Amusement Park Injuries: “Who is at Fault?”
With the more and more recreational activities, water parks, and amusement parks, vying for consumer dollars, businesses and park owners are pushing the envelope to attract and thrill patrons. While most see this incentive to create bigger, faster, and more exciting rides and exhibits, as good for the industry and consumers, others fear that public safety may be over looked in the race to create the next big thrill. Injury attorney Brent T. Ackerson , with the law firm of Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones PLC is concerned that bigger, faster, and more exciting, can sometimes inadvertently put the public at risk. Brent T. Ackerson says, “When pushing the envelope of entertainment, businesses need to make sure that they are taking extra precautions to ensure that the public is not put at a greater risk of injuring themselves from the ride or experience. They want people to spend their money there…they build it bigger and faster…they advertise it to draw the public in…they should therefore be sure that the public is safe while there.”
When amusement and water parks make things faster and more slippery, it can result in unforeseen and unintended injury. Even more so when the facilities are crowded and over used. This is not just a case of the patron being at fault for his or her use of the facility, park or ride. Brent T. Ackerson says, “Businesses who try to draw in the public dollars by advertising the rides and parks, must take responsibility for people’s injuries when those people are drawn to the business and then suffer injuries while there.”
With all injuries at water parks and amusement parks, it is important to fully examine what led up to the accident and whether something could have been done to prevent the accident. Sometimes, even after a thorough examination, it is found that nothing could have been done to prevent the injury. However, if something, within reason, could have been done to prevent the injury then the business or park should be held liable for the injury.
Recently, a man visiting Kings Island amusement park died while riding a new roller coaster. While the park has stated that the ride was operating normally and there is no reason to believe the guest’s ride on the coaster caused his death, it still begs the question whether rides that push the limits can subject people in less than perfect health to suffer unforeseen health risks. Anytime there is an injury at a water or amusement park, it warrants looking into whether all safety measures were met and whether the park may be at fault.
