Amusement Park Injuries
Posted Sunday, June 25, 2017 by Chris Thayer
Thrill-seekers love visiting amusement parks. While the amusement park industry tries to ensure the safety of park-goers, sometimes the rides malfunction and riders are injured or killed as a result.
Several people were injured at a Port Townsend festival in May when a ferris wheel cart flipped over. The accident happened during the annual Rhody Festival, when three people riding the Ferris Wheel fell 15 to 18 feet to the ground. Two women and a boy were taken to local hospitals with injuries.
Government Oversight of Amusement Parks
The federal government stopped regulating amusement parks decades ago, leaving it to the states to establish their own oversight systems. Most states, including Washington, have a dedicated agency responsible for inspecting amusement park rides, but there are states that lack this oversight authority. In Washington state, the Department of Labor & Industries is responsible for inspecting amusement park rides to ensure that they have been set up properly.
The Department of Labor & Industries revoked the permit for the ferris wheel after the accident in Port Townsend. Unfortunately, this was not the first time that one of Funtastic Travelling Shows’ rides malfunctioned and caused injuries. In this case, the amusement company has taken proactive steps to make sure that the injured parties have access to the facts in case they decide to sue the company for damages. The company asked that a court force the deposition of its employees.
Other Examples of Amusement Park Accidents
In August of 2016, a man died at Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way. Authorities at the time called it an “apparent drowning” because his body was discovered at the bottom of one of the activity pools. Investigators later determined that the man did, in fact, drown, but the cause was unclear.
In 2013, a 52-year-old woman visiting a Six Flags in Texas fell off of a roller coaster that stands 14 stories high. She fell 75 feet and hit her head on a support beam, which was determined to be the cause of her death.
In 2011, an Iraq War veteran who had lost both of his legs in a roadside bombing visited an amusement park in New York with his nephew. A park employee told the man that he would be able to ride all of the rides despite his disability. But the veteran fell out of a roller coaster and died when the lap bar was unable to hold him.
**If You or a Loved One is Injured at an Amusement Park
** After receiving medical attention, the first thing that you should do is contact an experienced personal injury attorney, who can help you determine your next steps. One important thing to remember in filing a personal injury lawsuit is that you only have three years from the date of the injury to file your claim for damages.
Contact Us Today
Contact one of our personal injury attorneyspersonal injury attorneys today for a free consultation if you have been injured at a festival or other amusement park. We will help you receive the compensation that you deserve.