A group of researchers took a careful look at the pattern of roller coaster accident deaths in Americaover the course of a decade to find out what was going wrong and what could be done about it. They found that, on average, four people died each year in the United States from roller coaster accidents.
Just this past summer, our roller coaster accident lawyers sadly note a woman’s tragic death at Six Flags in Arlington, Texas that captured attention for several weeks. The woman, Rosy Esparza, had complained that her safety restraint didn’t latch properly. Shortly afterwards, the safety restraint apparently opened and released her from her seat at the beginning of the first steep incline on the Texas Giant roller coaster. Ms. Esparza, who had been visiting the park with her family, fell about 7 stories to her death.
Falls, in fact, seem to be the leading cause of death among roller coaster accident victims who don’t succumb from internal medical conditions. The researchers found that of the decade’s 40 roller coaster deaths, 9 people fell or were ejected from the roller coaster in motion.
A Closer Look at the Pattern of Fatal Roller Coaster Accidents
The roller coaster accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC mention that 73% (29) of the fatal roller coaster accident victims were patrons of the rides. The other 27% were employees of the amusement parks.
We emphasize that around half of the 40 roller coaster ride deaths were caused by medical conditions: cardiac problems, asthma, and blood thinners for instance. (Source: Roller coaster related fatalities, United States, 1994–2004 – Pelletier and Gilchrist 11 (5): 309 – Injury Prevention.) Intracranial brain hemorrhage (stroke) and cardiac arrest are probably the two most common medical conditions triggered by the powerful forces of a roller coaster ride.
It’s important to understand the pattern of injury and death from roller coasters to understand your risk and know when to take precautions. If you have heart problems, respiratory problems, or a condition that requires treatment with blood thinners, our roller coaster accident lawyers point out that it might be safer for you to forego the thrill of the ride.
Failures of safety restraint systems and falls or ejection from the ride were also a major cause of death in the decade of studied accidents. Safety restraint systems are designed for the so-called average body size. If you are substantially overweight, you might want to avoid the ride, as the safety restraint system might not close properly for you. And never allow children to ride if they don’t meet the ride’s height and size requirements.
Whether you are an employee or a ride patron, you should always stay out of restricted areas, especially while the ride is in motion. Among employees and ride operators, being struck or trapped by the moving ride was the leading cause of death.
Should you or a loved one suffer injury on a roller coaster, knowing the pattern of accident causes could also help you and your roller coaster accident lawyer understand the cause of the injury and what to look for in proving your claim against the roller coaster park and its operators.
Learn more: contact the experienced roller coaster accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC for a free initial legal consultation regarding your serious ride injury.
We’ve helped grieving family members make full financial recoveries following needless, tragic roller coaster accidents, including the family of a man who fell to his death from a roller coaster at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Watch our video to hear their story. Contact our roller coaster accident lawyers anytime through our online contact form or call us at 713-807-9500 to schedule your free initial legal consultation to discuss your serious ride injury.