Tampa is home to numerous amusement parks, including Busch Gardens and Adventure Island. Tampa is also close to the amusement park capital of America, Orlando, where you will find Disney, SeaWorld, and Universal, among other theme parks.
A visit to these theme parks should be enjoyable for everyone, but unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong. In fact, in recent years, fatal incidents have occurred at local parks, including Universal, Disney, and ICON Park.
When a person is hurt or killed at a theme park, it is important to determine if the park itself played a role in causing the injuries or the death. If so, it may be possible to pursue a claim for damages and to recover compensation for losses.
A Tampa amusement park accident lawyer can provide invaluable help in taking legal action when conditions at a theme park were the direct cause of harm. Diaco Law has represented clients pursuing claims against some of the biggest theme parks in the Florida area, and we can put our knowledge and legal skills to work for you.
To find out more about the services we can offer, give us a call or contact us online today.
Can You Sue an Amusement Park?
It may be possible to sue an amusement park after you get hurt if you can prove that the amusement park breached a legal obligation to keep you safe. Premises liability laws would govern your claim, so you’d need to show what the amusement park’s duty was, how they fell short, and that you were hurt as a direct result of their failure.
There are many different ways that an amusement park could engage in negligent behavior that causes you to suffer harm. Some of the most common examples of issues at theme parks that could make the park operators liable for losses include:
- Failure to properly maintain rides
- Failure to train ride attendants
- Negligent ride attendants who don’t do their job properly
- Mechanical defects with amusement park rides
- Failure to maintain park grounds properly, resulting in issues like slippery surfaces, unlocked gates, broken glass, and other hazards at the facility
- Inadequate security
- Untrained lifeguards at water parks
- Unsafe food products that cause food poisoning
In these and other situations, it will be up to you to show that the park was negligent in its policies or practices, or that park employees were negligent on the job, as vicarious liability laws say that the park is liable for the actions of its staff.
Diaco Law can help you identify situations where a park may be held accountable under premises liability laws so you can determine if you have a case. We’ll also help you to prove how the park fell short.
Injured in an Amusement Park Accident in Tampa?
Call (813) 221-7978 for a free consultation today.
What Should You Do If You Get Hurt at an Amusement Park?
If you get hurt at an amusement park, it’s important that you take the right steps in the aftermath of the incident. This includes getting the right medical help and making smart moves to protect your right to make an injury claim.
Some of the different things that you should do after suffering an injury include:
- Reporting the accident to park officials and requesting that they create an accident report. Amusement parks typically have procedures in place for documenting when an injury happened. You’ll want to make sure everything is documented, but also be cautious about what you say and the potential future impact of your statements on your injury claim.
- Obtaining contact details of witnesses. If there is a dispute about how an accident or injury occurred, it will be very helpful to have witnesses who can testify about what occurred. Third-party accounts of the accident can make your story more credible and help you to build a strong claim.
- Taking pictures of the scene. If you are in a position to, take pictures of the area where the incident occurred, as well as all dangerous conditions that contributed to your accident.
- Requesting surveillance video. Most theme parks have cameras present in multiple locations. Surveillance video can provide clear and compelling evidence as to the cause of the incident.
- Getting prompt medical help. You’ll want to make sure your injuries are documented.
- Contacting an attorney. Your attorney can help with building a case by assisting in gathering evidence and talking with amusement park representatives and their insurers.
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you can start working on making a strong claim. Amusement parks don’t want to pay damages and may do all they can to avoid it, so you need your own advocate to fight for justice.
How Can an Amusement Park Accident Lawyer Help You?
A Tampa amusement park lawyer at Diaco Law can provide invaluable assistance in the aftermath of your theme park accident. Our legal team can:
- Help you gather evidence, such as surveillance videos
- Assist you in interviewing witnesses and finding expert witnesses who can strengthen your case
- Help you identify all potential defendants, such as the amusement park or the manufacturers of defective park equipment
- Assist in proving the extent of your losses by helping you to document your pain, obtain your medical records, and work with experts to determine the long-term impacts of your injuries
- Negotiate an out-of-court settlement. Amusement parks typically have insurance companies that pay out claims. We have experience negotiating with big insurers, sending demand letters, and getting favorable settlement offers for our clients
- Represent you in court. We’ve helped many clients to present compelling evidence in court to get the compensation they deserve.
With our help, the goal is to ensure you get compensated for medical bills, lost wages, lost earnings in the future if you have ongoing impairments, pain and suffering, and emotional distress resulting from the incident at the park.
Contact a Tampa Amusement Park Accident Lawyer Today
Theme park operators have a strong incentive to try to avoid accepting fault and to limit their liability after an accident. You need a tough and knowledgeable advocate who can stand up to these parks and their insurers to help you get the money you deserve.
Diaco Law has successfully represented many clients injured at theme parks in Tampa and surrounding areas and we’ll put our legal knowledge to work for you. Contact us today at (813) 945-61110 to talk with a Tampa amusement park accident lawyer to learn more.