Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

According to newspaper reports, a Philadelphia resident, Joseph Job (Sajan), died in Mexico while paragliding in the ocean along with his friends. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Job and his wife Sajina and three children Tanisha, Natasha, and Trishelle.

Reports indicated that Mr. Job and his family were on a Carnival Cruise vacation in Cozumel, Mexico when the accident happened. On September 14, 2009 I wrote an article entitled ”Is Parasailing Safe” as I witnessed a catastrophic parasailing accident with the same consequences over 30 years ago when I was on vacation with my family in Jamaica. Since that time, I have been contacted by families of others who have suffered catastrophic consequences as a result of parasailing or amusement accidents. This summer there were a number of parasailing accidents resulting in fatalities and catastrophic accidents. Although parasailing is an extraordinarily popular vacation adventure, they often operate in an unregulated environment and many times people with limited knowledge but for how to make a buck are the operators.

As an avid traveler, I have been to Mexico many times and have seen parasailing operations operated by children who appear to be no older than 12 years old and I have seen people that are parasailing land in the middle of crowds and on buildings. The only thing that the operator is interested in are American greenbacks.

Parasailing accidents call for more regulation of parasailing noting that many operators cut corners on safety where innocent customers are left in the dark about whether the ride is safe or not. Parasailing injuries, just as any other amusement, carnival, or water sport injury often involves a combination of many theories of law requiring legal and technical expertise. There is most likely a combination of product liability, and negligence and premises liability law to be explored and prosecution against the wrongdoer.

Continue reading "Parasailing Accident Kills A Philadelphia Native While Vacationing In Mexico" »

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Parks , Negligence , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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Over 30 years ago, I was on vacation with my family in Jamaica when I witnessed a catastrophic parasailing accident. Since that date in time, I am amazed that many people embrace parasailing without questioning the safety of the same. Recently, a parasailing accident in Arizona on Lake Powell catastrophically injured a mother and left her with a traumatic brain injury. Her son who was accompanying her on the ride was also seriously injured. According to news sources, a 17-year old boy rigged to the parasail was attempting to take off from a ledge and the boy’s 42-year-old mother was standing nearby with bystanders watching the boy take off. As the boat began to pull away, the sail turned sideways and entangled the mother and dragged her a few feet before she fell off and struck her head along the shoreline. The boy hit a ledge several times before plummeting into the water.

Over the years, parasailing has been an extraordinarily popular vacation adventure. Similar to many amusements, they are often operated in an unregulated environment and many times by people with limited knowledge but for how to make a quick buck. I can personally attest to witnessing the same. Parasailing when not operated with stringent safety guidelines can be extraordinarily dangerous and lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities. Not so surprisingly as is the case with the remainder of the amusement industry, there is extraordinarily little or no government oversight.

Continue reading "Is Parasailing Safe? - An Experienced Amusement Accident Attorney Speaks Out: More Regulation Is Necessary" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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Twenty-four thrill seekers on a thrill ride roller coaster remained stuck for 4 hours immobilized 80 feet in the air in 95 degree heat before being rescued by fire fighters in another amusement park accident according to news sources. This roller coaster known as The Invertigo is located at Great America in Santa Clara, California. The Invertigo is one of the newest thrill rides which specializes in turning people upside down as it transports the riders through loops, sharp turns and hills and valleys. According to park officials and state investigators, the amusement ride malfunctioned and focus is being noted upon the lift chain. When the coaster stopped, many riders were strapped in their seats with their legs dangling in the air while fire fighters hoisted basket topped ladders to retrieve them one by one. One observer stated that she watched the Invertigo’s operator cringe when the train screeched to an unexpected halt. According to news sources, this is the third mishap on the same ride since 2000.

In 2001, the same amusement park ride jammed at 138 feet in another amusement park accident at the steepest part of the ride and in 2000 the same roller coaster encountered a shut down very similar to that of August 10th when 25 people were left dangling in their seats for approximately 1/2 hour. The Invertigo climbs to a 138 foot drop, reaching a top speed of 50 mph, leaving riders upside down six times during the trip.

Continue reading "“We Thought We Were Going To Die” Stated People Stranded On A Roller Coaster Ride For Four Hours on August 10, 2009 - The Largely Unregulated Amusement Park Industry Continues To Claim Victims In Avoidable Amusement Park Accidents" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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According to news sources, two adults and two teens were buckled into the raft and were thrown into the water. While many would argue that this was a freak water park accident, this experienced amusement park lawyer will tell you that many water slides or other water park amusement rides are not exactly kiddie rides and many are fraught with hidden dangers.

One likes to assume that every water park or theme park is a safe haven where the biggest worry is eating too many hot dogs or too much ice cream. In reality many water parks and amusement parks are fraught with hidden risks.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a water park amusement or amusement park accident, please feel free to contact the catastrophic personal injury and amusement park lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com for a free consultation.

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Hassan Itoni of Dearborn, Michigan who was pulled from an outdoor pool at Kalahari Resorts water park in Sandusky, Ohio and pronounced dead at the hospital. According to news sources, the 3-year old Michigan boy drowned at a northern Ohio water park and was found face down in the children’s pool. Unfortunately, at the amusement park and swimming pool accident law firm of Reiff and Bily, we are all too familiar with swimming pool and amusement park accidents. Police referred to this drowning death as a tragic accident and the local coroner stated that the mother of the child lost sight of her son who did not know how to swim while he was playing with an older brother around the pool which ranged in 3 to 4 feet in depth.

Drowning or near drowning accidents in water parks is a huge problem in the summer months particularly when pool sites are crowded. Our amusement park and swimming pool accident lawyers are consulted on a number of cases each summer by families of children who are seriously injured in swimming pool accidents whether they be at camps, water parks, amusement parks or community pools. If a child is injured in your pool or anyone’s pool under your watch, you could be held liable for those injuries. If a child is injured at a water park or amusement park, the park owes the highest duty of care to all consumers to insure the safety of their customers. Constant supervision is also extremely important when children are playing near water. Drowning often happens silently and quickly, normally within a few seconds. Drowning accidents result in catastrophic brain injuries or deaths.

If you or a loved one had been injured in a swimming pool or amusement park accident, please consult with an experienced Philadelphia lawyer who can best explain how to protect your rights. Please contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Parks , Swimming Pool and Hot Tub Accidents

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As an experienced amusement and carnival accident injury lawyer, I receive many inquiries throughout the spring and summer season from parents whose children were injured as a result of an amusement park or carnival ride failure.

Recently, I read an article published by child safety examiner Susan Carney expressing concern for children injured in carnival amusement accidents this summer. According to Susan Carney’s blog and a story that appeared in the Roanoke Times, on July 4th a carnival accident in Virginia left a 14-year old young man injured when a ride dropped nearly 20 feet into a loading dock after the ride had been inspected the previous week. In another incident on June 27th at Goldman Park in Middletown, Ohio, an inflatable slide ride became airborne and trapped an 11-year old boy.

Continue reading "Unimaginable Danger May Lie In Carnival Amusement Rides" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a New Jersey amusement park and was surprised and dismayed to learn that the operator of the ride was a minimally trained summer participant in a summer exchange work program who barely spoke English. This individual seemed more interested in listening to the blaring park music than paying attention to the ride operation. It should be noted that even the most safely designed ride can turn into a dangerous event when operated by an inexperienced person who is unregulated by federal or state law and is not required to undergo any mandatory training program. When I questioned the operator, he told me that he viewed his job as a vacation and a way to see America while paying his bills. He seemed more interested in flirting with women in the line or in the crowd than keeping an eye on the children. A situation such as this increases the likelihood of a tragic and catastrophic amusement park accident.

As an experienced amusement accident lawyer, I am quite concerned with the amount of undertrained and inexperienced ride operators in addition to commonplace poor maintenance of amusement rides.

If you or a loved one had been injured as a result of an amusement park accident, please contact one of our experienced product liability lawyers at the law firm Reiff and Bily for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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The experienced amusement park injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily recently reviewed an article published by SmartMoney magazine on Friday, May 29, 2009 entitled Ten Things Theme Parks Won’t Tell You. Number 5 on the list is entitled Our Ride Operators Are Barely Old Enough To Drive and it goes on to say that even the most benign ride can turn dangerous when an inexperienced person is operating it. At many parks, especially seasonal ones, ride operators tend to be young summer workers but there are no Federal laws requiring amusement ride operators to undergo any kind of training program. Some states, including California and Minnesota, have introduced state laws regulating safety and training. Still, “There is no internal consistency from park to park in terms of how they instruct their employees,” says Adam Glick, an attorney based in Elizabeth, New Jersey who has handled numerous amusement park injury cases. “The workers tend to be college students on vacation. Most of the rides operators are concerned about flirting with the opposite sex.” Even if they are not, disasters can and do occur.

Continue reading "Many Ride Operators At Amusement Parks Are Barely Old Enough To Drive" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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The defective trailer and amusement injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily became aware of another situation where 11 children riding on a tractor-pulled amusement ride escaped serious injury when a trailer hitch broke on a tractor pulling the cart. According to reports, the trailer was pulling a wagon down a grass lane when the hitch broke causing the driver of the tractor to lose control resulting in an overturn. The operator of the tractor was ejected. The amusement trailer was occupied by 17 individuals including 11 children aged 5 through 14.

At the defective trailer and amusement injury law firm of Reiff and Bily, we are currently working on a similar tractor hayride injury case where the operator of the vehicle pulling the ride had no license or proper screening and yet was hired to pull precious cargo, namely children. Many times, you can simply put a farm tag on a tractor or trailer and no inspections are necessary. Worse yet, no training is required to tow a trailer or pull these amusement park rides and they are generally fabricated as cheaply as possible. We are all too familiar with the serious injuries and fatalities that result when there is a lack of proper inspection, security or due regard for the safety of others.

Continue reading "Another Tractor Amusement Ride Goes Awry With 11 Children On Board" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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According to news sources, a two year old boy was struck and killed by a roller coaster as he slipped away from his parents and ran onto the tracks in an amusement park in London. An official affiliated with the amusement park stated “There would have been a barrier surrounding the roller coaster but he must have found a way around it.” I have written on a number of occasions that amusement parks and carnivals are a child’s playground and a favorite for families but an often unknowingly dangerous form of entertainment for families and young people. I personally have experienced and witnessed a few catastrophic amusement park accidents and had a close call with my own family when two people were killed as a result of an amusement malfunction in Ocean City, Maryland once again on a kiddie roller coaster.

Amusement parks and carnivals operate under a serious loophole in the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1981 prohibiting the CPSC from regulating the safety of rides fixed to a specific site. Unfortunately, regulation and inspection of “fixed site” amusement rides are left up to state or local municipalities and as a result every site varies from good to none and there is no official source who keeps an official record of amusement park accidents.

Accident data for most amusement parks is a well guarded secret and we only hear about the catastrophic incidences. The amusement park industry is highly unregulated and there is not a uniform system for reporting injuries, creating a serious danger when amusement parks police their own accidents. Many times, innocent customers and consumers are left in the dark about which amusement park is safe to visit and which rides are safe for their families, creating real dangers for families and their precious children. Unfortunately with the downturn of the economy, many parks have cut corners on safety and no longer staff the load and unload positions of rides and leave maintenance and supervision many times to high school and college students working on a temporary basis who are entrusted to operate these rides with minimal training. Many times amusement park personnel, including operators, are not paying attention to the precious cargo on the ride.

Continue reading "Roller Coaster Killing Illustrates Amusement Park Dangers" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Negligence , Personal Injury , Premises liability , Wrongful Death

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According to news sources, a small amusement type train carrying visitors to the Louisville Zoo fell off the tracks Monday June 1, 2009 sending 22 people to local hospitals, including one child who was critically injured. According to news sources, a small engine was pulling a train that circled the Louisville Zoo when three cars and the engine fell off the rails near the gorilla exhibit. The ages of the injured passengers were from 2 months old to senior citizens. Obviously, amusement parks and zoos are a great place for families and kids to unwind and be entertained. As the unfortunate accident at the Louisville Zoo indicates, even the most innocent looking amusement rides can be dangerous and lead to catastrophic injury and fatalities if they are not operated or maintained in a proper fashion.

One likes to assume that every amusement ride or zoo ride is safe. However, in actuality this is often far from the case. The experienced amusement park injury and accident lawyers at Reiff and Bily find that in most cases where injuries or fatalities occur on an amusement ride there is generally improper maintenance or inadequate supervision. The victims who were injured by this derailment at the Louisville Zoo may have claims not only against the operators of the ride who may have failed to properly maintain or supervise the ride but also potentially against the manufacturer of the ride for making an allegedly defective and dangerous product. The injured victims would be well advised to retain the services of a reputable amusement park accident attorney who has experience dealing with amusement park and product liability injury cases.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an amusement park accident, please contact one of our experienced amusement park accident attorneys at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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In 2008, over 300,000,000 people visited United States Amusement Parks and Water Slide Parks and it is estimated that they enjoyed over 1.8 billion rides. An informal fixed site amusement ride injury survey estimated that there were 1,309 ride-related injuries in 2007 with only 35 of these injuries reported as serious. While the amusement park and attraction industry is in the business of creating fun, unfortunately the accuracy of reporting ride injury statistics is debatable. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that over 5,000 serious accidents occur at fixed amusement park facilities. It is important to note that the ability to gather accurate information regarding amusement park injuries is seriously hampered by a loophole in the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1981 known as the “roller coaster loophole”. This loophole prohibits the CPSC from regulating the safety of rides that are fixed to a specific site. Although multiple attempts have been made to introduce legislation regarding amusement park safety on amusement park rides, they have failed to become law. The majority of regulation and inspection of amusement rides is left up to state or local municipalities and therefore, the reality of this situation is that the oversight varies from good to none. Due to the seriousness of the lack of regulation and lack of legislation with “teeth”, many theme parks unfortunately present hidden dangers to unsuspecting visitors.

At the experienced Philadelphia personal injury amusement park accident law firm of Reiff and Bily, we understand that families and children enjoy visiting amusement parks and hope that each one of the owners and operators of these amusement parks takes all steps necessary to protect their guests from any undue risk or negligence to make sure that their visit is safe. When Injuries happen at amusement parks many conflicts and complexities of law arise requiring experience and technical expertise. There is most likely a combination of common negligence, product liability, and premise liability law to be explored and prosecuted against the wrongdoer by an experienced amusement park accident lawyer.

Continue reading "Amusement Park and Water Park Safety Should Be A Top Priority" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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The experienced amusement park lawyers of the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff and Bily are all too familiar with carnival, midway and amusement park accidents. A report was recently released concerning the serious injuries of dozens of people caused when a “Yo-Yo” amusement collapsed at a California state fair. The owner of the amusement was labeled in the report as “incompetent”.

The report noted that the carnival ride was “in a physical state of disrepair; this attraction had not been properly maintained.” According to news reports, the accident occurred because of the failure of a lock washer. The report further noted that sweeps of the Yo-Yo collapsed because of a spider bearing assembly slipping off of a cylinder ride thus losing the power to pull the sweeps top end. The chairs the riders were sitting in plummeted to the ground and were dragged. The report blasted the owner of the amusement for failure to insure that the ride was safe to operate and also noted that the owner of the ride did not have all of the required inspection certifications and documents in place to insure its safe operation.

Unfortunately, as the economy continues to worsen, we have found that many theme parks, carnivals and midways have cut corners on safety. Many times ride operators do not pay attention to the precious cargo on the ride.

The accomplished Philadelphia amusement park accident attorneys at Reiff and Bily have successfully represented thousands of personal injury clients for catastrophic injuries since 1979. If you have been injured in an amusement park accident, please contact the experienced catastrophic injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com so that we can begin investigating and protecting your rights.

Posted by Jeffrey M. Reiff | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Wrongful Death

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How many of you remember looking forward to going to the supermarket or shopping at the mall with your Mom and Dad and getting on the horse ride or car ride which in my day was 10 cents but probably now a dollar as I have watched prices escalate for a sheer three minutes of pleasure.

Unfortunately a recent story surfaced which noted a 12-month old boy struck his head riding an electric train amusement ride at a shopping center. Paramedics were called and when they arrived they found the mother hysterical carrying her unconscious toddler. CPR was performed according to news sources and the child was air lifted to the hospital.

Although this was a train ride evidently designed to amuse children and bring people to the mall and although inspectors may find that the train ride was mechanically and structurally sound and is in compliance with local standards, parents and the operators of these rides recognize that there should be minimum supervisory and physical requirements that are mandatory for safety reasons. These rides are designed to provide amusement thrills and not to cause errors but accidents still happen under the best of circumstances.

Unfortunately, many amusement rides which look safe are unknowingly dangerous forms of entertainment for families and young people. I have written in my blogs in the past about numerous amusement park and carnival accidents and serious loopholes that exist in the Consumer Product Safety Act of 1981 regulating the safety of rides fixed to a specific site. There is no official source which keeps a complete record of amusement park accidents.

The accomplished amusement park injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily have successfully represented personal injury clients for catastrophic injuries since 1979 recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in an amusement park or on a hayride, please contact the amusement park injury lawyers at Reiff and Bily immediately at 1-800-421-9595 so that we can commence an intensive examination of your claim and begin protecting your legal rights to the maximum of our abilities.

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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According to a report in the Green Bay Press Gazette, a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a 16-year old girl who fell 50 feet to her death in a 2007 amusement park swing accident was settled for $1 million dollars the maximum amount of policy limits.

It is also sad to note and report that Brandon Zucker, a young boy who was badly hurt in a “Roger Rabbit” amusement accident in Disneyland died January 26, 2009. According to news sources, Brandon Zucker, an Anaheim, California boy, suffered brain damage after being trapped under the car of a Disneyland Park ride in September 2000. At age 4, the young boy was badly injured when he fell from a Roger Rabbit Disneyland ride and was dragged about 10 feet, trapped underneath another car and suffered serious internal injuries including torn diaphragm, liver and spleen. The boy’s body was crushed by the ride, and he went into cardiac arrest suffering brain damage and was unable to walk or talk after the accident. Brandon’s mother, Victoria Zucker, stated that Brandon fought hard for the past 8 years. Our hearts and prayers go out to Brandon’s family.

Continue reading "Amusement Park Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit In 2007 Death of A Girl Who Fell 50 Feet To Her Death At An Amusement Park Swing Chair Accident - Young Man Injured On Roger Rabbit Amusement Dies" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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A settlement was obtained by the family of Kentucky teenager whose feet were severed when riding the Superman Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in June 2007. A cable broke causing the 13-year-old rider to have her feet severed.

A state report blamed a faulty cable and a ride operator’s slow response but officials claim that there is no way of knowing why the cable snapped. A lawsuit claimed that the amusement park failed to maintain the Superman Tower of Power Ride and equipment and neglected to take steps to ensure the safety of riders.

Amusement park accidents are all too frequent as many amusement park operators drop the ball on maintenance and safety procedures. If an injured victim can prove that their injuries happened because of the owner’s or operator’s negligence then he or she is entitled to compensation. Experienced amusement park accident attorneys at the firm of Reiff and Bily can help you expertly investigate and prosecute your claim.

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Posted In: Amusement Parks

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Philadelphia Amusement and Hayride Accident Lawyers of Reiff and Bily Salute Ron Melancon and dangeroustrailers.org

Ron has been a step ahead of government officials and many lawyers. Ron has recognized that many trailers used for hayrides and other utilities are under 3,000 lbs. and fall below federal guidelines. These trailers do not need to be inspected. You can build one on your own and use it yourself or sell it. As Ron has recognized, there is very little regulation addressed with trailers under 3,000 lbs. Most state laws are silent regarding design or construction specification for utility trailers used in hayrides or for towing hitches. Obviously, a potentially dangerous situation exists using these trailers for hayrides or even on the roads of the Commonwealth. In many cases, we find trailers have obvious violations of safety codes that related to lighting, braking and inspection requirements.

The unregulation of the hayride and trailer obviously allows profit hungry operators to cut corners on safety, often leading to preventable catastrophic injuries of innocent children.

We urge you to link to Ron’s website at www.dangeroustrailers.org. We salute Ron’s efforts to become a crusader for public safety and in his attempts to keep the public informed of the dangerous situations of unregulated trailers and hayrides in the United States and abroad. Consumer advocacy is what change in laws and regulations is all about.

Continue reading "The Dangerous Trailer and Hayride Injury Lawyers of Reiff and Bily Proudly Salute the Efforts of Ron J. Melancon of Richmond, Virginia" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Hayride/Trailer Accidents , Personal Injury , Product Liability , Wrongful Death

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In yet another horrifying Halloween hayride accident, an Ohio woman was transported to Ohio State University Medical Center after she fell off the side of a Halloween hayride and was pinned underneath the wheels. The individual identified by news sources as Tonya Reynolds suffered a broken arm and her legs were crushed by the ride according to officials. (news article)

In a separate situation, a 7 year old New Jersey boy was left in critical condition after falling from a hayride and striking his head. According to the news report, Jacob George was a passenger on a haunted hayride at the Shrine of St. Joseph Church on Long Hill Road in Stirling, NJ on Friday, October 24th, when he fell off the trailer he was riding on and suffered head injuries. He was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he remained in critical condition. Members of the Morris County, New Jersey Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Team assisted with the investigation and shut down the ride. (news article )

It is with great sadness that I read about these easily preventable and tragic incidents. As a catastrophic injury attorney in Pennsylvania, I have spent a good portion of the last year working on an almost identical hayride case where a six year old boy on a class outing was also run over by a Halloween hayride, as his mother also instinctively threw herself at her son in an attempt to save him. All of these accidents certainly indicate the necessity of improving safety, supervision, maintenance and warning requirements when dealing with amusement rides and Halloween hayrides where the lives of unsuspecting and innocent children are so frequently involved. My deepest and heartfelt sympathies go out to these families.

Continue reading "Halloween Hayride Crushes Bones of Innocent Rider" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Catastrophic loss , Hayride/Trailer Accidents , Negligence , Personal Injury , Wrongful Death

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There could be danger lurking in your own home or backyard. Injuries to children can occur anywhere. They can happen in your house, backyard, school, day care facility, or even in a public park. While it is seemingly impossible to keep a child protected all times, it is important for parents and children to become aware of the dangers that lurk in play grounds and toys. The Pennsylvania personal injury and play-ground accident lawyers at the Philadelphia products liability law firm of Reiff and Bily have been researching and handling thousands of personal injury cases since 1979. Our Pennsylvania defective product attorneys have had extensive experience in the area of defective toys (products liability claims) and play-ground or amusement injuries.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2001 approximately 45% of playground-related injuries are severe (fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations) and about 75% of nonfatal injuries were related to playground equipment failure, misoperation or malfunction.

Between 1990 and 2000, 147 children ages 14 and younger died from playground-related injuries. 82 of these injuries (56%) died from strangulation and 31 of these injuries (20%) died from falls to the playground surface. Most of these fatalities (70%) occurred on home playgrounds. Public playground climbers resulted in the most common cause of an injury as compared to any other equipment. At home playgrounds, swings were responsible for most injuries.

Continue reading "Toys And Playgrounds Might Not Be As Safe As One Would Presume" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Negligence , Personal Injury , Product Liability , playground accidents

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Amusement parks are meant to be a place where families could and should have fun out doors, playing games and riding on roller coasters. Most of the time when we think about amusement parks we think of “KODAK” moments of smiles and laughs with our family. Roller coasters and other rides are typically safe to ride, but that does not mean they are free from disasters. The Pennsylvania catastrophic injury lawyers at the Philadelphia law firm of Reiff and Bily have been researching and handling many amusement park accident injury and death claims since 1979.

Amusement parks are supposed to inspect their rides daily, but accidents can still occur. Sometimes the rides are outdated or in need of repair. Other times it’s a ride that is not inherently safe or becomes unsafe due to worker negligence or improper maintenance. In July of 2008, 4 people were injured in Denmark due to their roller coaster’s car came of the tracks and fell onto the cement ground below the ride. The roller coaster opened only a month prior to the accident. Even the newest of rides might cause a serious injury if improperly designed, installed, or maintained.

Continue reading "Amusement Parks Are Not So Amusing When Rides Cause Injury Or Death" »

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Posted In: Amusement Parks , Malfunctions , Negligence , Personal Injury , Product Liability

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