Austin Amusement Park Injury Lawyer

100 Congress Avenue, Suite 2000

Austin, Texas 78701

(512) 806-0000

Amusement venues can be loads of fun, but they can also be dangerous. In 2011, more than 1,200 Americans were injured on roller coasters, Tilt-a-Whirls and other rides, according to figures released by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which is the trade association that serves location-based entertainment facilities. More recent statistics aren’t available because no single regulatory body is required to collect this information. The lack of accident statistics does its part to contribute to a false sense of security among Americans who patronize these rides.

Who Regulates Rides?

While the federal government gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulatory oversight when it comes to temporary rides at county fairs and similar events, there is no single federal agency that maintains safety standards for fixed-site rides. In the State of Texas, the Department of Insurance Loss Control Regulation is charged with ensuring a ride is not mechanically defective and that its operator is controlling it in a safe manner.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury at an Austin family entertainment venue through the negligence or careless behavior of venue management, a ride operator or a ride designer, you have certain legal rights. The personal injury attorneys at The Doan Law Firm have experience working with individuals who’ve been injured on these types of rides. We offer all prospective clients a no cost case evaluation during which we’ll listen to the facts of your case and offer you our expert opinion about the best way to proceed.

In Texas, participation in certain types of activities carry an assumption of risk so long as you clearly understand the inherent dangers of participating in that activity. To some degree, going on a ride in an amusement venue counts as one of those activities.

However, venue management must present these risks clearly in a manner that you can understand. Furthermore, your assumption of risk does not exempt the venue’s obligation to act with reasonable care. If the venue is not doing regular inspections to make sure the ride you’re going on is in good mechanical shape or if the operator did not provide proper safety instructions to you before you entered the ride, then the park may be acting in a negligent manner.

Other factors associated with negligence on the venue’s part might include:

• Poorly trained ride operators
• A ride operator who is distracted or otherwise behaving inappropriately while the ride is in operation
• Abrupt starts and stops
• Improper operation of locks, safety bars or other safety equipment
• Insufficient monitoring of height and weight restrictions

Product Defects

If the design or manufacture of the ride you were on, or the design and manufacture of some component of that ride injured you or contributed in some way to injuring you, you may have grounds to file a product liability claim against the ride manufacturer. This may be more commonplace among rides that are relatively new to the marketplace.

Many large fixed-ride venues design and manufacture their own rides. In some instances, though, venues outsource design and manufacture to outside companies.

Premise Liability

The owners and managers of a venue are charged with maintaining a safe environment for you and your family. If you slip and fall because of a large crack in the pavement that the managers knew about but failed to fix, the owners and managers could be held liable for your injuries under a legal doctrine known as premise liability.

Protecting Your Rights

If you’ve been injured at a fixed-ride venue, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. If you do decide to proceed with a claim, the validity of your claim with be adjudicated as much on the severity of your injuries as it will be on any case that can be made for negligence on the part of owners, managers or ride operators. Your medical reports are part of the documentation you’ll need to present.

Other necessary documentation may include:

• Ride instructions
• Maintenance and operations records
• Reports of injuries or other complaints

Why you need an Amusement Park Injury Lawyer

When you discuss the events leading up to your injury with an Austin personal injury lawyer at The Doan Law Firm, you’ll be consulting with a leading law firm that’s prepared to give you an insightful analysis of your options.

Depending upon the specific circumstances of your case and the extent of any physical, financial or psychological harm you may have suffered, we may be able to help you obtain damages that will compensate you for:

• Medical bills and rehabilitative services
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Our firm responds to calls, texts and emails seven days a week at any hour of the night or day because our clients are important to us. Your initial consultation is free, and we’ll never charge you a fee unless we win your case. If you’ve been injured at an outdoor family entertainment park due to the negligence of a third party, call The Doan Law Firm in Austin today to speak with a lawyer.