Tennessee Amusement Park Injuries
Amusement park injuries should never happen – but when a high speed roller coaster or a gravity-defying ride suddenly malfunctions, the results can be severe physical harm and even death. What makes these injuries particularly disturbing is the popularity of amusement parks with children and adolescents. Amusement park accidents place our most vulnerable citizens at risk.
If you or a loved one suffered injury while visiting a Tennessee amusement park, including Dollywood and Ober Gatlinburg, the Morristown, Tennessee amusement park injury attorneys at Terry, Terry & Stapleton are ready to help. We have helped clients in Morristown, Knoxville, Knox County, Rogersville, Hamblen County, Greeneville, Jefferson City, Newport, Johnson City and Kingsport.
Amusement park injuries are difficult to categorize. Despite the potential for serious harm from amusement park rides, there is no U.S. agency responsible for regulating or mandating ride operators. Tennessee's laws do not cover carnival and amusement rides with the exception of aerial rides and tramways. There isn't even an official database tracking amusement park injuries – so while the general belief is that these rarely happen, the truth is that amusement park accidents occur more frequently than we realize.
What we do know is based upon statistics from the 2003 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 2002, amusement park rides caused at least 3,000 injuries requiring hospitalization among park visitors. The CPSC reported an estimated 8,313 amusement ride-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in 2001. During each year from 1987 to 2000, amusement park rides caused at least 4 fatal accidents. A report by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, an industry group, reported nearly 1,800 injuries on fixed-site rides in 2005.
Some of the factors involved in amusement park ride accidents include:
- Mechanical breakdowns from structural failures, broken or missing safety pins, cracked welds and other structurally weakened parts, including sheared wires, broken and malfunctioning lap bars and seat belt restraints
- Negligent operation including abrupt stops due to slamming brakes
- Poor maintenance, repair or assembly
When an accident occurs, the victim or victim's family most likely will have grounds for legal action on the basis of negligence. If the equipment was faulty, both the amusement park and the equipment manufacturer may be held liable. If the ride was poorly maintained or improperly operated, the amusement park may be held liable.
Regardless of the cause, amusement park injuries are simply unacceptable – and negligent parks or manufacturers must be held accountable. There are time limitations for filing suit, however, so prompt action is important. For immediate assistance with amusement park injury claims, or to schedule an evaluation of your case, contact the attorneys of Terry, Terry & Stapleton today by calling 1-800-518-3779. We are located in Morristown, TN and have helped our clients recover some of the largest legal settlements or courtroom verdicts in East Tennessee and the Southeast, including Hamblen, Hawkins, Greene, Sevier, Knox, Washington, Sullivan and Cocke counties.
