Philadelphia Injury Attorney Blog

A gentleman just presented to my office after sustaining a most catastrophic and life altering permanent injury that resulted from wearing water shoes on a water slide at a nationally renowned water park.

As an experienced water slide accident attorney, I have had a chance to investigate several accidents caused by a rider wearing water shoes on a water slide.

Imagine this scenario, you are traveling down a water slide at a high rate of speed and your body has been thrown about and all of a sudden, the rubber non-slip surface of your foot jams abruptly on the side of a water slide causing your bone to come protruding through your skin as you abruptly slow down and come to a halting stop. This is exactly what happened to one of our clients and a collective survey of many national and local water parks revealed that many parks still allow water shoes to be worn on water slides, and in fact sell them despite knowledge of this foreseeable risk.

Continue reading "Wearing Water Shoes on Water Slides May Result in Catastrophic Consequences" »

Despite the fact that the amusement park or manufacturer of the water slide tells you that it is a chance and freak occurrence, the same water slide accident that’s caused you injuries has very likely occurred numerous times before.

As a knowledgeable PA water park accident attorney, I receive a number of inquiries throughout the year from individuals that are seriously injured in water slide accidents. Many times these injuries involve burst fractures of the spine, broken limbs, or worse yet quadriplegia or paraplegia. It is not coincidental that many of the injuries occurred on the same water slide attraction operated by the same national water park company in different parts around the country.

Close to 2 billion people take amusement park rides annually and, unfortunately due to a patchwork of regulations, do so at their own peril. There has been a noticeable spike in fatalities and catastrophic injuries on fixed site amusement park rides, including water slides, and our experienced water slide accident attorneys, experts, and investigators typically see evidence of other similar instances involving the same rides. Of course amusement park operators claim that riders are imputed to understand that a water slide or amusement park attraction involves some risk but when the risk is concealed and the plaintiff is not made aware of the same after repeated instances of the same injury causing failure, then the operator and manufacturer of the ride may be held liable.

Continue reading "If You Have Been Involved in a Water Slide Accident, Chances Are the Same Accident Has Happened Many Times in the Past" »

I recently received an email blast advertising a number of inflatable water slides and other inflatable devices in the $200 to $300 range. While the advertisements quickly pointed out that these devices would “provide hours of fun and exercise” on long summer afternoons at very affordable prices and how easy they were to operate and even stressed that they are recommended for children ages 3 to 12, they failed to notify or warn potential buyers, users, and their children of the hidden dangers of serious injury and death that may be inherent with these products.

Recently, there was a recall of an inflatable slide which took the life of a young mother and catastrophically injured others. The CPSC reported that over 5,000 injuries were reported related to inflatable slides and bounce houses with the number increasing each year as inflatable amusement and slide products become increasingly more available at lower costs. Inflatables are often seen at birthday parties, block parties, festivals, and many pools. Every year, a number of people will be killed and catastrophically injured due to defects and failure to warn of these inflatable amusement attractions and toys.

As an experienced personal injury attorney in Philadelphia, I am all too well aware of the dangers in the use and operation of inflatable attractions including, but not limited to, inflatable slides. Although they are bright, colorful, and bring joy to parents’ and children’s hearts, as a lawyer who has seen the dangers of these products, I am often on the other side of the spectrum after a tragic accident or death has occurred. Each inflatable ride should have specific safety rules and warnings regarding operation and supervision. An inflatable slide and amusement must be properly anchored but worse yet, many of these rides are inexpensively manufactured in China or other countries where there are a lack of quality controls and safety standards. Although scores of injuries and deaths occur, I am certain that many more accidents occur with inflatables that go unreported.

State and federal officials will admit that they don’t know how many inflatable accidents occur every year on inflatable rides or attractions, and although I hate to be a party pooper, I will not allow my children to ever board one of the attractions and I feel confident telling my readers that I would never purchase one or allow friends that I care for to do the same.

The experienced inflatable slide accident attorneys of Reiff & Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation to victims and their families who have been injured as a result of an inflatable accident or amusement accident. We have over three decades of experience representing those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed as a result of defective products. We are recognized as the Top 100 Attorneys in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia and are honored to have been named in the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers.

Inflatable sliding boards and inflatable attractions might just be some of the most deadly amusement attractions available to thrill seeking consumers.

As an experienced amusement accident lawyer who has handled some of the most catastrophic and horrific amusement accidents, perhaps the most innocuous and seemingly innocent of the amusements, namely inflatable bouncy or sliding boards, may be the most dangerous.

We have all been to kiddie parties or amusement parks where children and sometimes adults jump and leap on inflatable attractions that have many different names. Often the experiences inside of or on the inflatables are uncontrolled, resulting in collisions with the attraction itself or the people inside, which can cause traumatic head injuries, brain damage, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and broken bones. Additionally, just imagine the danger that can occur if there is a sudden leak with rapid deflation. Often the results are fatal.

More and more news reports are surfacing about people climbing on large inflatable slides that deflate as they are nearing the bottom, resulting in neck injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and closed head trauma.

Recently, the CPSC recalled the Banzai in-ground water slide after reports of numerous broken necks and death. Many of the inflatable attractions are manufactured in China or manufactured under unregulated safeguards. In the last 7 years, there has been an incredible 300 to 400% increase in inflatable injuries according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many people do not even consider the fact that on windy days, the inflatable itself can be lifted off the ground and in one recent incident, a bouncy ride placed on the beach loaded with children was blown into the ocean.

As a skilled amusement attraction attorney who has handled cases involving inflatables, my advice is simply to avoid them.

As a consumer safety advocate and water slide accident attorney, I have become extraordinarily concerned over the last few years with manufacturing and design defects involving inflatable amusements.

Recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled an inflatable pool slide. Approximately 21,000 Banzai in-ground pool water slides were recalled. The devices were sold by Walmart Stores and Toys R Us Inc., which have offered full refunds for slides that are returned.

Just like many other inflatables, the CPSC determined that the slides were defective and could deflate suddenly, allowing the user to violently crash to the ground. Additionally, the CPSC found that the slide was unstable and could topple over both in still and windy conditions.

The incident leading to the recall of the inflatable sliding board involved the death of Robin Aleo, the mother of an 18-month old girl who climbed to the top of a 6 foot high Banzai water slide and started sliding down head first and when she neared the bottom, the slide deflated. The young mother then struck her head on the edge of the pool resulting in a broken neck. She was paralyzed and unable to breathe and died the following day at a Boston hospital.

A lawsuit was commenced against Toys R Us and the jury returned a $20.6 million dollar verdict after deliberating less than an hour according to published reports.

Additionally, the CPSC claims to know of two other cases involving a 24-year old man from Springfield, Missouri who became a quadriplegic and a woman from Allentown, PA who fractured her neck after inflatable slide deflations.

The recalled inflatable slides were manufactured in China by Manley Toys and were sold at Walmart and Toys R Us in January 2005 through 2009 and were priced at approximately $250.00.

Reiff & Bily, a Pennsylvania injury law firm committed to consumer and amusement safety, is experienced in the field of swimming pool accidents and drowning, as well as amusement and inflatable accidents. Our lawyers always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at (800) 421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

For over three decades, I have been practicing catastrophic injury and wrongful death law and all too often a catastrophic injury or wrongful death is caused by a clear violation of laws that have minimal if any enforcement guidelines and “teeth".
Recently the Concordia cruise ship disaster illustrated just how many deaths and catastrophic injuries could be caused in an industry guided by rules that were spottily enforced. Every time an accident happens whether it involves a cruise ship, bus accident, trucking accident, amusement park accident, or product liability claim, authorities and experts are quick to state that the event is a wake-up call that highlights longstanding safety concerns.

In Philadelphia, we continue to have an escalating hit and run car accident crisis due to the fact that there are several well-known loopholes in the laws and yet legislators refuse to take steps to change and enforce codes which should in reality punish violators.

The law firm of Reiff and Bily has handled many amusement park accident cases, and yet the enforcement of these safety regulations is spotty despite the volume of rules and amount of unreported amusement park and water park accidents. Many industries escape regulatory scrutiny and it comes as no shock that catastrophic accidents occur when safety protocols are not followed and enforced. Rules and regulations without enforcement are meaningless and if the rules and regulations provide a mechanism for enforcement, individuals or corporations in positions of power often think (as demonstrated by their action or non-action) that they are above these rules and think that they can escape liability by the use of a creative lawyer or legal system which fails to enforce said rules and regulations. If our system chooses to ignore rules and regulations, it fosters a system where it is easier for individuals and corporations to become and remain corrupt then to remain honest.

I have always believed that laws not enforced cease to be laws, and rights not defended may wither away. I believe that the courtroom with proper legal representation makes equals of all men and that an injured victim must ensure that laws are followed and enforced. While catastrophic injury and personal injury lawyers will continue to be bashed by corporations and insurance companies who continue to delay, deny, and defend rightful claims, I for one understand that enforcement of laws and prosecution of wrongdoers are necessary to protect the public and promote order which is the first requisite of liberty and justice.

I have been researching, investigating, and litigating amusement park accidents, water park accidents, and hayride accidents for over three decades. I have been attacked by many individuals stating that I am nothing but a greedy lawyer taking the fun out of life. Many individuals today who are riding on safer amusement rides or using safer products quickly point the finger at lawyers and without the fight of dedicated lawyers for consumer safety and protection many products manufacturers, or amusement park operators and amusement manufacturers would still be placing profitability ahead of safety concerns.

When I meet with parents of children who were catastrophically injured or died on an amusement ride or hayride and the owner/operator points the finger at an innocent child when in fact the amusement or attraction was improperly maintained, improperly inspected, or was operated by an individual with a questionable background who was improperly trained, I am astonished to see a public relations campaign attacking lawyers who only get paid if they are able to prove fault or negligence and win a case. I am astonished and surprised to read negative posts on blogs by people who don’t have a clue as to what really happened and who most probably would also seek legal representation and an independent investigation if they or their child was catastrophically injured or killed.

Our experienced amusement park and theme park accident attorneys always work only on a contingent fee basis and only charge a fee if we win the case. Many amusement parks claim that they regulate themselves and have proper motivation to insure safety and many state agencies that regulate amusement parks don’t have the budgets or technical expertise necessary to properly do their jobs. In fact, many theme parks and amusement park operators claim that state and local legislators lack budget resources and technical experience to carry out proper safety checks and investigate accidents and claim that they can do it better. I believe that if an amusement park or water park is operating safely and taking all steps to insure that amusement ride accidents do not occur, they should not be so afraid of a lawyer double checking the system. After all, a contingent fee amusement park and theme park accident lawyer will not take the case or get paid if, in fact, it can be determined that the owners and operators did nothing wrong. For those who complain that lawyers are taking the fun out of life and always blame the victims. Think about how you would feel if you were catastrophically injured or your child was killed at a theme park or amusement park that was said to be safe and carefully hid defects and problems from the public.

Checks and balances are a good thing.