Amusement parks can be a fun summertime activity for adults and children alike. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), more than 385 million people enjoy over 1.7 billion rides at approximately 400 North American amusement parks in a typical year. Though generally safe, injuries can happen at amusement parks if proper safety precautions are ignored.

How Frequent are Amusement Park Injuries?

According to the IAAPA, the probability of getting seriously injured on a ride at a fixed site amusement park (as opposed to a mobile park like a carnival or town fair), only happens about once in every 15.5 million rides taken. Research from the IAAPA estimated that, in 2022, there were approximately 1,390 injuries at amusement parks, 19% of which were considered serious. Children’s rides caused 11% (148) of injuries, family/adult rides caused 53% (739), and roller coasters caused 36% (503). Getting in/out of rides caused 33% (457) of injuries while ride motion caused 67% (933) of the injuries.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2022 alone, it was estimated that 24,013 injuries which happened at mobile amusement parks were serious enough to be treated in hospital emergency departments. Beyond numbers and statistics, it’s also easy to find amusement park incidents in the news. Just last month, 28 people had to be rescued from a ride in an amusement park in Oregon and a man died after he entered a restricted area and was hit by a roller coaster in Ohio.

Rollercoaster

How to Prevent Injuries at an Amusement Park

Thankfully, accidents and injuries can usually be avoided by following safety rules and regulations. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind next time you and/or your family visit an amusement park.

  1. Obey the age, weight, height, and health restrictions listed at each ride;
  2. Follow all posted ride safety rules and verbal instructions given by the operators or recorded announcements;
  3. Keep your hands, arms, legs, and feet inside the ride at all times;
  4. Secure all loose articles, including but not limited to wallets, loose change, sunglasses, jewelry, cell phones, and hats;
  5. Do not board a ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
  6. Remain seated in the ride until it comes to a complete stop, and you are told to get off;
  7. Always use the safety equipment – i.e., seatbelts – provided and do not attempt to wriggle free of or loosen the safety equipment;
  8. If you are taking a child onto a ride, make sure that the child understands and can follow safe and appropriate ride behavior;
  9. Do not force anyone, especially children, onto a ride that they do not want to get on;
  10. If you see any unsafe behavior or unsafe conditions on a ride, report it to a supervisor or manager immediately; and
  11. Avoid horseplay while on a ride.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen and exercising your legal rights might feel complicated and difficult.

SUGARMAN can help. For decades, the personal injury attorneys at SUGARMAN have helped people who have been injured in a wide variety of circumstances. If you or a loved one has been injured and need the guidance of an attorney, contact us by calling (617) 542-100, email us at , or fill out our Contact Form.