Theme parks are a place for families and friends to come together and enjoy themselves. In fact, nearly 1 billion people visit amusement parks every year. The last thing on their minds should be what they would do if they were involved in an accident caused by an unsafe ride, poorly maintained premises, or some other unforeseen event. Unfortunately, though, as the news shows us, accidents happen at amusement parks all the time.
Take, for example, the 1998 case of a waterslide collapse at California’s Waterworld USA, which left one teen dead and 32 others severely injured. More recently, a roller coaster accident at Alton Towers, one of the UK’s most popular theme parks, left two teenagers in need of leg amputations and severely injured two others. Additionally, just this past summer at a water park in Taipei, colored powder from a “color party” ignited, causing an explosion that killed nine people and injured at least 300 more.
It is important that people are aware that places that advertise the biggest, fastest, and most terrifying thrill rides do, in fact, present a certain degree of risk to their patrons. Premises liability law exists to protect people’s rights to compensation if they are injured by dangerous rides, poorly maintained or slippery walkways, or other dangerous conditions.
Do I Have a Case for Compensation?
Theme park owners and managers have a responsibility to keep their guests safe by maintaining their property. This means performing regular inspections on rides, keeping up with repairs, and posting the required warnings to alert guests of any potential hazards. Failing in these precautions can constitute negligence and make them financially responsible for your injuries and associated costs.
If you have been injured in an accident at a theme park, you may be able to hold the owner of the property responsible for a number of economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, lost wages, and more. If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf and receive compensation for the cost of their medical care, funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, loss of support, and more.
If you need to speak with a lawyer about an amusement park accident, the Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at Biren Law Group are available to review your case during a complimentary consultation. We can help you determine which parties were responsible for your accident and inform you of your options for legal action. To schedule your consultation, please call Biren Law Group today at (310) 896-4345.