With summer still going strong, Californians in the Bay Area are enjoying the many traditions associated with the season. That includes going to Disneyland, Six Flags and many other amusement parks across the state.
As recent history shows, improbable personal injuries can occur at amusement parks (like the measles outbreak at Disneyland earlier this year). But what about accidents and injuries related to dangerous/defective rides? Sadly, such incidents are not as rare or improbable as we would like to believe.
According to news sources, an accident at an amusement park in Kentucky injured at least 12 people late last month, including children. A children’s swing ride called the “Jitterbug” reportedly tipped over onto its side while in use.
About a dozen of the injured riders were treated at a local hospital. Thankfully, it seems as though most injuries were non-serious. This could have been due to the small size of the ride, however.
According to a park official, the Jitterbug has enjoyed a 15-year accident-free history and was inspected annually. It is still unclear what caused the ride to tip over.
In the grand scheme of things, this amusement park accident was minor and relatively inconsequential. That’s not to say that it was no big deal. Instead, it is a reminder that amusement park accidents can be – and often are – much more serious. Some are even fatal.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a defective amusement park ride or some other unsafe condition on private property, you may be entitled to compensation in a premises liability lawsuit. If you want to better understand your rights and options, please share your story with an experienced Oakland personal injury attorney.