No Accidents at New Jersey Theme Parks This Year
As a New Jersey premises liability lawyer, it was very encouraging for me to read this report about a safe and fun summer season at New Jersey’s theme parks this year. For the first time in more than a decade, there were no injuries at any of the state’s amusement parks.
Last year, there had been 6 amusement park injuries that required hospital care, and more than 150 cases of bumps and bruises. This year, there were no serious injuries at all, and the number of minor injuries like bumps and bruises was lower at 147. According to Cynthia Wick, who is the director of the New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards, this year’s injury free summer at amusement parks was a result of several factors. These include training for employees on specific rides, and better coordination and monitoring of employee training. There have also been more detailed inspections of rides over the last few years.
In 1997, which was one of the worst years for New Jersey theme parks, there were 24 people who suffered serious injuries. The following year, then-Governor Christy Whitman signed a bill calling for annual park inspections, and giving the state authority to close down unsafe rides and set tougher fines for operators.
These measures have helped bring about some control over those runaway injury numbers. In 1998, there were 16 serious injuries, and the following year that number dropped to 12. Not that tragedies have been unheard of since then. In 2005, a 14-year-old girl drowned at a theme park in Ocean City. The same year, a mechanic who was inspecting a ride in Lacey Township, suffered an electric shock, and died. Since then, however there have been no fatalities in our theme parks.
As a consumer, you can do your bit to avoid injuries in a theme park.
- Avoid old and poorly maintained rides.
- Observe the operator to see if he is competent.
- Avoid carnivals and amusement fairs, and other temporary rides that look shabby or old.
- Follow ride operators’ instructions.
