Amusement Park Injuries: Legal Expert Says Statistics Aren’t Made Public

Amusement park rides at some of the nation’s largest theme parks seem to offer more thrills than ever before. Rides not only go faster, but often push the limits of G-force and maneuver in ways that are likely to make even make an astronaut’s stomach a bit queasy. The result in some cases is permanent injury or death – and one California lawyer believes that the industry doesn’t make that information public.

Personal injury lawsuits

According to news reports, a California personal injury attorney, has asked the amusement park industry to release statistical data on the number of brain related injuries suffered in the nation’s largest amusement parks. Attorney Barry Novack, who also has a PhD in engineering, has filed nearly a dozen lawsuits against various theme parks which allege that plaintiffs of all ages suffered serious injuries after riding amusement park attractions such as:

• Stroke. A 68-year old man suffered a stroke after riding the Tower of Terror at Disney MGM. That case is still ongoing.
• Brain hemorrhage. A 7-year old suffered a brain hemorrhage which caused temporary paralysis and permanent cognitive deficits after riding the Hammerhead Shark ride at Six Flags Amusement Park. That case is still ongoing.
• Death. A Connecticut boy died while on a boat ride at Playland in New York. His family and the park settled the wrongful death case for $1.25 million.

Negligence or assumption of the risk?

While amusement park owners often claim that riders assume the risk when they go on a ride, plaintiffs’ lawyers such as Novack say that amusement parks may be negligent for not posting clear warning signs or posting signs that don’t adequately warn park goers of the risks involved. They allege that the amusement park industry keeps records of serious accidents from the public and are petitioning courts to make that information public. If you’ve been injured by an amusement ride, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.