Amusement Parks- When a Day of Enjoyment Goes Bad

Although amusement parks can be fun places to visit or work, amusement park accidents can be serious events, resulting in permanent injury and even death.  Visitors to parks can be involved in accidents and may all be eligible to file a suit in the event they are injured at an amusement park.

The owners and operators of an amusement park have a legal duty to keep these premises safe and to ensure that visitors and guests at the park are not harmed. This includes making sure that the property and the attractions are properly maintained and kept in a reasonably safe condition. If an injury does occur at an amusement park, which could have been prevented through reasonable steps taken by the park’s operators, the injured person may be able to sue for any of the resulting injuries.  Claims that can be and have been filed against amusement park owners, operators and designers include:  wrongful death, negligence, slip and fall injury (premises liability,) and defective product claims.

If you find yourself or a loved one in a situation similar to those mentioned above, there are several steps that need to be taken in order to assist in the process of being compensated.

1. If the injury is serious, do not move.
2. Immediately call or have someone else find first aid help and contact 911.
3. If possible have a manager come to the scene of the accident and document the incident.
4. Go to the hospital and get fully treated for all possible injuries.
5. If anyone with you is asked to give a statement by a park employee, be honest and brief.  Describe the facts immediately leading up to the incident, but do not discuss anything else outside of the actual time frame in which the accident occurred.
6. Once you are feeling better (but do not wait too long) contact a knowledgeable attorney, who you feel will handle your case to the fullest extent.

The state in which the amusement park is located and the type of lawsuit being filed (negligence, premises liability, etc.) can alter the statute of limitations. An experienced attorney can help determine the statute of limitations in your situation and avoid any possibility that your claim will not be heard as a result of delay.

A trip with family and friends to an amusement park should be an enjoyable time.  Everyone involved wants to avoid the pain, cost and time associated with amusement park injuries.  Unfortunately accidents do occur and these simple steps may help you in otherwise traumatizing situation.