Accidents in Amusement Parks: When is Your Ride Safe?

Visiting an amusement park is often a happiness for many. It brings people together, strengthens family bonds, and creates unforgettable memories. However, despite the fun and excitement, accidents can occur, reminding us that even in these happy places, safety isn’t guaranteed.

While amusement park accidents are relatively rare, their consequences can be severe. Tragically, some incidents result in fatalities, with roller coaster accidents accounting for more than a quarter of amusement park-related deaths.

Let’s discuss more on the topic of amusement park injuries and explore what steps to take after an accident.

How Dangerous are Amusement Park Rides?

Amusement park rides provide thrills and entertainment to millions of visitors each year, but like any mechanical attraction, they come with risks. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), more than 385 million people visit over 400 fixed-site amusement parks across North America annually, taking over 1.7 billion rides safely.

While serious incidents are rare, amusement park accidents can have devastating consequences for those involved. Common causes include ride malfunctions, operator errors, and poorly maintained park grounds. CNN reports that approximately 30,000 amusement park-related accidents occur annually, though only a small percentage result in severe injuries, and even fewer lead to fatalities.

How common are roller coaster accidents? Roller coaster accidents are relatively rare considering the number of people who ride them each year. The IAAPA estimates that the chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is about 1 in 15.5 million.

In 2019 alone, amusement park accidents in the U.S. resulted in 1,299 injuries. Elevated rides, such as Ferris wheels, account for 20% of amusement park fatalities. Over the past four years, there have been 15 amusement park-related deaths reported in the U.S. and Canada. A study covering the years 1994–2004 found that 40 deaths were associated with roller coasters during that period.

What are the Causes of Accidents in Theme Parks?

Most people visit amusement parks for fun rides, games, and entertaining attractions. Unfortunately, many people are killed or seriously injured by broken or malfunctioning amusement rides. Here are some common causes of accidents in amusement parks:

The ride’s mechanical failure: Accidents on rides resulting from mechanical failures might cause injuries, though they are uncommon. The mechanical and little components that make up a thrill ride involve much work. However, mistakes might occasionally occur, and rides can be rusted or old and worn out. It can be extremely unsafe to have aged, breakable, or potentially detachable parts.

Worker’s fault: The worker operating the ride locks a seatbelt mistakenly or decides to abruptly stop the ride due to lack of attention during loading or unloading or the employee fails to secure the rider.

Disobedience of the passengers: When the rider purposely shakes the vehicle, releases the safety restraints, sits incorrectly, gets up in the middle of the journey, or raises a child above the safety restraint, passengers are considered to be disregarding appropriate safety guidelines and recommendations.

The nature flaw: Even if there is no technical flaw, operational flaw, or user flaw, an amusement park ride may injure a person. For example, Rides can tire you, and if you are not perfectly balanced as you exit, you may slip or fall.

Maintenance flaws: Maintenance can include failing to properly examine rides or taking improper care of the fairgrounds and rides. If a minor problem with a ride is not a major concern, the operator may choose to ignore it rather than report it and have it investigated. These issues arise due to poor upkeep, design, or construction.

What to do if you got hit by a loose article at an amusement park?

If you get hit by a loose article at an amusement park, first check for any injuries and seek medical attention if necessary. Notify the park staff immediately, as they need to be aware of the incident and may need to address safety concerns related to loose articles. Document the incident by taking photos of the area and the object that struck you. Keeping a record of your experience and any medical treatment received can also be helpful for any future claims.

What are the Common Amusement Park Accident Injuries?

Some passengers on amusement rides are severely injured when they are flung from their vehicle due to a faulty safety bar or seat belt or when the vehicle separates from the ride due to old or missing fasteners. In certain instances, the rider is killed due to a malfunctioning ride or the owner’s or operator’s negligence.

The most frequent injuries at amusement parks typically involve:

• Falling off a roller coaster
• Amputations
• Broken bones
• Slips and fall injuries
• Drowning
• Stroke or aneurysm
• Loss of limbs
• Head, neck, or back injuries like whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries

Most passengers had pre-existing health issues that affected their experience, caused them to be hospitalized, and ultimately caused them to pass away.

Worst Roller Coaster Accidents

A 14-year-old boy named Tyre Sampson of Missouri passed away on March 24, 2022, after falling from the Free Fall ride at ICON Park. The boy fell to his death after sliding out of his seat on a ride at an Orlando, Florida, amusement park due to misadjustments made by the attraction’s operator. This incident is one of the worst amusement rides accidents happened in 2022.

A broken roller coaster in New Jersey has injured at least 12 passengers. The event happened on August 25th, 2022, following a roller coaster malfunction at Six Flags Great Adventure.

In June 2016, Steve Booher suffered an injury while offloading customers from the Raging River. Four days later, the 68-year-old passed away from brain injuries.

Records show that Adventureland was fined $4,500 by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration due to his passing. The park settled a wrongful death case filed by Booher’s wife and their children for an unknown sum in December 2020.

In August 2016, Caleb Schwab, the son of a Republican lawmaker, perished on the Verruckt ride at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City.

Caleb died when his raft went into the air over the 50-foot hump of the slide and struck a metal bar holding up an overhead safety net. Minor injuries were sustained by the two women he was riding with. Guinness World Records recognized the 168-foot-tall Verruckt as the largest water slide in the world.

Accidents at Silver Dollar City

Missouri’s Silver Dollar City is one of the most popular amusement parks in the country. On July 9, 1980, a 23-year-old man named James Frederick Polley was riding a roller coaster called Fire in the Hole.

The roller coaster they were riding on was mistakenly sent on a track used for repairs and storage. This track had low objects hanging over it. People who were working there yelled at the riders to duck their heads. But James didn’t duck and hit his head on the door. The roller coaster was closed for two days, and then it was reopened.

On October 27, 2022, seven persons were admitted to the hospital in Missouri as a result of an incident on a steam train traveling at Silver Dollar City in Branson. At Silver Dollar City, there were injuries to six visitors and one crew member. This is one of the most recent silver dollar city accidents. This derailment was found to be caused by issues like misaligned rails, loose bolts, and worn parts on the train.

Seven months after a previous derailment that injured several people, Silver Dollar City’s steam train has derailed again.

Only one passenger reported a minor injury but didn’t need outside medical help. All passengers were safely taken off the train and returned to the park. Silver Dollar City credited new safety features, added after the October 2022 derailment, for preventing more serious injuries.

Many Silver Dollar City deaths have occurred there to date.

Accidents at Theme Parks 2021

On July 4, 2021, an 11-year-old boy named Michael Jaramillo was killed while riding a water attraction at an amusement park in Iowa because the park’s rides weren’t adequately maintained and fixed, including the Raging River.

The accident that killed Jaramillo also seriously injured their father and hospitalized his 16-year-old brother David for a month. Minor injuries were sustained by their mother, Sabrina, another brother, and a relative. On June 30, 2022, the boy’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the park.

Accidents in amusement parks can be catastrophic and life-altering, and they may result in injuries that are not only difficult to cure but also permanent and crippling. Risks of amusement parks activities are most common.

Owners and operators of amusement parks are responsible for maintaining the security of their facilities, rides, and other visitor attractions. Customers who suffer injuries can hold negligent companies accountable by filing claims.

Theme Park Accidents 2024

In Ohio, at Kings Island theme park, a 38-year-old-man was seriously injured when he entered a restricted area and was hit by a roller coaster going over 65mph. He was flown to hospital and is in critical condition.

In Portland, at Oaks Amusement Park, 28 people were trapped upside down on the AtmosFear drop tower for about 30 minutes. Emergency crews arrived quickly and got everyone down safely, though one person was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Who is Responsible for Accidents in Amusement Parks?

The laws of negligence and premises liability will be applied in a connected injury claim if someone is harmed at an amusement park.

The amusement ride accidents facts will play a significant role in determining who is responsible for the amusement park injuries. Sometimes a worker’s disregard for safety protocols, such as forgetting to fasten safety belts or harnesses, can result in an accident. This responsibility is with the employer.

In other cases, though, the machinery’s creators might be held accountable because the equipment may not have been created correctly. The person in charge of checking and maintaining the apparatus or equipment could also be held responsible.

Landowners must protect their property from hazards that could inflict predictable harm on visitors. A property owner must manage and reasonably maintain the grounds and amenities of an amusement park. The property owner may be held accountable if they don’t do so.

An amusement park will be responsible for the victim’s losses if it breaches its duty of care to a patron or visitor, resulting in a preventable injury.

The theme park is accountable for the conduct of its workers. Therefore, if an employee commits negligence, the park could be held liable for that employee’s activities. The park or its workers may act negligently by doing something or not doing something.

You will be able to hold the amusement park owners accountable for the harm they have caused if your injury claim is successful. After all, it would help if you weren’t obligated to cover the costs associated with someone else’s negligence.

Investigators will always need to check into the situation since figuring out what transpired is essential to determining who is responsible for the harm at the amusement park. Owners of amusement parks, those who make and operate rides, and the rides themselves must provide a safe environment.

Can You Sue an Amusement Park?

You can, indeed. However, you must consider the statute of limitations, which specifies how long you have to file a lawsuit against the park.

Some amusement park accident settlements total millions of dollars. Injury victims and their families may benefit from legal representation as they heal and move on with their lives.

What Are Your Legal Rights If You Get Hurt at an Amusement Park?

If you or a loved one suffered an injury in an amusement park accident, you might be qualified to bring a claim against the establishment’s owners, managers, or manufacturers.

A premises liability claim can be made by the victim and their family when someone is hurt in an accident at an amusement park. An experienced amusement park accident and injury lawyer can assist you in pursuing both of the following damages if you were hurt in an amusement park accident:

Economic damages: Economic damages are intended to make up for any immediate financial losses brought on by accident. Medical bills, hospital visits, and lost wages are some of the economic damages.

Non-economic damages: Non-economic damages are harms that do not have a price attached. Pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and mental distress are typical non-economic damages.

If a child or other family member is killed on a roller coaster, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim for damages, such as burial costs and lost support income.

Your injuries are more likely to impact your life the more severe or long-lasting they are. Your damage settlement should include all the money to which you are entitled.

What to do after an Amusement Park Accidents?

If you have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you must act immediately. Failure to do so can lead to a decreased or rejected personal injury claim. If you are hurt in an amusement park, you should:

• Tell the amusement park employees about the incidents.
• Take photos of your injuries and talk to witnesses.
• Seek medical attention.
• Keep all documentation and medical records.
• Keep all receipts and medical bills related to your injuries.

It’s critical to record any time away from work or lost pay due to an injury. Victims who file personal injury cases may seek compensation for lost wages.

Tragedies can still occur even though most roller coasters and amusement park attractions are secure. When a negligent accident happens, your amusement park accident attorney can support you in defending your rights.

To wrap up,

Parks should be exciting, not dangerous. Accidents in amusement parks happen so frequently that parents and children need to be aware of the dangers, know how to prevent ride injuries, and know what to do if they occur. If more parents and children are aware of the risks or are more cautious and take legal action, amusement parks may cause fewer injuries.

Stay thrilled and excited!