Water Park Injury Lawyers
Water parks provide unique experiences for the whole family, including water slides, wave pools, bumper boats, and other aquatic activities. The top four water parks in Orlando (Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Volcano Bay, and Aquatica) saw over 7.5 million visitors in 2018. In the United States, there are approximately 1,300 water parks that attract tens of millions of visitors each year.
Unfortunately, because many parks feature out-of-date equipment, inattentive personnel, and/or lax safety procedures, accidents do occur. In 2015, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said that 4,200 people went to the emergency room after injuring themselves on a waterslide at a water park.
If you were hurt in a water park accident, you may be able to get significant financial compensation. Continue reading to learn how Texas Personal Injury Lawyers can assist.
The Top Four Common Causes Of Water Park Injuries
Water parks offer a great deal of entertainment for the whole family; hearing the giggles of young children as they play and splash in the water, having spent a day at the water park with their families. However, since children are frequently unable or still learning to swim, they are at an increased risk of water park injuries and drowning. The following are some of the most prevalent causes of accidents at this type of recreational center:
- Lack Of Supervision
Children should always be watched near and in any body of water. Even when a lifeguard is on duty, parents must constantly monitor their children. When it comes to kids under the age of five or who are weak swimmers, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that parents stay within an arm’s length of their children while they swim. Children who are unattended have a greater risk of injury.
- Ignoring Restrictions
Rides and slides are frequently built with specific weight and height restrictions in mind; individuals may be weighed or measured as a result of these rides. Because employees failed to ensure that riders met the weight and height requirements, they can be injured; this means that tiny youngsters may go flying off a ride intended for adults and suffer injuries as a result. Adults who exceed the restrictions imposed by the water park’s restrictions on age and weight might end up with back problems or lacerations and bruises.
- Lack Of Safety Warnings
Waterparks must adhere to specific safety standards, including the depth of the water, “no diving” zones, and warnings for surfaces that are particularly slick. When people are unaware of the pool’s depth, particularly young kids learning to swim, they may believe that they can contact the bottom and drown in a region that is actually far deeper.
- Overcrowding
On a hot summer day, a water park may be packed to capacity and beyond the capabilities of lifeguards to safely supervise all visitors. A lifeguard may miss an urgent need for assistance if he or she is preoccupied with other activities.
Common Water Park Injuries
Drowning and other water park injuries are common. Collisions can happen when ride operators and others who aren’t paying attention, which raises the risk of harm. While each scenario is unique, some of the most prevalent water park ailments include:
- Slips, Trips, And Falls
There are a lot of slippery surfaces near a pool. Water parks might also have steps or ladders that need to be climbed to access the top of the water slide. In severe fall situations, people may strike their heads against the stairs or concrete and receive a concussion or require stitches.
- Cuts, Scrapes, And Bruises
Although most cuts and scrapes are minor injuries, they should be closely observed for indications of infection. A little hurt might become a more significant issue if a cut becomes infected.
- Drowning
The CDC reports that drowning is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. It takes but a few seconds for a child or an unskilled swimmer to go under the water and lose consciousness. Nonfatal drowning injuries might result in significant brain damage, which can lead to long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning difficulties, and permanent loss of basic functioning.
- Broken Bones
When limbs are caught in a ride, the water’s force may be enough to push arms or legs into an incorrect posture and fracture bones. Falls and slip-ups can also result in fractured bones.
- Back And Neck Injuries
Water park rides that operate at high speeds and have drops from a significant height might result in whiplash or other head or neck problems when riders are improperly positioned on a raft or are thrown off course during the ride. In severe instances, riders may land in an awkward position that severely damages their neck or back.
What To Do If You Get Injured At A Water Park
If you or a loved one has been injured at a water park, you may be uncertain about what to do next. The actions below describe what you should do right away following an accident, as well as in the days and weeks that follow.
- Seek Medical Help
You should get medical care right away if you suffer from a serious accident, especially if there are any indications of head injuries that can be deadly. In moderate situations, you may not feel the need for medical attention. However, you should always visit a doctor to look for any injuries that you may have sustained as a result of a water park accident. You should also keep an eye on any symptoms or indications that appear in the days following the incident, especially if they aren’t immediately obvious.
- Document Your Damage
Take photos of your injuries as soon after the accident as possible. This might include shots of any fractured bones, black eyes, or other problems. Furthermore, if any of the other water park visitors or employees at the venue witnessed your accident, get their contact information.
- Keep Track Of Your Expenses
You will need to keep track of your expenditures in order to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve following an accident. This might include hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, and time off from employment owing to your injuries recorded on a time sheet.
Contact A Waterpark Injury Lawyer
A water park injury lawyer may be able to assist you by ensuring that you receive proper medical care, investigating the accident, interviewing witnesses, filing a lawsuit, negotiating a settlement, and going to trial if required. A legal representative will also assist you in addressing concerns such as hospital bills, how much your case is worth, and what your next steps should be in the event of an accident.
Liability For A Water Park Injury
Accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Because some people accept liability for injuries they sustain when visiting the water park, others may mistakenly assume that since they signed a waiver and release when they first went in, no one else is responsible. While water park accidents and amusement park accidents are very uncommon, in certain circumstances, the facility, workers, or another person or entity may be held responsible for your injuries; the following are some of the most frequent parties that might be involved in a water park accident:
Water Park Facility
Water parks must keep their property safe and warn visitors of any hazardous situations. This may include making sure that broken equipment is fixed or replaced, erecting correct signage regarding the depth of water, and examining drains and other pool components to ensure they are safe and functioning. Depending on state legislation, water park facilities may have additional safety standards.
If a water park discovers anything hazardous, such as a damaged slide, it should immediately shut down the part of the facility until it has been investigated and fixed. A park’s failure to remedy hazardous circumstances on site, and the warning of these hazards to visitors, may result in legal responsibility for injuries caused by those conditions.
Water Park Employees
Employees must follow their job descriptions, which may include lifeguarding, operating rides, and monitoring water park visitors to ensure that everyone is following the safety regulations. In general, if an employee is irresponsible, the water park facility that employed them—regardless of whether they’re at work or not—will be held responsible.
Other Individuals
Depending on the circumstances, other park visitors may be held responsible for your injuries. Horseplay, disregarding established rules, and putting oneself in danger are all examples of irresponsible behavior that can harm others. In these situations, the person who caused your injuries should be held accountable.
What Compensation Can I Expect After A Water Park Accident?
You may be able to recoup hospital bills, medical expenses, missed time at work due to your injuries, rehabilitation costs, and compensation for pain and suffering after an accident. Every circumstance is different, and a competent water park injury lawyer may assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.
How Much Time Do I Have to File A Lawsuit If I Was Injured In A Water Park?
If you were hurt in an accident and want to sue the other party, you must be aware of the time limits, also known as statutes of limitations, that exist. Each state has its own personal injury statute of limitations, which generally range from two to six years. However, it is preferable to contact a water park accident lawyer as soon as possible to assist you with the filing procedure and receive the compensation you are entitled to.
Contact A Water Park Injury Lawyer
Texas Personal Injury Lawyers have assisted numerous victims in receiving the compensation they deserved after sustaining a water park accident. We try to assist our clients in obtaining reimbursement for medical expenses, missed work time, pain and suffering, and other factors.
We think no one should have to worry about being able to pay for legal representation after an accident. That’s why we provide free consultations and only charge you if we win your case.
Call our legal team immediately at (888) 997-2148 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced water park accident lawyers and it will be your initial step toward receiving fair and just compensation. We take cases on a contingency fee basis and there are no costs unless we win, and the consultation is completely free.