9 Ways to Keep Your Children Safe at Long Island Amusement Parks

Long Island Amusement Park Injury Lawyer

From Adventureland, Boomers and Splish Splash to the many seasonal carnivals and feasts that populate Long Island, amusement rides are opening for the warm weather season throughout the New York region.

Maybe you remember the defunct Action Park in New Jersey? Well, it reopened in 2014 bringing fear and concern with it. In the past, the park’s popularity went hand-in-hand with a reputation for poorly designed, unsafe rides; underaged, undertrained, and often under-the-influence staff.At least six people are known to have died as a result of mishaps on rides at the park. It was given nicknames such as “Traction Park”,”Accident Park”, and “Class Action Park”by doctors at nearby hospitals due to the number of severely injured people they treated.While rides offer fun and thrills, unsafe rides result in injuries from broken noses, ribs and limbs to spinal injuries and whiplash to brain hemorrhages, paralysis and even death.Injuries can happen on any ride. In 2013, a 35 year old woman was killed when she was cut in half after falling from the new Texas Giant coaster, during the coaster’s first steep descent on July 19, 2013. According to the Tarrant County medical examiner, Rosa Esparza was ejected from her seat and fell about 75 feet to the ground below. The autopsy revealed she died from multiple traumatic injuries from the fall. Several years ago, an employee at Adventureland in Farmingdale was killed after being struck by the Lady Bug Roller Coaster, a kiddie ride. That same summer, a woman died after being tossed from the Top Scan, flying over a 20-foot-high wall before smashing into the windshield of a car.

Here’s What You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe on Amusement Park Rides-

  1. Follow the rules there is often a reason for age and size requirements. Harnesses and safety straps need to fit properly.
  2. Don’t ignore restrictions rides with high speeds and twists might pose a health risk for pregnant women and those with heart conditions or high blood pressure.
  3. Do not enter restricted areas for any reason.
  4. Examine a ride before boarding. Does it appear safe? Is the ride operator attentive?
  5. Stay in your seat for the entire duration of the ride. Do not get off until you have been given the okay by the attendant.
  6. Make sure any lap bars, seat belts or safety harnesses are in place, snug and locked before the ride begins. If they are not, get an attendant’s attention immediately.
  7. Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times. Hold on if there is a grab bar and keep your feet on the floor. If you are riding a “floorless” coaster, relax your legs and let them dangle underneath you. Don’t kick them out to the side or front.
  8. Do not force a scared or crying child on a ride the child may try to get off the ride while it is moving.
  9. Alert staff if you see anything that seems wrong, unsafe, broken, or in any way can jeopardize the safety of a park guest.

Get Sound Legal Advice

If you or a family member has suffered an amusement park injury, there will be important questions you and your attorney must explore in order to determine if you have a case. Factors such as operator error, improper supervision, missing or malfunctioning safety equipment, and poor maintenance all need to be considered. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Goldstein and Bashner will sit down with you for a free consultation to discuss your case. We will let you know what to expect from the legal process, answer all your questions and help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact our lawyers today–we have offices conveniently located on Long Island and in New York City.

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