Common Roller Coaster Ride Injuries
While catastrophic and fatal amusement park accidents are those which are usually reported on the news, these types of amusement park injuries are, luckily, very rare. Most roller coaster accident injuries are non-fatal, and range from the most minor ones to serious and permanently disabling injuries.
A 2014 study by the Los Angeles Times found that dizziness, nausea, and fainting were the most commonly reported ride injuries. These types of injuries accounted for nearly 1 out of 5 reported injuries.
The amusement park ride injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC note that California and Florida have the nation’s highest concentrations of theme parks and amusement rides. We would also like to point out that the dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fainting might be signs of underlying problems like heart conditions, hypertension, diabetes, vascular weakness, and other medical conditions that could cause serious injury or death if left untreated.
The analysis also revealed that older amusement park rides were responsible for a greater proportion of accident reports and injuries than newer rides. Our theme park ride injury lawyers suspect that this variance may have little to do with ride wear or maintenance. The newer rides have the benefit of modern computer modeling. Newer amusement park rides are usually equipped with modern computer controls that can provide more extreme forces, for a smaller interval of time, designed to work within the human body’s average stress limits.
Other types of roller coaster and amusement park injuries include:
- Falls from the roller coaster that break bones, cause head traumas, or result in paralysis
- Skull fractures, head traumas, and brain injuries
- Back and cervical spine injuries from a roller coaster car impact
- Injuries received because of unsafe ride entries and exits
- Cardiac arrest from the thrill of the ride and its strong g-forces
- Disfigurement
- Tearing or crushing injuries from being trapped or caught by ride equipment
- Paraplegia and quadriplegia.
The highest number of injuries result from the impacts and bodily strains suffered because of the ride’s normal motion, such as when a roller coaster suddenly whips around a turn or drops over an incline. The head, neck, and back suffer the most reported injuries.
Falls from rides and ejections from the ride are the next most common source of injury, especially in young children.
Common amusement park ride injuries involving children and elderly
Roller coaster safety restraints, designed for larger people like adults and teens, often don’t adequately restrain younger children in their seats. If children try to leave a ride because it frightens them, or if they move around too much in their seats, they might get ejected or fall from the ride. Children also suffer injuries from being pinched by or bumping their heads on ride safety restraints.
Elderly people and children aged 6 and under also experience high rates of injury from exiting and entering onto rides. Older adults show a higher incidence of other ailments (such as asthma attacks, seizures, or cardiovascular problems) triggered by exciting or fast-moving rides.
For information on how roller coasters are inspected for safety, click here.
What should I do if I’ve been injured on a roller coaster?
After a serious ride injury, it’s important to consult with an experienced roller coaster accident attorney to determine the extent of your injuries. Your attorney will also work to identify all of the parties at fault for causing your roller coaster accident injuries. You must identify all of the liable parties such as ride owners and operators and venue property owners so that you have the opportunity to obtain a just financial recovery in compensation for your costly roller coaster accident injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a roller coaster, contact the experienced roller coaster accident attorneys at Denena & Points for a free initial legal consultation when you’ve been harmed in a ride accident. We’re among the nation’s small percentage of attorneys to have hands-on, practical experience handling high profile ride accident cases. Our experience gives us the edge you need. Contact us today at (713) 807-9500 or on our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.