amusement park accident and the injuries you sustained. This is a good idea because it solidifies your claim, and it is a great way to document your injuries and the surrounding details of the accident. Therefore, if at all possible, file a report after your amusement park accident.

Get Contact Info of Witnesses

Witnesses often disappear if you don’t have their contact information. So, if there are any witnesses around during your amusement park accident, ask for their contact information.

Take Pictures and Videos of the Scene

If possible, gather evidence of the accident scene as soon as possible. Take pictures and videos of the scene of the amusement park accident. If you take good pictures and videos, this kind of info could help your attorneys prove important facts later in your amusement park accident claim. Thus, you should document your accident scene if you can.

Don't Talk to Insurance Folks

If insurance people get involved, don’t make any statements and don’t sign anything until you speak with your Orlando amusement park accident attorney. Most importantly, do not say anything to the insurance folks, or anyone else for that matter, that might undermine your claim. Therefore, we recommend you say as little as possible until you can speak to your amusement park accident attorney.

Don't Talk About the Accident on Social Media

Resist the urge to talk about your accident on social media because it can destroy your case. Therefore, we recommend you only talk about your amusement park accident with your attorney.

Get in Touch With an Orlando Amusement Park Accident Attorney

We recommend you contact an Orlando amusement park accident attorney as soon as possible after your amusement park accident. That way, from the outset, you will have someone to fight for you and protect your rights. At Spetsas Buist PLLC, our personal injury attorneys offer free consultations to victims of amusement park accidents, and we would love to help you.

Amusement Park Safety Tips

Amusement parks are a blast, and we’re lucky to get to enjoy them. However, people get hurt in amusement park accidents, and many of these injuries occur because guests fail to follow amusement park safety guidelines. Therefore, we have a list of 10 amusement park safety tips from the IAAPA below that can help you and your loved ones enjoy a safe day at the amusement park.

  1. Obey any listed age, height, weight, and health restrictions.
  2. Observe all the posted ride safety rules, and follow all verbal instructions given by ride operators or provided by recorded announcements.
  3. Keep your hands, arms, legs, and feet inside the ride at all times.
  4. Secure all your personal effects, including wallets, pocket change, sunglasses, reading glasses, cell phones, watches, and hats. 
  5. Do not board a ride if you’re intoxicated or impaired.
  6. Remain seated in the ride until it comes to a complete stop and you are instructed to exit.
  7. Always use the safety equipment provided and don’t attempt to wriggle free of or loosen restraints or other safety devices.
  8. Parents should make sure their children can understand and follow safe and appropriate ride behavior.
  9. Never force anyone, especially children, to ride attractions they don’t want to ride.
  10. If you see any unsafe behaviors or conditions on a ride, report this information to a supervisor or manager immediately.