Among worst summer scenarios: amusement ride accidents

It seems like every summer there is a story like the one we are about to relate, a tale that serves as a truly chilling reminder that even environments where strict safety precautions are stressed can harbor outsized dangers to the public.

We’re talking amusement parks and, of course, their myriad rides that cater to thrill seekers and more laid-back customers, as well.

Consumers in California and nationally quite naturally — and reasonably — assume that amusement park owners and operators of such attractions have done all that is necessary to render them safe for the public.

And while that is obviously the case as a rule, it is not always the reality.

An incident that occurred just last week at a park in Kentucky underscores the fact that amusement park accidents do happen and that people are hospitalized because of them. Sadly, riders sometimes die from ride snafus caused by negligent design or construction.

Fortunately, the ride in Kentucky — in which a ride reportedly tipped over and injured at least 12 people — did not result in any fatalities.

California is of course not immune from such adverse outcomes, especially given the number of amusement parks in the state and the high number of people who frequent them.

Ride accidents have occurred with some frequency throughout the years, including in 2014, when a tree branch fell onto the tracks of a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. As noted in a CNN article chronicling that incident, the roller coaster derailed as a result, “dangling precariously and [with] its occupants stranded for hours.”

Four people were reported injured in that accident.

Rides should be safe — always. Owner operators have a legal duty to keep them safe and can be sued for damages when they are in fact dangerous and injure riders.

An experienced personal injury law firm can respond to questions and concerns regarding any aspect of premises liability and a business owner’s duty to ensure that company operations are maintained in a reasonably safe manner for public use.