With summertime just around the corner, many families are in the middle of planning a vacation.  Often, families choose to go to carnivals or amusement parks for the fun and adventure of going on dare-devil rides like rollercoasters, upside down swings, and other gravity defying rides.  However, even though many adventure seekers enjoy the thrill of having a faux brush with death, in some scary scenarios, serious injury or death actually occurs as a result of these rides.

Sometimes the bars or seat belts on rides may not lock, leaving the rider exposed to the possibility of falling out of the ride.  In other cases, the employee operating the ride may not have warned riders to fasten their seat belts before the ride began, or allowed a young child on the ride even if they did not fit in the seat properly.  Injuries such as slip and falls are common on or near water rides.  Animal bites may occur if the theme park has a petting zoo.  An amusement park may be responsible for your injury if it arose as a result of faulty equipment, failure to warn, or employee negligence.

Recent injuries at theme parks reported in the news have ranged from nausea to heart attacks; seizures; broken bones; brain injuries; loss of consciousness; concussions; collapsed lungs; and spinal damage.

It is important to take safety precautions before enjoying a theme park ride.

• Do not ride if you are aware that you have a pre-existing medical condition that will be affected.
• Make sure your seat belt fits properly and any bars are secure before the ride takes off.
• If you are at a water park, follow the life guard’s instructions.
• Comply with the age and height requirements of each ride.
• If you are going to be in the sun for a long time, make sure to wear sun block and drink plenty of fluids.
• Keep your limbs inside the ride and do not attempt to exit until the ride comes to a full stop.

If you or your loved one has suffered from an injury or death as a result of an amusement park ride, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who will get you the compensation you deserve.  Call the Law Office of Ernest Holzberg and Associates at (212)391-1139.