Three Suffer Injuries in Knott’s Berry Farm Amusement Ride Accident

Three people were hospitalized with injuries after an amusement ride accident in Knott’s Berry Farm during a busy holiday weekend. According to a KTLA news report, the injury accident occurred the afternoon of December 30, 2012. Officials say a wheel detached from a stagecoach ride. The stagecoach fell to its side and sent 14 passengers tumbling. Three were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to fully recover. Knott’s has closed the stagecoach ride pending an investigation.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this ride accidents. It is indeed fortunate that more people were not injured. I wish the victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Ride Accident Statistics

According to the National Safety Council, there were 1,299 amusement park ride-related injuries in the United States in 2010. The estimated injury total was up 11.2 percent in 2010 compared to 2009. The rate of injuries per million patron rides increased 10.9 percent in 2010 compared to 2009. However, compared to 2003, both the estimated number of injuries and the rate in 2010 were down – by 38.2 percent and 30 percent respectively.

What Caused This Accident?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused this amusement ride accident. There are a number of unanswered questions here. Was the ride inspected recently? Was this accident the result of a defective or malfunctioning part? Did negligence on the part of the ride operator or the park cause or contribute to the incident? I trust investigators are looking into precisely how or why this incident occurred.

Liability Issues

In such cases, depending on who was at fault, injured victims can seek compensation for their injuries and losses. Damages that can be sought include medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, physical therapy, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Injured victims would also be well advised to retain the services of an experienced Orange County personal injury attorney who has handled similar cases and will offer a free and comprehensive consultation and case evaluation.