Some people can’t get enough of the thrill rides at California’s best theme parks. Usually, the most heart-pounding experiences are found on roller coasters. Whether it’s the old-school scares of the Giant Dipper on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk or a modern rush from Six Flag’s Magic Mountain’s Full Throttle, parkgoers can’t get enough.
These twisting and looping tracks send the body in unnatural directions at ridiculous speeds and it’s not a surprise that people still get hurt on these wild attractions. A sore neck or a sudden loss of breath can easily lead to a more serious issue.
If you or a family member are hurt at a theme park and hospital bills pile up, you’ll likely have no idea where to turn for support. That theme park’s owners and operators shouldn’t be able to duck out on helping you with recovery costs. Contact a California Amusement Park Lawyer for a free consultation on your case. Learn what your injury case is worth and how to force an insurance company to provide the support that’s only fair.
California Roller Coaster Accident Dangers
Many people get on California roller coasters like the West Coaster on the Santa Monica Pier for the thrilling sense of danger. And yet, it’s up to park operators and ride manufacturers to make sure their rides are completely safe for adults and teenagers.
Theme parks have a legal “duty of care” to all ticketholders. They must ensure a safe journey for customers from the parking lots to the top of a roller coaster loop. When they fail in this duty and someone gets hurt, the park can be held liable for every hardship a victim faces.
These are just a few of the frightening incidents that may get you hurt on a roller coaster and some examples of negligence that could cause your family harm:
- Boarding and Unloading from Roller Coaster – Injuries as riders get on and off a coaster. Roller coasters taking off too soon.
- Safety Harness & Lap Bar Issues – Stomach injuries and chest and rib injuries from intense forces pushing the body into the seat and restraints. Suffering a scary roller coaster fall when a harness fails. Roller Coasters can cause whiplash when they take off quickly without properly supporting a victim’s head and neck.
- Negligent Ride Attendants – Attendants have important safety checks to do but can get careless. Park employees may not yank on a safety bar to make sure it’s locked. They may allow a child on a ride that does not meet the height requirements. A reckless staff member could allow a ride to continue operating even though it should be shut down.
- Getting Hit by Structures and Flying Objects – California roller coaster riders may get struck by objects lost by other visitors. They could get hit by a passing bird or by a piece of the ride itself. A serious head injury or a permanent disfigurement could result.
- Heart Issues – People can suffer abnormal heartbeats, heart attacks, and suffer breathing issues after an intense ride that parkgoers aren’t properly warned about.
- California Roller Coaster Injuries to Children – Children’s bodies are still developing and intense forces experienced in a thrill ride can do harm to vulnerable young bones and internal organs. Any child theme park injury victim could need additional care in the future when growth is affected by a previous roller coaster injury.
- Roller Coaster Slip-and-Fall and Trip-And-Fall Injuries – Visitors in line waiting for a chance at a ride on a roller coaster like HangTime at Knott’s Berry Farm can slip on a spilled drink that should have been mopped up. They can fall from an elevated platform. A dangerous trip while trying to approach a ride car could prove life-threatening.
Compensation Available After a Roller Coaster Accident
You may be in line with your children waiting for a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland when uneven flooring sends you down to land on your knee. Your child may be aboard the Giant Dipper at Belmont Park in San Diego when a traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow to the head during a quick turn or plunge.
Securing the proper support from a theme park’s insurance provider will be key to protecting the victim and safeguarding your family’s finances. Getting the most out of your roller coaster injury settlement will mean listing and documenting every hardship inflicted on you and your family during recovery.
These are just a few of the damages you and your California Theme Park Injury Lawyer will include when you file your injury claim:
- All current medical expenses and those expected in the future.
- The lifelong expenses associated with a permanent disability.
- Compensation for the physical pain suffered and perhaps chronic pain for a lifetime.
- Compensation for emotional trauma. The anxiety, depression, and PTSD that may arise after a frightening roller coaster accident. A patient’s enjoyment of life may be affected if mobility and freedom are lost.
- All wages and benefits lost at work while the patient is unable to perform job duties.
- Travel costs accumulated to attend doctor visits while you are immobile and unable to drive or the costs you incur while taking an injured child to see specialists.
- Wrongful death benefits. Support for families after a loved one has died from injuries suffered in a tragic roller coaster accident.
Contact a California Roller Coaster Accident Lawyer
After you or a family member are hurt on a theme park roller coaster or on a ride at a boardwalk, please speak with a skilled California Theme Park Lawyer before talking with park representatives. Theme parks can afford teams of lawyers and will allow insurance adjusters to question your fault in an amusement park accident and question the severity of your injuries. Don’t let them convince you to accept a lowball settlement offer before you know what your injury or a family member’s injury is really worth.
You’ll need a skilled lawyer who can protect you from the tactics insurers use to rob you and your family of support. Contact Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, to schedule a free no-obligation consultation. If you feel Mr. Gasparian can help you get the most out of your roller coaster injury settlement, you won’t need any upfront money. He doesn’t get paid unless he wins your case for you.
