Amusement Park Injuries

Fair / Carnival / Theme Park Accident Lawyers

Tens of thousands of Alabama residents travel to fairs, carnivals and amusement parks every year in this country. Amusement parks, fairs and carnivals such as Disney World, Disney Land, Magic Mountain, Universal Orlando, etc., are a favorite form of entertainment for families and young people in Florida and California. Millions of people from all over the country travel to Florida, California and many other states specifically to go to amusement parks. Have you been injured while at a amusement park, carnival, fair or theme park? Huntsville amusement park lawyers Ferguson & Ferguson have  represented thousands of clients and obtained millions of dollars in settlements for injury clients. You may need an amusement park accident attorney to help. Call now for your free consultation. Call 256-534-3435 or 256-350-7200. We can help.

There are thousands of fly-by-night carnivals and fairs that parents need to be concerned about. Local fairs like the Morgan County Fair appear for a short time and leave town. There are also many major amusements parks like Dorney Park, Dollywood, Six Flags Great Adventure, Morey’s Pier, Cedar Point, Sesame Place, Wild River Country, Raging Waters, Hurricane Harbor, Jungle Jim’s, Busch Gardens, Jolly Roger, Hershey Park, Gillian’s Wonderland Pier, Morey’s Pier, Steel Pier, Casino Pier, Gillian’s Island Water Park and Boardwalk. Amusement park operators and carnival owners are always advertising the newest thrill ride or adventure to increase popularity and visits. Unfortunately, many of those rides are not safe and cause many catastrophic injuries and life altering injuries.

Causes of Alabama Amusement Park Injuries

Several factors may indicate fault and liability in amusement park accidents:

• operator behavior
• mechanical failure
• design defects or limitations
• inadequate security
• failure to post proper warnings
• uninspected damage
• improper repairs
• metallurgical or component failure
• improper operation
• improper training of operator
• lack of or improper maintenance procedures
• loose cables
• rusted belts
• improper belting/security
• lack of safety harness
• failure of safety lock
• sharp and protruding parts
• improper height or weight restrictions
• abrupt starts and stops
• failure to load and unload in a safe and proper manner
• improper assembly
• exposed electrical wires
• malfunctioning lap bars
• broken welds
• failure to shut off
• abrupt seizure of mechanism
• engineering design defects
• structural flaws
• improper installation
• unsecured areas of danger near electrical and mechanical equipment
• lack of engineering equipment
• failure of emergency stop
• corrosion of parts
• poor lighting
• electrical shorts/failures
• Alligator, shark or animal attacks

Common Theme Park Injuries

Injuries from amusement park rides can be a life changing event. The injuries include:

• traumatic brain injuries
• neck injuries
• spine injuries
• broken face bones
• broken noses
• broken legs
• internal injuries
• crush injuries
• amputations
• electrocution
• whiplash
• brain hemorrhages
• paraplegia
• quadriplegia
• decapitations
• drownings
• burns
• death

Injury Statistics

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission surveys a small sample of hospitals to collect information about product injuries including those at amusement parks. However, interestingly enough, this survey does not include incidents from the nation’s most popular theme parks including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. A report from the CPSC dated September 7, 2005 revealed that there were 3,400 reported accidents at amusement parks in 2004. The CPSC report also provides an overview of what states are doing or not doing to inspect amusement park rides and accidents. Some sources indicate that the real number of injuries and deaths is much higher, exceeding 11,000 injuries per year and increasing.

Over 270,000,000 people visit amusement parks each year in the United States and according to some people amusement parks are getting more dangerous. Accident data for most amusement parks is particularly a well guarded secret. When lawsuits are filed, many times strict confidential settlements are requested. Not so surprisingly Florida’s theme parks, which account for 20% of all U.S. amusement park business, are exempt from state regulatory laws. The amusement park industry is highly unregulated and there is not a uniform system for reporting injuries – creating a serious danger that parks police their own accidents. This means that innocent consumers are often left in the dark about which amusement park is safe to visit and which rides are safe for their families. This creates real dangers for families and their precious small children.

Contact a Alabama Amusement Park Lawyer Today!

If you or a family member has suffered a catastrophic injury or fatality at an amusement park, water park or hayride, it is important that you contact an experienced amusement park lawyer to investigate the defective product and premise liability issues to determine if you have a case and who is responsible. Our aggressive legal team will bring the wrongdoers to justice and achieve the best results for you and your family. If you have been injured at an amusement park, please contact us at 256-350-7200 or 256-534-3435.

Huntsville Office Location:
303 Williams Avenue SW
Suite 321
Huntsville, AL 35801

Decatur Office Location:
211 Oak Street NE
Decatur, AL 35601

Our amusement park and theme park injury attorneys serve every city and county in the United States.