Millions of people visit California amusement parks each year. Disneyland welcomed 17 million visitors in 2023 while 9.66 million people went to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Attendees expect a great time and not amusement park injuries.
LA Century Law explains what to do if you’re injured at an amusement park.
I Was Injured at an Amusement Park. What Do I Do?
If you’re injured at an amusement park, summon emergency responders immediately. Tell the park workers as soon as possible so they can help victims and create an accident report. Take photos of the scene or ask someone else to take them. And talk to a lawyer about claiming compensation.
Amusement park injuries—a serious problem
NBC reports an average of 3.7 amusement park deaths per year in the United States. One safety watchdog organization reports that the chance of serious injury for amusement park rides in the United States is one in 15.5 million rides given.
For example, at Universal Studios, metal parts shaking during a ride allegedly caused the amputation of a rider’s finger. Also, a man was killed, and 10 others were injured when a roller coaster derailed at Disneyland in 2003. Riders were trapped for hours before rescue workers could reach them.
Theme park injuries are a serious problem and can be life-changing for victims and their families.
Common Causes of Injuries at Amusement Parks
Crushing: Parts of a ride cause a stuck-between accident, resulting in crushing injuries
Blunt force trauma: A person is struck by a moving ride.
Falling: A person falls from a ride or attraction.
Vehicle accidents: Cars, carts, and other vehicles in a park strike someone.
Drowning: Amusement parks often have bodies of water.
Electrical: Electrical malfunctions can cause burning and other injuries.
Slip and fall: Slippery and uneven surfaces can cause a fall, resulting in injury.
Malfunctioning: A ride that malfunctions may violently jerk or stop unexpectedly.
Negligent operation: If a ride isn’t operated according to instructions, harm may occur.
Steps To Take Immediately After an Amusement Park Injury
Here are eight steps to take right away if you suffer an injury at an amusement park.
Move to safety
Even after an injury occurs, the danger may be ongoing. Assess continuing risks, such as rides that may continue to move. Move to safety, if necessary.
Alert theme park representatives
There are typically theme park staff members who respond to emergencies. Tell amusement park workers so they can summon these responders. They may get there faster than 911 can dispatch personnel to the scene.
Contact emergency responders
Telling park workers is not a substitute for calling 911. Public emergency responders may provide additional emergency response. An injured person may need to be transported. Don’t assume that theme park workers will call for you.
Get medical care
Theme park injuries are often serious. Blunt force trauma and other injuries may be more serious than you first realize.
Make an official report
Theme park workers should make an official report. Ask them to make the report and obtain a copy. This creates a record of the time, place, and general nature of the accident.
Preserve evidence
Do what you can to preserve evidence. Take photos as close to the scene as you can. Identify witnesses and others involved. Save items of clothing and personal property.
Keep records
Keep documentation as you receive it. Medical records, a copy of the incident report, bills and expenses, and anything else related should be kept.
Talk to a lawyer
You may receive financial compensation. However, it can be hard to go up against the large corporations that run amusement parks. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Injuries?
Multiple parties may be liable for your injuries. An amusement park must operate safely in all respects. This means their team members must be qualified, adequately trained, and appropriately supervised. Rides should be tested. Safety planners should assess and mitigate dangers. In addition to the amusement park, ride manufacturers, and third-party vendors may be liable for amusement park injuries.
Legal Rights of Visitors at California Amusement Parks
There are dozens of amusement parks in California. These theme parks offer rides, live entertainment, and guest experiences.
Some of the most well-known amusement parks in California include:
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Knott’s Berry Farm
- Disneyland Resort, California Adventure
- LEGOLAND California
- SeaWorld San Diego
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
- Belmont Park
- Pacific Park
When injuries occur at amusement parks in California, victims have legal rights.
Multiple legal grounds may be used to hold a park accountable and seek compensation.
Negligence requires showing that park operators did something unreasonable that resulted in harm. Negligence may not be immediately apparent; for example, the underlying cause of an accident could be that the ride operator wasn’t adequately trained. That’s something that your lawyer may learn through discovery as they build your case.
In addition to negligence, a claim may be based on product liability because of inadequate warnings about rides and design or manufacturing defects. A claim can assert all grounds for liability.
Seeking Compensation for Medical Bills and Other Damages
A compensation claim following an injury at an amusement park may seek medical bills and other damages. Victims are often young people and otherwise healthy adults, so damages claimed often include future losses and impacts on life. Non-economic damages may be a significant part of any claim.
Compensation is tailored to the losses of the victim and related suffering. You must prove your damages and causation of harm. And you may have a lawyer represent you.
The Role of Insurance in Amusement Park Injury Claims
Amusement parks usually have insurance policies to cover injury liability. Available insurance coverage is something to explore.
Contact an Experienced Century City Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered an injury at an amusement park, contact an experienced Century City personal injury lawyer. With a 99% success rate, we get results. Contact LA Century Law today.