San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Alicia Slaughter » Amusement Park Injuries

Knott’s Berry Farm Sheds New Light on Amusement Park Accidents

ANorman — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:56:09 +0000

A recent roller coaster accident involving the popular Xcelerator ride at the Knott’s Berry farm amusement park has raised a bit of awareness in regards to recreational park injuries.

In 2007, some 1,309 ride related injuries occurred at fixed ride parks like Knott’s Berry Farm. While a fraction of those required serious hospitalization ( roughly 3%) , enough of these mishaps leave deep scars, both physical and mental, that last a life time fro their victims. Also, there are approximately 5 amusement-ride deaths annually.

Indeed, numbers don’t matter when one loses a treasured family member.

This means that while it is important to relax and have fun while visiting parks, it is also advisable to keep the safety of loved ones in mind during your stay.

The Knott’s Berry Farm Accident

At the well known Knott’s Berry Farm, the fun and wildly popular Xcelerator roller coaster was shut down and currently remains closed after two people were injured. The cause of the accident was a broken cable which snapped shortly after the coaster launched ay 4 p.m. Wednesday.

After the cable snapped loose, it snagged and cut the leg of a 12-year-old boy while a man had to be treated for back injuries due to the terrific jarring motions caused by malfunction. Paramedics pulled the man and boy from the ride and both were taken to area hospitals with mild to moderate injuries.

The state division of Occupational Safety Health and Buena Vista Park Amusement park will investigate the unfortunate incident and until such time the ride will be closed.

The Xcelerator was not full during the amusement park ride accident and usually seats about 20. It also boasts speeds of 80 mph which it reaches in about 2.3 seconds.

Amusement Park Liability

Usually, such an error can be linked to improper maintenance and care of the machines. Coasters and other park rides are supposed to be routinely checked and maintained for suitability. When they malfunction, it could be a clear indication that someone was not doing their jobs.

When this is shown to be the case, injured park participants can pursue financial compensation via a personal injury lawsuit.

What to Do After an Amusement Park Injury

Whenever an accident occurs at a place like Knott’s Beery Farms, it brings home that fact that calamity can strike anywhere at any time. No place is exempt when it comes to serious personal injury.

If you or a loved one has sustained an injury due to an amusement park ride or facility, contact the law offices of Slaughter and Slaughter to set up an appointment with a personal injury attorney.

The initial case evaluation is free and you may just be able to obtain financial compensation for you or your loved ones injuries.

Contact us today toll free 888.207.5321 or call 858.909.9090 at and see what we can do to help you after a day of fun in the sun turns into a horrific and tragic nightmare.

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Amusement Park Injuries — No Laughing Matter

ANorman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:58:25 +0000

No one is thinking about safety when they decide to jaunt off for a day of fun in the sun at an amusement park—far from it! Plans are often filled with joyous excitement as involved parties try deciding who is paying for what and who gets to ride shot gun. This could be the main reason why an amusement park accident can be particularly jarring. The incident is often unexpected, coming out of no where. In a mere few seconds a day of gaiety could turn into one filled with sorrow and pain.

Although we would like to think that amusement park injuries are few and far between, the reality is they happen with a lot more frequency than one would have originally thought.

Amusement park accident statistics

Annually there are thousands of amusement park related injuries that have to be treated in the Emergency Room. The incidents are placed into categories that give one an insight as to just how often such mishaps occur.

The latest statistics are broken down like so:

Fixed Site Rides – 3,700
Mobile Ride (fairs/carnivals) 2,800
Inflatable Amusement devices – 3,600
Public water slides – 3, 100

Combined, this makes for a total of 13, 200 amusement park and recreational accidents that resulted in injuries serious enough to receive emergency medical attention.

Causes for amusement park injury

There are numerous reasons for injuries that are sustained at parks as well, with many of them having little or nothing to do with behavior on the victim’s part. Common causes include:

Mechanical failure – this could be due to improper maintenance or missing structural components, but this particular type of malfunction can result in serious injury, even death.
Operator negligence – the individual who starts and/or maintains the ride could behave in a negligent manner and create injuries. This would include failing to stop or start the ride properly or to upkeep essential ride components so they function as they are supposed to.
Combination – sometime a combination of factors can contribute to an amusement park accident and subsequent injury. For instance, faulty maintenance combined with operator ineptitude could lead to a tremendous calamity where people get hurt.

What to do after an amusement park accident

The injuries sustained while trying to have a good time could end up being no laughing matter, especially if brain or spinal injury results. The medical costs associated with rehabilitation and treatment can be astronomical in such cases and poise a family at the brink of financial devastation.

When a personal injury strikes after a visit to an amusement park, victims should seriously consider personal injury litigation against the park. The financial compensation one can obtain via such a lawsuit could help an accident victim pay related medical cost. They can also receive punitive damages as well as restitution for lost wages.

Has a park accident left you injured and financially strapped? Then call the expert San Diego personal injury lawyers at Slaughter and Slaughter today. Our expert legal team understands the unique parameters of an amusement park injury case and will bring combined years of legal experience to the table to get you the compensation you need.

Call us right away at 858.909.9090 to set up a free consultation with our San Diego Lawyer and obtain the financial assistance you require after an unexpected injury changes your life.

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Fall at San Diego Wild Animal Park Kills 89-Year-Old

ANorman — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:56:32 +0000

89-year old Vista resident Maximino Carapia died shortly after a recent accident at The San Diego Wild Animal Park. The widower, who lived alone with his son, had jaunted off through the back country area of the park on a mule when he fell off the animal. He was taken to the Palomar Medical Center after complaining of pain where he was diagnosed with blunt force trauma to the chest. Authorities believe other health problems contributed to the man’s death as well.

Survived by his son, the Carapia case could be far from over. There are many questions that remain after a tragedy like this. One of them is whether or not Wild Animal Park employees had taken due cares to ensure the man was placed properly on the mule to avoid the accident. Another could be how long they responded to the accident and how soon after the fall did Carapia receive medical treatment. If any negligence is found in this case, Carapia’s son could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the animal park.

It is important to get all the facts after a loved one dies to ensure that justice is served. When someone you care about is killed in an accident, look into the matter. If careless actions contributed to their demise, you can take the responsible party to court and receive financial reparation for your loss. When in doubt, contact the highly qualified wrongful death attorneys at Slaughter and Slaughter for a free consultation right away. Make sure the negligent party is held accountable for your tremendous, irreplaceable loss, call now.

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Wild Animal Park Worker Injured In San Diego Accident

RichmondJ — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:54:15 +0000

An employee of Wild Animal Park in San Diego, 40, was injured on Tuesday after being struck and pinned under a truck. According to a San Diego Fire spokesman, the man was in the process of unloading the truck when the truck rolled back into him, as it wasn’t taken out of gear. The truck began to roll back into the man when he put the tailgate down, said San Diego spokesman. The man attempted to enter the rear of the truck, but was unable after the truck hit an adjacent curb. The Wild Animal Park worker was pinned underneath the truck for up to 30 minutes before being removed by rescue crews, after which he was flown to a nearby hospital. The incident remains under investigation, said Wild Animal Park spokesman Christina Simmons.

As a worker, you have very specific rights regarding injuries that are received a s a result of your employment. If you have been injured during an accident that occurred during work, it is important that you consider worker’s compensation and other rights that are associated with your employment. To receive recuperation for injuries and other losses, you should be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer – Get the Help You Need by calling 858.909.9090.

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Seaworld Trainer Recieves Animal Bite

RichmondJ — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:46:47 +0000

An animal bite at a local amusement part brought injuries to a trainer, who was bitten by a sea lion during a performance at SeaWorld. The trainer received injuries after being bitten on the leg by the sea lion during a SeaWorld amusement park performance. Initially, medical examiners believed the animal bite to be severe, but it has now been described as a “nip” rather than a full-fledged bite. However, according to a spokesman from the SeaWorld amusement park, the incident is still serious and caused minor injuries for the trainer. The trainer was hospitalized, where he received treatment for his injuries, but is expected to return promptly for work on Monday.

An animal bite, even if deemed a nip as was true in this amusement park animal bite case, can result in injuries beyond the surface scar or bite mark left by the animal. Generally speaking, animal bites have the potential to spread illness and disease as well as cause other injuries. If you have suffered injuries as the result of an animal bite, it is wise to receive legal help concerning your particular case. Our San Diego personal injury lawyers can provide you with exactly what you need – personal attention, fast action, and effective representation. Call our offices for a free consultation.

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Amusement Park Accidents and Injuries in San Diego

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:31:13 +0000

Millions of Americans and foreign travelers annually spend a day or two at amusement parks, such as Sea World, LegoLand, Disneyland, Six Flags, and Knott’s Berry Farm riding the numerous rides. Some people even buy year-long passes and it doesn’t seem like they can get enough of an adrenaline rush on the rides. Unfortunately, a thrill ride can turn into a kill ride if it malfunctions. And even if the thrill ride is operating properly, passengers can suffer a severe closed head injury and brain damage by the violent shaking of their heads as the ride makes high-speed twists, turns, drops, and other sudden movements. The brain bounces around in the head, hitting the skull numerous times.

When this happens, you may feel woozy and disoriented and find it difficult to walk and move your arms. You may not be able to think clearly and rationally. In such event, you should seek first-aid treatment immediately and consult a neurologist if the symptoms persist. Sometimes the brakes fail on the car that is finishing its round, causing it to rear-end at high speed the cars in front of it that are stopped to let passengers on and off, causing severe injuries, even death. A day of fun and excitement can quickly turn into a day of tragedy when an amusement park ride fails and in some cases, even when the ride is operating as designed.

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