Are Amusement Parks Regulated?
Whether you are planning a visit to Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari, The Funplex, Crystal Springs Family Waterpark, Morey’s Pier, or Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, what is true is that there is no limit to the number of amusement parks and water parks you can choose to enjoy with your friends and family in New Jersey. Amusement parks offer a great deal of good times and happy memories for patrons but that does not mean that going to a park is without its risks. Accidents happen more often than most park-goers know.
If you were injured at a water park or amusement park in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, it is important to quickly get in touch with an attorney to learn more about your legal options. The South Jersey personal injury attorney at Monaco Law PC knows how to evaluate amusement and waterpark accident experiences and help victims get the full amount of compensation they deserve through an injury accident claims process.
Maintaining Safety At Amusement Parks
Amusement parks can be broken down into one of two types, which are fixed-site parks and mobile parks. Permanent parks that are set and affixed to a specific location are fixed-site parks. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is an example of a fixed-site park. By contrast parks that move about like a traveling carnival would be considered mobile parks.
Every year, emergency rooms across the nation see tens of thousands of victims of amusement park injury accidents for treatment. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that while young children aged 5-14 are the highest risk group for amusement park injury accidents, all age groups are vulnerable to injury accidents while at an amusement or water park.
The CPSC is a national governing authority and under this agency’s watchful eye, mobile amusement parks are monitored and regulated. Despite this vast responsibility, the CPSC is not actively inspecting all of the many carnivals or fairs that have rides throughout the country. Also, even though the CPSC provides guidance and safety standards, a carnival, fair or other mobile amusement park is not mandated to follow them.
By contrast, fixed-site amusement parks do not have federal safety agencies that regulate and define safety measures. Additionally, the CPSC has no jurisdiction over these parks. Instead, only some states take on the role of safety regulation enforcement for their fixed-site parks.
It is common to think that mobile parks are a greater danger than fixed-site parks. However, given the lack of inspections, the absence of a national safety standard, and voluntary adherence to safety regulations, the chances of mistakes, errors, or other issues leading to catastrophic injury accidents at fixed-site amusement parks are high.
Luckily, New Jersey regulates fixed-site amusement parks. Annual safety inspections for rides will result in a pass or a fail. Rides that pass get a green sticker and those that fail get a red one. Additionally, manufacturers of fixed-site rides cannot sell their products until they have been certified. Each fixed-site amusement park owner has to register every one of their rides with an annual permit. Last, the state will not only do an annual inspection of parks but also randomly do additional inspections.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney Today
After a water or amusement park accident, our South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC can help. Call Monaco Law PC to schedule a free consultation at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
nj.gov/dca/news/news/2014/20140612.html
