What Are the Most Common Types of Water Park Accidents?
Every year, millions of people visit water parks in Alabama and throughout the United States. When the summertime rolls around, families want to get outside and cool down on the slides and in the pools while spending some quality time together.
While water parks can be very fun and enjoyable, but on the flipside, visitors can also incur injuries. In 2015, for instance, 4,200 people went to the hospital for water park-related injuries. Unfortunately, people have even died in water parks, like at the now-infamous Action Park in New Jersey.
By learning about possible hazards that you may encounter and injuries you could experience at water parks, you will be able to better able to keep yourself and your family protected when you visit one in the future.
Common Accidents at Water Parks
Common water park injuries include:
- Head, back, and neck injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Drowning
- Motion sickness
- Torn ligaments
Injuries can range from minor ones, like whiplash and motion sickness, which require little treatment, to serious ones like spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, which could require surgeries and lifelong treatment.
These accidents can occur for a number of reasons. Perhaps someone was running on the wet ground when they slipped and fell. Maybe a ride operator was not properly trained, and the ride malfunctioned.
The ride may have needed maintenance, but it was neglected and broke down. The ride operator could have let a person go on the ride even though that person was too young or not tall enough. A restraint could have broken or a water slide may have been poorly designed. Additionally, a visitor might not have following the right safety protocols.
How to Avoid Accidents at Water Parks
When you’re at a water park, you should always pay attention to where you’re going. Don’t walk too fast or run to your destination, or drink heavily and then go on rides. You should also avoid wearing loose-fitting clothes such as hats and sunglasses, which can fall off on a ride and injure you or others.
Always obey the posted rules and make sure you keep your children at your side at all times. When they are on rides, wait for them at the end of the ride to ensure that they disembark safely. It’s also a good idea to find out where the first-aid kit is located or where to go if you have an emergency at the park and need immediate assistance.
What to Do After You Get Injured
If you get injured at a water park, it’s important to collect evidence to show what happened. This gathering witness statements (if there are any witnesses), taking photographs of your injuries and the scene/ride where they occurred, and getting video footage if possible. For example, if you got injured on a ride, you could take a video showing where your injury occurred.
You should inform the water park personnel about the incident and then get medical attention as soon as possible. When you visit a medical professional, you should undergo a full evaluation including X-rays, just to ensure that there aren’t any undetected injuries. Whatever treatment plan your doctor recommends, follow it to the best of your ability. This includes going to follow-up appointments with specialists and taking medication.
If the water park calls you to offer a settlement or their insurance company reaches out to offer compensation, do not accept it without first speaking with an attorney. It will probably be too low, and it will not sufficiently cover your medical bills, loss of wages, and other damages. Though it may be tempting to take the quick money, you never know how high your expenses are going to be in the end. You need to make sure you’ll have enough money to cover them.
Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer
Instead of taking a settlement directly from insurance, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer. An experienced lawyer can thoroughly assess your case and advise you of your legal rights and options. Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, meaning they won’t charge you anything unless they can get you a settlement.
To figure out how much of a settlement you should receive, your lawyer will calculate your economic and non-economic damages. You may need money for your medical bills, loss of wages if you had to take time off work to receive treatment, future wages if you have an ongoing injury, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment in life.
Injured at a Water Park in Alabama? Contact Hedge Copeland for Assistance
If you or a loved one got hurt had a water park in Alabama, Hedge Copeland is ready to go to work for you. For a free consultation with a member of our legal team, message us online or call our office today at (251) 432-8844.
