Amusement Park Injury Attorney

Amusement Park Accidents In Colorado

Most amusement park owners and operators go to great lengths to minimize the risks to visitors, but accidents can still happen. In 2021, a six-year-old girl was killed after falling from a ride called the Haunted Mine Drop at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. Investigators later found that park workers failed to ensure her seat belt was properly secured.Even non-fatal accidents can have serious consequences, though. Lakeside Amusement Park’s famous Cyclone roller coaster was shut down by regulators in 2022 after a woman cut her hand while riding.

Common Causes Of Amusement Park Accidents In Colorado

Although amusement park accidents are fortunately rare, they have many potential causes. These are some of the most common:

Failure To Maintain Rides

Amusement park rides are incredibly complex pieces of machinery, and like any other machine, they must be regularly maintained. Poor maintenance may lead to mechanical failure and possible injuries.

Improper Safety Procedures

Amusement parks should have rigorous safety protocols to protect park guests from injuries. Clearly communicating safety rules, enforcing height and weight requirements, and making sure guests properly use safety equipment are all important.

Inadequate Signage

Warning signs are especially crucial when it comes to amusement park safety. If there aren’t enough signs, guests can get hurt. 

For example, many rides include signs warning pregnant women that the ride isn’t safe for the unborn baby. If a pregnant woman misses this sign because it isn’t visible or placed properly, her baby could be harmed.

Failure To Train Staff

Safety protocols are essential, but they don’t do much good if the staff doesn’t know how to enforce them. Poorly trained staff can potentially cause serious accidents or injure visitors.

Amusement Parks In The State Of Colorado

Colorado is known for its many ski destinations, but it’s also home to more amusement parks than you may think. These are some of the most famous:

• Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
• Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
• Water World
• Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
• Elitch Gardens Theme Park
• Lakeside Amusement Park
• Gateway Park Fun Center
• Heritage Square

Additionally, many of the state’s largest ski resorts, like Vail and Breckenridge, have summer attractions with amusement park-style rides.

Types Of Injuries In Amusement Park Accidents In Colorado

Amusement park ride injuries​ run the gamut from mild to catastrophic. Some common examples include:

• Whiplash
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Electrocution
• Crush injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Herniated discs
• Severed limbs/amputation

If you’ve been in an amusement park accident and don’t think you’ve been injured, it’s wise to seek medical care anyway. Some of these injuries may not show symptoms right away.

Colorado Premises Liability And Amusement Park Safety

Owners of businesses and other properties open to the public have an obligation to make sure those properties are safe. If they invite guests to an unsafe property and a guest is injured, the business owner may be held legally liable. This is the legal concept of premises liability.

Cases involving amusement park ride injuries​ generally fall under the umbrella of premises liability law. To win your case, our lawyers must prove that the owner or another party failed to keep the premises safe.

How Amusement Parks Fail To Maintain Safety Standards

Maintaining a safe amusement park is a continuous effort that involves many different facets, and failure in any one area can potentially be catastrophic. Even if an amusement park has clear safety standards, these types of negligence may lead to accidents:

• Not hiring enough employees
• Not training employees properly
• Not regularly inspecting rides
• Failing to repair existing problems on rides
• Failing to perform routine ride maintenance
• Not ensuring that rides have adequate seat belts or other restraints
• Slippery surfaces

Proving that negligence caused your injuries can be challenging. However, our lawyers can thoroughly investigate the park and its policies to look for signs.

Who Can Be Held Liable For Amusement Park Injuries In Colorado?

Even if no one was found criminally liable for your injuries, you may still be able to seek compensation through an amusement park injury lawsuit​. Lawsuits often name at least one of the following parties:

Property Owners

Liability tends to come down to the owners of the amusement park. They are responsible for making sure rides are installed and maintained properly, and they also decide what safety protocols must be put in place.

Ride Operators

In some cases, park employees may be held liable. If an employee disregards their training or acts in a way that puts visitors in danger, such as by drinking on the job, they could be individually named in a lawsuit.

Ride Manufacturers

Less commonly, ride manufacturers may be held liable for injuries. If a manufacturing defect or a defect in the ride’s design directly caused the accident, the manufacturer could be held legally liable.

Seeking Compensation After An Amusement Park Accident In Colorado

Amusement park injuries can disrupt your life tremendously. If you hire us to handle your case, we may be able to help you recover compensation for losses like the following:

• Medical bills
• Cost of physical therapy and other rehabilitation
• Lost income
• Loss of earning capacity in the case of long-term disability
• Pain and suffering
• Mental impact of disfigurement

If you lost a loved one in an amusement park accident, we may be able to recover compensation for burial and funeral expenses for you as well.

Contact a Colorado Amusement Park Injury Lawyer Today

Your choice of a premises liability attorney matters when you’re trying to recover compensation for a serious injury. Our team has recovered more than $1 billion for our clients, and we’ve been recognized by Super Lawyers, Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America, and other respected organizations for our exceptional service.

If your injury was the result of someone else’s negligence, we can help. We offer free consultations, and you only pay us legal fees if we win.

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