Florida is home to some of the busiest and most popular amusement parks in the world, with water parks particularly prevalent in South Florida, and major attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens in Central Florida. While a day at the amusement park is supposed to be fun, often enjoyed with friends and loved ones, not all of these trips create good memories. Injuries at amusement parks can be serious and catastrophic, and they occur more frequently than park operators want you to believe.
You might be wondering, “How many people are injured at amusement parks?” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 31,000 people were treated in emergency rooms in 2021 due to amusement park-related injuries, with a significant number of them occurring in Florida. The Commission has been aware of dozens of deaths associated with amusement attractions since 2010.
Amusement Park Safety Regulations
Amusement parks are not as regulated as one would like to believe. In 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was established to regulate certain consumer products that could cause unreasonable risk of injury or harm. Through this Commission, the federal government used to regulate both mobile carnivals and “fixed-site” parks, such as Disney and Universal, where rides are permanently settled in one place. In the 1980s, however, Congress revoked the Commission’s authority to regulate fixed-site parks. As a result, regulation now varies from state to state.
In Florida, the Florida Department of Agriculture regulates fixed-site amusement parks. However, large parks are exempt from submitting accident reports or undergoing accident investigations.
Amusement Park Injuries
Common causes of amusement park injuries often result from:
- Operational error
- Mechanical issues
- Poor ride design
- Structural defects
- Insufficient or non-existent safety protocols
- Inadequate maintenance
- Lax supervision
Common amusement park injuries include:
- Broken bones and torn ligaments
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Drowning or near-drowning
- Death
If you have been injured in an amusement park accident, you have legal rights and may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. To ensure you receive the full amount of compensation you deserve, it is crucial to have an experienced amusement park accident attorney represent you. If you’ve been injured at an amusement park, contact our experienced attorneys today to help you understand your options and determine if you can file an amusement park accident lawsuit.
Water Park Dangers
Water parks, like amusement parks, pose their own set of dangers: Slippery surfaces can result in falls with broken bones or sprains. Water slides and pools—growing in complexity because of the competition across Florida to attract thrill seekers—can lead to disastrous accidents. Warning signs are often lacking, and poor supervision produces injuries and drowning. Misuse of chemicals can cause skin reactions, and contaminated water can lead to illness. Electrocution may be the most treacherous hazard at water parks.
In 2019, guests and lifeguards at Universal’s Volcano Bay reported feeling “zaps” and “shocks” as they walked on the pavement, according to the Orlando Sentinel. At least one person complained of a metallic shock in their mouth while in a lazy river. Several hours after that complaint, four employees went to the hospital.
Although Florida amusement park attractions are supposed to be fun and safe, they are far more dangerous than the park operators let on, with severe injuries occurring more often than they admit.
If you or a loved one was seriously injured by an amusement park attraction in Miami, South Florida, or elsewhere in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation. Mase Seitz Briggs has successfully represented many clients in similar cases, helping them recover what they deserved. Let us help you, too.
