Water park rides lack many of the same safety features as other amusement park rides, like roller coasters. Instead of having a seatbelt or an enclosed vehicle, water park rides typically leave you exposed and hanging on. Usually, you don’t even have clothes to protect you. The water park ride injury lawyers at Reiff Law Firm have assembled this list of the most dangerous rides at indoor and outdoor water parks. If you or a loved one was injured on a water park ride or another amusement park ride, talk to an attorney today.
List of Dangerous Water Park Rides
Our attorneys have seen and studied many water park injury cases. Many of the injuries from indoor and outdoor water park rides come from riders colliding into each other or into walls, but there are also many drowning injuries. The following types of rides most frequently cause injuries at water parks:
Water Slides
On most water slides, the rider is sent down a wet tube with nothing to protect them from a sudden collision. Some water slides send riders down together or in quick succession, and risk them crashing into each other. Additionally, at the end of these rides, if riders do not get out of the way, they can be hit by the next rider.
Many of these slides are enclosed, but others have open edges. Especially with “speed slides,” riders may actually come down too fast and fall over the edge during tight turns. This can mean serious injuries from falling – especially if you land on your head or back.
Raft and Tube rides
Many people think raft and tube rides are safe because riders have something that floats and is padded to protect them. However, relying upon an inner tube or an inflated raft to save you is often how many riders are injured. Hanging onto a raft or tube also has injury risks. If your hand or another part of your body snags on the handles or other parts of the raft, you could strain or dislocate fingers, toes, or other joints.
If you fall off a tube, you may be struck by other tubes or rafts on your way down. This can push you forcibly into concrete or plastic walls. If riders hit their head, they risk falling unconscious and face a high risk of drowning.
Wave Pools
Surprisingly, people can be seriously injured in wave pools. First, these pools are often very crowded, especially in outdoor water parks on hot summer months. The crowds of people bobbing up and down with the waves can cause serious risks for weak swimmers. With so many people in close proximity, smaller children or weaker swimmers could be pushed under. The edges of these pools are often hard concrete, which is a serious risk if you are moving up and down and could be pressed or pushed into a wall. Hitting your head can mean falling unconscious and increase the risk of drowning in a wave pool.
Because so many people go to the wave pool, it is common that these pools can also become very dirty. Swim diapers, dirt, debris, and other unsanitary items can make their way into the pool. Despite the chlorine and other chemicals to keep the water clean, this water can still carry bacteria into your eyes or mouth.
Lazy Rivers
While lazy river rides are clearly intended to be safer, low-energy rides, they may still carry risks of injury. Many lazy rivers are deep enough to allow your feet to dangle under the inner tube, making them deeper than the few inches of water in a water slide. If you fall off the inner tube, you could suddenly be plunged into water that is deeper than you thought, risking drowning.
Some lazy river rides are lazier than others, while some are more like white water rafting. These kinds of rides can travel at higher speeds and create a greater risk that you will be thrown from the tube or raft. Some rides may be built on natural waterways and contain many of the same risks of real-world rafting, including sharp or hard stones and rock formations.
Water Park Injury Lawyers
If you were injured at a water park, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the water park and its owners. Many water parks may try to reach out to injured guests, offering them free passes or other gifts to try to convince injured patrons not to sue. Remember that park employees do not represent you or your interests, and may be attempting to force a settlement. Do not accept the information the water park or their legal team gives you as fact. Instead, consult with an attorney before signing anything.
For a free consultation on your water park injury case, contact the amusement park injury lawyers at Reiff Law Firm today. Our number is (215) 709-6940.
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