When the weather is hot in Texas, many residents seek relief from the heat with a fun trip to a water park. Water-themed amusement parks cool off their guests while offering them thrilling rides and refreshing fun – and in recent years, their waterslide offerings have become steeper, faster, longer, and arguably more dangerous. In fact, according to the non-profit group Safer Parks, 86 percent of water park accidents take place on and around waterslides.
How do Texas waterslide injuries most commonly happen?
• Riders collide with one another on the slide or in the pool.
• Riders impact the side of the slide or the bottom of the pool at high speeds.
• Riders slip and fall from high slides or platforms.
• Riders flip or fall off of their inner tube.
• Riders become trapped on part of the slide, sometimes under water.
• Riders are struck by a foreign object on the slide or in the pool.
• Riders drown in or around the waterslide pool.
Injuries include lacerations, head injuries, spine injuries, broken bones, dislocated joints, and even death.
Why do waterslide injuries take place?
Water slides and water parks are still fairly new amusements, and much of the slides’ design and engineering is either theoretical or based on other types of rides. Unfortunately, water slides are dangerous for the same reasons that they are thrilling: their high-speed, slip-and-slide nature can be fun, but also hazardous. Some accidents take place because of the design of the slide, while others take place because of the negligence of the water park. Still other waterslide accidents occur because of rider behavior or carelessness.
What are the world’s most thrilling & most frightening waterslides?
Our Houston water slide injury lawyers just came across a list of the world’s most frightening, or perhaps thrilling, water slides. A Brazilian slide called Insano takes top honors. It is insane for a reason: riders begin by essentially dropping off a 14-story near-vertical drop at a speed of roughly 65 mph. Then thrill-seekers end with a dive into the swimming pool. Look out below, those already in the pool!
It is easy to imagine some of the other dangers of this terrifying and Insano drop: falling off of the slide, getting caught on the slide on the way down, a bad impact with the surface of the slide, hitting the bottom or side the swimming pool, or colliding with another rider. The safety precautions the slide operators must take to ensure rider safety undoubtedly require careful attention to detail and constant vigilance.
Another dangerous waterslide on the list is The Mammoth in Indiana. This water ride is about one-third of a mile long and takes riders through seven different drops. The slide is seven stories high and riders traverse the length of the ride in a spinning, multi-passenger raft. Other waterslides that topped the most thrilling list include the Leap of Faith, Summit Plummet, and Scorpion’s Tail.
Texas water slide accident attorneys
We want you to enjoy your summer. Beat the heat in water parks if that’s your inclination, but be sure to approach amusement ride thrills with proper safety precautions in mind. If you or one of your children has suffered a serious injury on a water slide or amusement park ride, call one of our experienced, knowledgeable personal injury attorneys for assistance. We offer free, private legal consultations to injury victims that can help you understand whether you should take action against park owners and operators to get the financial compensation you deserve.
Call us today at 713-807-9500 and be sure to read our free report about Amusement park dangers.