All across America, carnivals and state fairs are an iconic part of our culture. The smells in the air and the bright lights depict a vision of American life that is treasured and nostalgic. Yet and enjoyable day at the county fair can come crashing down if you get on a carnival ride that is not safe or secure. Many times these fairs include all sorts of wild rides that spin participants upside down or swirl them in rapid circles. If these rides aren’t manufactured and maintained, they can cause the death of an unsuspecting victim.
According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 51 amusement art ride fatalities in the United States within 13 years. On the other hand, data shows that in 2004 about 2,500 people were injured on one of these non-occupational, mobile amusement rides. The rides experienced a surprising spike in injury estimates in 2000, when 4,300 people were sent to the hospital because of a carnival conundrum.
The rates for inflatable attraction injuries were even higher in the U.S. CPS C research. In 2004, about 4,900 people were hurt when participating in an inflatable ride or bounce house. In 2005, a 24-year-old woman died when she fell from a 28-foot inflatable rock climbing wall and hit her head on the pavement. A young man died one year earlier when he fell off the edge of an inflatable side in Minnesota. People have also fallen from inflatable obstacle course and bounced in the inflatable houses in a way that caused them to land on their neck and snap vital vertebrae.
When it comes to rides, maintenance workers are required to make sure that they are safe and secure. Vintage fair attractions like the zipper pose the most significant danger because they are so old. On May 19th, 20112, a young woman was hospitalized when she was hit by a dislodged piece of the Zipper at a fair in Canada. The old ride was getting rusty and deteriorated, which is why it began to fall apart and caused the injury.
Another danger with these fair rides is the lack of attention to safety restraints. If a ride worker fails to make sure that the riders are securely locked into their harnesses, it can be the death of some excited young riders. Normally, these rides will throw their riders upside down and spin them around at a rapid pace. If you don’t have a harness securely buckled and fall out of the ride, you could experience devastating and serious injuries.
If a ride is experiencing complications, the fair workers must close it and wait until they have fixed the ride and it is safe for use. On July 31st, riders on the Yo Yo Amusement ride at the Sonoma County Fair were covered in oil when the ride malfunctioned and spewed hydraulic fluid all over the fair attendees. No one was injured by the substance, but certainly many people were angry to have to throw out their oil stained clothes. The ride remained closed for the rest of the day while maintenance figured out the best way to fix the attraction. After tweaking the ride and performing many tests, they reopened it to the public.
At every county fair inspectors walk around to make sure that the rides are safe for use and won’t harm the men and women that want to ride them. Recently, a local Indianapolis station announced that their fair was being inspected and that every single ride would be scrutinized for safety. In extreme weather conditions, the Indianapolis fair shuts down their rides so that people will not be in danger. If you have been hurt on a carnival or fair ride, then find a local personal injury lawyer and start composing your complaint. You may be able to obtain damages for your injury!