NY Theme Park Accidents Can Lead To Catastrophic Injuries
While accidents at amusement and water parks in New York and the Tri-State area are relatively rare, when they do occur, the consequences can be tragic for some victims. New York residents who are victims of these accidents through no fault of their own may be eligible to file a NY theme park accident lawsuit. However, determining liability in these cases often takes experience in this specialized area of personal injury law.
The most dangerous rides in New York
While roller coasters typically look like some of the most dangerous rides at New York theme parks, the statistics suggest otherwise. According to a 2014 report from NJ.com, water rides were responsible for the most accidents at theme parks in that state. The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs released data that showed 122 injuries occurred on water slides and another 42 occurred on water rapids. Only 39 injuries occurred on roller coasters during that same time frame.
However, roller coasters do make up the bulk of the accidents resulting in death, according to a 2013 report from the Huffington Post. The publication reported in 2013 that roller coaster accidents accounted for 27.6 percent of all amusement park deaths. Other rides that were attributed to deaths included Ferris wheels, gondolas and cable rides (20.7 percent) and spinning rides (13.6 percent).
Recent NY amusement park accidents spark concerns
This year, concerns about amusement park accidents were spurred again by reports of injuries on one of London’s major roller coaster rides at Alton Towers theme park. The accident occurred when a car loaded with 16 passengers collided with another car that was empty. The four riders in the front of the car suffered serious injuries, while the rest of the passengers were trapped at a 45-degree angle on the ride until emergency help arrived.
In New York, three people were injured when a large outdoor movie screen crashed into a wave pool at Darien Lake. The swimmers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene by emergency personnel. The giant screen was removed from the pool and the park was able to reopen to guests a short time later.
The New York State Department of Labor offers advice to parents to help ensure their children’s safety at amusement parks and water parks this season. First, the office encourages parents to use their own judgment when determining whether a ride is appropriate. Parents should also obey minimum requirements on all rides and refrain from placing children on rides when they are fearful. Children should also be instructed by both parents and ride operators to obey all of the rules of the ride for their own safety.
Find a New York amusement park injury lawyer
Sometimes, accidents still happen despite best efforts to prevent them. If the accident can be attributed to the fault of the park, ride operator or ride manufacturer, a theme park injury lawsuit may be in order. Premises liability litigation can help accident victims and their families collect compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and other non-economic losses.
Liability in these cases must be carefully determined, based on whether the accident was due to a manufacturing defect, negligence by a ride operator or an improperly maintained ride.
The NY personal injury lawyers at The Sanders Firm work with victims of amusement park accidents to help them pursue the legal compensation they are entitled to. If you are suffering the consequences of an accident in New York that was no fault of yours, contact The Sanders Firm at 1.800.FAIR.PLAY to get a free assessment of your case. Resources
- My Fox NY, 3 Injured when Movie Screen Falls into NY Park’s Wave Pool, https://www.myfoxny.com/story/29678040/movie-screen-falls-into-wave-pool
- New York State Department of Labor, Parents Safety Tips, https://www.labor.ny.gov/ridesafeny/parent.html
- Huffington Post, The Deadliest Amusement Park Rides, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/09/deadliest-amusement-park-rides_n_3728188.html
- Smithsonian Magazine, Nearly 4,500 Kids are Injured on Amusement Park Rides Each Year, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nearly-4500-kids-are-injured-on-amusement-park-rides-each-year-52530135/?no-ist
- NJ.com, Terrified of Roller Coasters? More Accidents Happen on Water Slides, State Data Shows, https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/more_accidents_happen_in_water_rides_and_go-karts_data_shows.html
- Market Watch, Don’t Let that Roller Coaster Ride be Your Last, https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-let-that-roller-coaster-ride-be-your-last-2015-06-04
