Whether you are a thrill-seeker who plans your vacations around the next gravity-defying rollercoaster on your list, or you are a little more cautious and just chaperone your children on their outings, amusement parks can be fantastic fun – until they are not. Hundreds of millions of people from around the United States, and from countries thousands of miles away, flock to California each year to visit amusement parks, but one question nobody tends to ask until an accident happens is who is liable when a guest gets hurt?
Amusement Park Premises Liability Explained by a Riverside Attorney
No matter how well-known a theme park is, or how careful you are, numerous people are seriously injured at amusement parks each year, for a variety of reasons. Mostly, these accidents involve guests visiting the park and making use of the various attractions, but it is not unheard of for the amusement park’s own employees to be seriously injured while on the premises.
Accidents at theme parks tend to fall into one of the following four categories:
- Failure to follow safety instructions or other rules of the park. Deliberate actions such as these are considered to be negligence on the part of the person involved
- Injuries resulting from health conditions, whether the guest or employee was aware of them beforehand or not
- Negligence on the part of the amusement park, either in terms of ride operators failing to comply with regulations or in terms of poor maintenance
- Slip and fall, and similar accidents
If you, or a loved one, have been injured while at an amusement park, an experienced premises liability lawyer could be able to help you secure compensation.
Common Causes of Amusement Park Injuries
Just like any other venue, accidents at amusement parks can happen for all manner of reasons, including:
- Operating error
- Failure to adequately maintain machinery
- Failure to maintain the premises to a safe standard
- Inappropriate supervision
- Mechanical failure
- Missing or inadequate safety equipment
- Malfunctioning lap bars, safety belts, and other restraints
- Negligent behavior on the part of a guest
Under California law, a premises liability claim may be possible where an accident occurs in an amusement park, concert hall, shopping mall, or other venues. To qualify, your Riverside attorney must prove that:
- The defendant owns the land or possesses the property on which the accident occurred
- The accident occurred due to negligence or another example of wrongful behavior
- The plaintiff must have been permitted to enter the premises, although California law states that the safety of children must be protected, even when they should not have been on the premises in question
Working with a Riverside Premises Liability Attorney after an Amusement Park Accident
If you have sustained injuries in an accident that you feel may be eligible for a premises liability suit, you should seek legal guidance from a Riverside premises liability attorney immediately. Once we have discussed the circumstances of your accident, your attorney can advise on the best course of action for pursuing your claim.
To schedule a free initial consultation with a Riverside premises liability attorney, call us today at 310-997-0904.