Children get injured on rides in a lot of places. Amusement parks and carnivals are certainly hot spots, but a recent study has found that rides in malls, arcades, and restaurants are also dangerous. The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics, examined 93,000 children under 18, who were treated in U.S. emergency rooms from 1990 to 2010, for injuries they sustained on rides. 11,000 of these injuries happened on rides at local malls, restaurants, and arcades.
The study examined a range of amusement rides: merry-go-rounds, bumper cars, roller coasters, coin operated rides, log flumes, and mini-trains. It did not examine inflatable bounce houses (another major source of injuries), go-carts, ball pits, or slides. The data, which was collected from U.S. emergency departments by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), was analyzed by a team at the Center of Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. They found that theme parks and amusement parks with fixed-site rides made up 34% of the injuries; carnival and festival rides accounted for 29%; and 12% happened on rides at smaller venues— malls, restaurants and arcades. Of this last category, 73% of the injuries happened when a child fell off, in, on, or against the ride.
The majority of children hurt on rides in malls were young, and tended to receive head, neck, and facial injuries, concussions, or cuts. Because so many of the injuries occurred when a child fell off or into a ride, the study’s author suggests the rides “may not have had restraints to secure the child and they may have been located over hard, unpadded surfaces.”
There are several things parents can do to keep their children safe on amusement rides. First off, always use safety equipment (seat belts, safety bars); follow all posted height, age, weight and health restrictions; make sure kids’ hands and feet stay inside the ride at all times; obey any seating orders and loading instructions on rides; and trust your instincts—if a ride doesn’t look safe, or the surface underneath is hard (especially a concern in malls), skip it.
If you or someone you care for has suffered an injury as a result of a defective product, you have options. Contact Mike Agruss Law, at 312-224-4695 for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. Mike Agruss Law, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, Mike Agruss Law, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire us–just the opportunity to seek justice.
