Accidents, Injuries Underscore Amusement Park Dangers

The Bay Area’s most adrenaline-charged theme park was the site of two injuries this summer. On July 12, one employee suffered traumatic injuries at California’s Great America, when he was struck by a returning train on the Flight Deck coaster ride. A guest on the same roller coaster complained of a hand injury, and was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. The very same day, a 10-year-old girl was discovered unconscious after riding the Revolution rollercoaster at Southern California’s Six Flags Magic Mountain. The Los Angeles County Fire Department reports that the girl was airlifted to a hospital for emergency medical treatment. Investigations are underway in both incidents, which have highlighted lurking dangers posed to those who enjoy the thrills and spills of our state’s beloved theme parks.

LA amusement park injury lawyer

Last year, some 138 million people visited our nation’s top 20 amusement parks, but this summer has witnessed a disturbing number of headline-grabbing incidents, many of which included ride malfunctions.  Magic Mountain, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland are popular forms of entertainment for families in the Los Angeles area. But what happens when safety protocols aren’t followed?  Or operator error results in serious personal injury?

Here at Ellis Law, we leverage our expertise in personal injury and premises liability litigation to help protect the rights of those who are injured at amusement and theme parks. When machinery malfunctions or negligence is involved, victims have the right to be compensated through the courts. Given the complexity of such claims, it’s vital to enlist the aid of a skilled personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles.

Recent theme park accidents raise concerns

Despite safety measures and strict protocols at our nation’s exciting theme parks, accidents still occur, usually attributed to mechanical malfunction or human error.

Consider the following recent events:

• July 9, 2015, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – A family almost experienced their worst nightmare on a bungee cord ride called “The Catapult.” Just as the lever was about to be pulled, a giant cable snapped. No one was injured, but if the cord had broken just seconds earlier, the riders would have been killed. After investigations, the theme park was ordered to permanently remove the Catapult ride from Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park.
• July 25, Bowling Green, Kentucky – A favorite children’s ride called the “Jitterbug” at Beech Bend Amusement Park fell over, leaving 12 people injured. One injured guest who was on the ride with her child has since filed suit, based on charges that the operators were negligent and failed to maintain the safety of its premises. Beech Bend is also facing claims that it was negligent in hiring, training, and supervising its staff.

Common causes of theme park accidents

If you have suffered injury at a California theme park and need knowledgeable legal representation, the attorneys at Ellis Law are available to discuss the merits of filing a premises liability lawsuit.

Litigation may be warranted if an accident was caused by any of the following factors:

• Defective design
• Manufacturing flaws
• Mechanical failure
• Operator negligence
• Improper staff training and supervision
• Missing safety equipment
• Malfunctioning equipment
• Inspection failures
• Inadequate maintenance

Theme park accident attorneys in Los Angeles

Advocating for injury victims for more than 25 years, the attorneys at Ellis Law have the resources, experience and compassion to help those unfortunate enough to suffer an amusement park injury in Southern California.  Our lawyers do not get paid unless we settle or win your claim, so there is no financial risk to you.

Call us at 310-641-3335 to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options for filing a theme park accident lawsuit in Los Angeles.