Amusement Park Injuries – What You Need To Know
Amidst the thrills that amusement parks provide, accidents and injuries can occur, turning a day of joy into a traumatic experience. Here is what you need to know if you or your loved ones suffered an injury at an amusement park.
Causes of Amusement Park Injuries
Accidents at amusement parks can result from the negligence of ride operators, safety inspectors, or ride equipment manufacturers. According to a CNN report, in 2016, emergency rooms treated approximately 30,900 injuries associated with amusement attractions. These incidents, which include both mobile and fixed-site parks, highlight the importance of addressing safety lapses to prevent harm to patrons.
Injuries to Children at Amusement Parks
Children sustain about half of the amusement park injuries reported, with many requiring hospitalization. These injuries often involve the head, neck, arms, face, or legs and may result from improper restraints, lack of padding, or falls on or off rides. If your child suffered an injury at an amusement park in Kentucky, a qualified child injury attorney in Paducah can review your case if you decide you want to take legal action.
Preventing Amusement Park Accidents
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) oversees mobile amusement parks, but inspections at fixed-site parks vary by state and locality. Best practices to avoid accidents include adhering to height and age restrictions, following seating orders and loading instructions, utilizing safety equipment, and keeping hands and feet inside rides. Trust your instincts about ride safety and avoid any poorly maintained or unrestrained rides.
Take Legal Action
Kentucky law allows amusement park injury victims to seek compensation for damages resulting from negligence. By pursuing a claim, you may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
The first step in addressing amusement park injuries is determining liability. Whether it’s a slip and fall, a ride malfunction, or any other incident. Amusement parks fall under premises liability, holding the property owner responsible for injuries that occur on their premises.
This legal concept is fundamental in addressing amusement park-related accidents. As a result, proving negligence involves demonstrating that the park failed to uphold this duty, leading to your injury. This can include inadequate maintenance, insufficient staff training, faulty equipment, etc.
Immediately after your injury, thoroughly document the scene. This involves gathering witness statements, taking photographs of the area, noting weather conditions, and obtaining any available surveillance footage. The more evidence collected, the stronger the case.
Amusement parks are typically covered by insurance, and dealing with these companies can be challenging. Having legal representation by a skilled personal injury attorney in Paducah, KY is beneficial when negotiating with insurers to ensure fair compensation.
How Long You Have to File a Claim
Kentucky law places a limited time frame of one year for you to file a personal injury claim, known as the statute of limitations.
- “The following actions shall be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrued:
- (a) An action for an injury to the person of the plaintiff, or of her husband, his wife, child, ward, apprentice, or servant;”
If you miss this window you will likely lose the right to pursue compensation. Therefore, it is critical to act swiftly and arrange a free consultation with a trusted personal injury attorney in Kentucky today.