AMUSEMENT & POOL INJURIES

Summer activities such as visiting amusement parks and pools can be a lot of fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, these activities are not always fun – sometimes they result in injury. But, there are a lot of ways that you can prevent injuries at amusement parks or pools. On this page, I will talk about how you can take preventative measures to keep your child safe. If your child was injured at a park or a pool, you can also find information here on how to get them help.

What Causes Injuries?

There are many different ways that people can be injured in amusement parks. Some of the most common causes of injuries include:

• The ride itself. Even if a ride works perfectly, it can still cause injuries such as hemorrhages, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fainting, or even strokes. Intense rides like roller coasters or themed rides meant to scare passengers can cause these symptoms.
• Passenger errors/misuse. There’s always one teenaged boy trying to impress his friends on the Ferris wheel by standing up or rocking his car. Acts like this can result in injury. In a case like this, the injury would be the fault of the passenger.
• Mechanical issues. Any mechanical failures on a ride can cause injury, such as a lap bar failing to stay down during a ride or if a piece of a roller coaster breaks off.
• Operation issues. Injury can occur if an employee fails to check that seat belts are correctly fastened or if they stop a ride too fast.

Common Injuries

There are many different types of injuries at amusement parks, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to death. Some common injuries include:

• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Death
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Aneurysms in the brain
• Broken bones
• Strokes
• Drownings on water rides

Amusement Park Cases

If your child is injured at an amusement park, there are two main claims that you can file. The first option is to file a product liability claim. This can be filed against the company that manufactured the ride if it was defective, and the failure of the ride caused your injury. The other type of claim you can file is a negligence claim against the amusement park itself. You can file this type of claim against employees of the park or the owner(s), but you have to prove that your child was injured as a result of their carelessness. You could also file both claims if they are appropriate for your case.

Pool Injuries

In addition to amusement park injuries, your child could sustain an injury while swimming in the family pool or another pool. Even strong swimmers are at risk for injuries, so make sure that your child is properly supervised while in the pool area. You can try to prevent pool injuries by:

• Making sure that your child is a strong swimmer.
• Making sure that your child wears a life vest/another flotation device to assist them while swimming.
• Fencing in the pool area so your child can’t go there unattended.
• Not letting your child swim alone, in water over their head, or in the dark.
• Supervising your child or swimming with them.

In some cases, a swimming injury could be the fault of another party. For example, if your child swims at a public pool, they could be at fault. A private pool owner can be at fault in other situations.

Fault could occur if the pool owner does not maintain the pool or the pool area. If your child is injured in a pool, you should note all of the circumstances surrounding the incident. Talk to a lawyer about these issues to determine if you have a case.

No matter what the situation is, a lawyer can offer assistance. Contact our office at 203-925-9200 for more information.