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An amusement park lawyer can smooth your ride

Most people are shocked to find out that in many cases, large theme parks like Disney World are basically unregulated. A law passed in 1981 that lets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulate traveling amusement shows, but not fixed-location parks. That’s why the death of a four-year old boy at Epcot will not be scrutinized by either state or federal investigators. Disney World will be the only entity carrying out the investigation, looking to find what they may have done wrong. The company does not even have a legal obligation to publicly offer an explanation.

Kathy Fackler, founder of the Safer Parks organization, supports federal regulation of theme parks. In one statement, she said that she believed amusement parks have a fairly safe record, however: “So does the airline industry. But if there's a crash, do you want the airline investigating themselves?” She also addressed the Epcot accident, noting that under no circumstances can an outside body (like the federal or state government) investigate the machinery or even the area where a person dies without the permission of the theme park owners. This fact was upheld in a district court when a suit to open the ride to a safety inspection was dismissed.

It seems that the rate and severity of amusement park injuries are steadily increasing. Yet government is powerless – or refuses to take the power – to stop it. Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts introduced a bill that would fix the loophole in the 1981 law, allowing the CPSC to regulate all fixed theme parks as well. That bill died in committee in June, 2005, but the fight did not.

And it’s easy to see why governments are so hesitant to impose their will on the major amusement park players. The industry in California alone is worth $20 billion every year. With that kind of cash comes political clout. Theme parks do not want to be regulated, and governments are inclined not to argue. Twenty-four states either don’t regulate or do not require theme parks to report accidents; Texas does have laws on the books to regulate both the mobile and fixed-park halves of the industry.

According to RideAccidents.com, there were five deaths at amusement parks and about 5,500 injuries that required hospital treatment in both of the last two years. A quick browse of their website illustrates exactly how people are injured or killed every day on amusement rides in the U.S.

If you or a loved one has been injured on an amusement ride or at a park, contact an amusement park lawyer at Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case review. You may be entitled to a compensation package to cover your medical bills and lost time from work, as well as pain and suffering. But don’t try to decide for yourself if your rights have been violated. Contact us right now, and know for sure.

DISCLAIMER: The law firm of Jim S. Adler & Associates, found in principal offices at 3D/International Tower, 1900 West Loop South, 20th Floor, Houston, Texas 77027, is licensed to practice law in Texas. Nonetheless, the firm also works in conjunction with outside counsel and local lawyers to litigate claims in other states as necessary, including the states of:

Jim S. Adler & Associates also has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas); and San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237.

AMUSEMENT PARK ACCIDENT ARTICLES...

Amusement park accidents can be costly

An amusement park accident at Paramount’s Kings Island near Cincinnati, OH has led to modifications to the Son of Beast roller coaster – but it may be little consolation to those already injured on the ride. On July 9, 2005, a “pothole” on the rails gave riders a jolt and sent 27 people to the hospital.

Amusement park deaths can involve speed

Roller coasters are constantly getting higher and faster with tighter turns. And, seemingly, the number of injuries is going up. Is there a connection between higher speeds and higher risks?

One theory is that g-force, the measurement of gravity on the body, may be the cause of some recent deaths. Normal g-force is 1 (the amount of gravity affecting you right now). Astronauts on the Space Shuttle can expect to experience 3 g’s (or three times the force of normal gravity) during launch, while fighter pilots experience up to 8 or 9 g’s and even negative g’s. Racecar drivers who have accidents can experience up to 100 g’s of force on their bodies for a split second.