In 2016, a 10-year-old boy was decapitated while riding the “world’s tallest waterslide” at a Schlitterbahn in Kansas City. Recent court documents suggest company executives lacked the necessary expertise to design the waterslide and rushed its construction. In addition to the one death, 13 people reportedly suffered injuries while using the waterslide.
Unfortunately, this story is not an isolated incident. Deaths may be rare, but the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that emergency rooms treated 30,000 amusement park injuries during 2016. There have also been injuries and deaths at Connecticut’s two main amusement parks, Lake Compounce Amusement Park and Quassy Amusement Park.
What Are Causes of Amusement Park Accidents?
There are multiple ways you could be harmed at an amusement park. Ride-related amusement park accidents may be caused by:
- Poor maintenance. During peak hours, amusement parks may see thousands of people per day. Rides are in constant use. For this reason, rides must be properly maintained, or they can suffer mechanical failures. At the 2017 Ohio State Fair, it was determined that corrosion caused a ride to fall apart, killing one person and injuring seven.
- Design defects. Some rides are designed in a way that make them unsafe to use. The waterslide in Kansas City that killed a 10-year-old boy in 2016 may fall into this category.
- Manufacturing defects. Rides are made up of moving parts and other materials. Manufacturing defects could cause structural or mechanical failures.
- Ride operator errors. Ride operators may give parkgoers poor instructions that lead to injury. In addition, park patrons may be injured if they are not properly strapped into rides.
There are other ways you could be injured at an amusement park or fair. Like other business establishments, amusement parks and fairs may have hazards that cause slip and fall accidents. Spills, construction or poor lighting can also lead to injury.
Can I File a Lawsuit for Amusement Park Injuries?
Depending on the circumstances, amusement parks and fairs may be liable for injuries and deaths. The Connecticut personal injury lawyers at Polinsky Law Group, LLC, could help you determine whether it would be possible to secure compensation after being injured at one of these establishments. Our law firm offers free consultations. You can reach us by calling 860-248-7807 or by using our online contact form.