Amusement Parks: Not All Fun and Games

As the weather warms up, people head outdoors to enjoy the sun and spend time with family. The summer is a season of concerts, festivals, and amusement parks. Although the majority of amusement parks are safe, quality can vary greatly depending on the size of the amusement park, how it trains its staff, and what policies and procedures it has in place to ensure its patrons are not injured on a ride.

Most people don’t think about getting hurt at an amusement park or carnival. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), however, injuries do happen, and more often than you might think. Between 2003 and 2013, for example, an estimated 113,272 individuals were injured at amusement parks. An astonishing 90 percent of these injuries were caused by bounce houses.

Amusement park injuries can happen in a variety of ways. In 2014, for example, six people were hurt at a Six Flags in California when a tree branch fell on a roller coaster’s track, causing their compartment to derail. The injury victims brought a negligence lawsuit against Six Flags. In a separate case, a woman sued Dolly Parton Productions and an amusement park management group after falling 10 feet to the ground while attempting to exit a ride at Dollywood, an amusement park owned by singer Dolly Parton.

Can You Sue for an Amusement Park Injury?

After an amusement park injury, it can be hard to know what to do next. Most amusement parks are huge places, and it’s not always easy or possible to speak to the owner – or to even get a clear idea of who owns the park. Sometimes, it’s difficult to determine who is responsible for causing your injury. Is it the park owner? What about the ride operator? What happens if you were injured in the parking lot? If you were injured by a defective ride, can you sue the ride’s manufacturer?

These are all common questions, not to mention important ones. The answers depend on numerous factors. This is why it’s critically important to work with an experienced lawyer with a track record of getting compensation for the injured. A knowledgeable attorney can help you determine which parties bear responsibility for your injury. In many cases, there are multiple responsible parties, which can range from a large company in charge of managing the day to day operations of the amusement park, down to an individual employee who acted negligently while operating a ride. You may even be able to file a negligent security lawsuit if you were attacked in a poorly lit parking lot or an amusement park with inadequate security.

Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyers

If you were injured at an amusement park, it’s important to speak to an attorney right away. Call the experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyers at Nugent & Bryant today at 203-795-1111 for a free consultation.