Summer family vacations often mean trips to amusement parks. Nationwide, upwards of 297 million guests visit the 400 U.S. amusement parks annually and take 1.7 billion safe rides, according to the Virginia-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). And Florida alone offers multiple park choices. Unfortunately, those fun-filled days seeing shows and riding rides come with safety risks, say amusement park injury attorneys with Orlando’s Todd Copeland & Associates.
Granted, amusement park designers and officials have made strides when in safety over the past decade. In fact, the number of ride related injuries fell steadily each year from 2,044 in 2003 to 1,204 in 2011. Still, we believe that those 1,204 injuries suffered while simply trying to enjoy time with family and friends are far too many.
To protect yourself and your children from harm during your family’s visit to one of Florida’s amusement parks, personal injury attorneys and the IAAPA offer these tips:
- Obey all posted height, weight, age and health restrictions and all ride safety rules. Amusement parks offer plenty of options for all ages and sizes;
- Keep your arms, legs and feet inside the ride at all times, even as the ride is slowing down and entering the exit platform;
- Remain seated in the ride until it comes to a complete stop and wait for the okay from ride operators to exit;
- Follow all verbal instructions given by ride operators or via recorded or live announcements. Often these announcements have to do with weather conditions that make rides potentially unsafe;
- Always correctly use safety equipment provided including bars and seatbelts. They typically can be adjusted for your individual weight and size;
- Never coerce anyone, particularly children or those expressing fear or nervousness, to ride if they don’t want to;
- If you spot any potentially unsafe condition or behavior, report it to a ride operator or other park representative immediately;
- Always keep a close eye on young children. Chances are they’re on sensory overload and may not understand or pay attention to safety rules.
If you or your dependents are injured while visiting an amusement park, get medical treatment immediately. Then, contact an experienced amusement park injury attorney before you talk to any representative of the park. Large corporate-owned parks most definitely have attorneys at the park ready to offer you a deal that likely is far below what you’ll need or deserve. Todd E. Copeland & Associates specialize in helping you to secure fair and just compensation for your injuries. Call 888-999-9149 for a free consultation anywhere in the state of Florida.
