Knoxville Amusement Park Accident Lawyer
Amusement parks, county fairs, and water parks are all filled with lung-bursting shrieks of laughter and excitement in the good times, and screams of pain and terror during the bad. When an amusement park accident happens, there needs to be a thorough investigation into what caused it, performed by an experienced lawyer with potential help from expert witnesses and other investigators. More often than not, there is plenty of evidence of wrongdoing on behalf of the park, either in terms of poor maintenance, lack of staff training, or poorly designed infrastructure. Contact one of our compassionate Knoxville amusement park accident lawyers at the law offices of Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette for more information.
Amusement Park Rides and Accidents are Commonplace
Tens of thousands of people, 30,900 just last year in fact, are injured in amusement parks every year. And, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there have been 22 amusement ride fatalities since 2010, as reported by NBC News. That statistics only takes into account ride fatalities. Rides can be dangerous but are by no means the only risk that amusement park patrons are put through.
Common Amusement Park Accidents
Mechanical error and staff error are the leading causes of amusement park ride incidents, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Typical accidents include the following:
- Damaged equipment – Whether a rollercoaster goes off track and causes a fatality or a spinning ride jams up unexpectedly and causes severe whiplash, the amusement park needs to be held accountable. Broken down equipment is the responsibility of the park, and proving liability involves an investigation.
- Poor upkeep of infrastructure – Rides are only a small part of the amusement park. Bathroom facilities, damaged railings, jagged water grates, broken glass, and other parts of the facility may be damaged or poorly maintained and can cause a variety of injuries.
- Slip and falls – Falling is the most common way to become injured in an amusement park. Not all falls are the fault of the park, though many are. Was your fall caused by a wet surface, puddle that formed from a broken pipe, lack of gritty paint in a known wet walking surface, damaged stairs, poor lighting, or a lack of a hand railing on a ramp or stairs? If so, you may be owed compensation.
- Staff Mistakes – Having a properly trained staff is essential at an amusement park, where patrons’ lives are in the hands of staff guidance. Examples of staff errors include improperly fitting or latching a harness, allowing multiple people to go down a slide at once or not waiting for the slide to be cleared in time before sending the next person down, starting a ride before everyone is seated, and not following other protocol.
An Experienced Gatlinburg Injury Lawyer is a Phone Call Away
Whatever the accident was caused by, it is crucial to work with a Knoxville amusement park accident lawyer to ensure that you and your family are compensated fairly for your injuries. The lawyers of Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette will ensure that you are financially compensated for your injuries and pain and suffering caused by the negligent party.
