CHICAGO AMUSEMENT PARK ACCIDENT LAWYER
PRACTICE AREAS
The Chicago amusement park accident lawyer team at Curcio & Casciato is dedicated to helping victims of amusement park negligence secure the justice and compensation they deserve. With extensive expertise in handling complex claims involving ride malfunctions, operator errors, and premises liability, our amusement park injury attorneys understand the profound impact these accidents can have on individuals and their families. Whether you or a loved one suffered serious injuries or wrongful death at an amusement park, theme park, carnival, water park, or school fair, our experienced Chicago amusement park injury lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the claims process. We prioritize your recovery and work tirelessly to hold all responsible parties accountable, ensuring you receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages.
Our amusement park injury lawyers also assist families injured while on vacation by providing out-of-state accident claims assistance in Chicago for those visiting from other states.
Call 312-321-1111 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation.
Can You Sue An Amusement Park in Illinois?
Yes, you can sue an amusement park if its negligence caused or contributed to your injuries. Amusement park owners have a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, properly maintain amusement rides, and protect visitors from foreseeable hazards. Amusement park liability arises when park operators, employees, or ride manufacturers fail to meet these obligations; they may be held responsible. A Chicago amusement park accident lawyer can help file a personal injury claim to recover compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Can You Sue a Carnival in Illinois?
If you were hurt on carnival rides in Illinois, you may be entitled to file a claim against the responsible parties. Operators have a legal duty to properly secure the ride, train staff, and follow state safety laws, including required inspections each time carnival rides are set up. When a ride operator fails to do so, injuries can occur.
Who Should I Contact If I Get Into An Amusement Park Accident in Chicago?
You should promptly consult an experienced Chicago amusement park injury lawyer from Curcio & Casicato. Our amusement park liability attorneys can assist you in determining whether product liability or premises liability claims should be pursued for maximum compensation.
What To Do After An Amusement Park Accident in Chicago
If you or a loved one is injured at an amusement park, it is crucial to take immediate steps to protect your rights and health:
- Seek medical attention immediately to document the extent of injuries and receive necessary care.
- Report the incident to park operators or employees to create an official record.
- Preserve any evidence such as photos, witness contact information, and permits.
- Consult an experienced Chicago lawyer for amusement park accidents who understands premises liability and personal injury laws.
- Avoid giving statements to insurance companies without an experienced attorney to represent you and ensure your rights are upheld.
- Keep all medical records and receipts as they are essential evidence for your amusement park injury claim.
Taking these steps can help you and your Chicago amusement park injury attorney build a strong claim to hold responsible parties accountable and secure the settlement you deserve.
How a Chicago Amusement Park Injury Lawyer Can Help
A Chicago amusement park accident attorney can provide vital assistance by investigating your case, identifying liable parties, gathering evidence, and guiding you through the legal process. Our personal injury attorneys work to ensure you receive fair compensation, helping you focus on recovery while they handle negotiating with insurers or trials on your behalf.
File a Theme Park, Water Park, or Amusement Park Lawsuit
Chicago amusement park accident attorneys represent severely injured clients against negligent owners and operators. Our law firm can identify and prove amusement park negligence, whether through failing to have equipment inspected, ignoring known hazards, allowing untrained employees to operate equipment, or other various issues.
In cases involving water accidents, our Chicago water park accident lawyers analyze safety protocols for drowning risks, poor maintenance on water slides, and lifeguard negligence. We’ll pursue a personal injury or wrongful death claim on behalf of the family to secure maximum compensation.
Additionally, our Chicago theme park injury attorneys investigate issues like inadequate warnings, faulty harness systems, or crowd control hazards.
Our Chicago amusement park accident attorney team understands the complexity of proving negligence and will represent your case, gather medical records, identify all liable parties, and help you recover compensation for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. If a child suffered injuries or a loved one was killed, our law firm can hold the owner, manufacturer, or other parties responsible.
File a Carnival Lawsuit
Unlike permanent amusement parks, carnivals move from place to place and are often operated by third parties or independent contractors, making it more difficult to determine who’s responsible, the operator, event sponsor, or set-up crew. Ride companies are often based out of state, carry limited insurance, and can dissolve after serious incidents, complicating recovery efforts. Our Chicago carnival accident lawyer team will investigate the chain of responsibility, secure inspection records, identify hidden vendors, and ensure evidence is preserved quickly.
These cases often involve dry slides, inflatable attractions, power trampolines, mobile climbing walls, and other rides found at school fairs and street festivals.
Legal Help For a Chicago Amusement Park Tragedy Resulting in Wrongful Death
When an amusement park death occurs, a Chicago amusement park injury lawyer represents families and pursues a wrongful death claim on behalf of the victim killed. Fatalities often happen due to amusement park negligence, such as safety hazards, defective rides, or a lack of proper warnings.
Our Chicago amusement park injury attorneys work with experts to demonstrate fault and pursue fair compensation for funeral expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages under the state’s personal injury laws. An experienced amusement park wrongful death lawyer ensures that all liable parties are held accountable.
Examples of Amusement Park Liability That Our Chicago Amusement Park Negligence Lawyer Team Handles
The following are examples of amusement park liability that our Chicago amusement park negligence lawyers handle:
Product Liability in Amusement Park Accidents
Chicago defective product claims against manufacturers include:
- Defective design of amusement rides or safety systems
- Manufacturing flaws in ride components or control systems
- Failure of seat belts, lap bars, or harnesses during operation
- Inadequate warnings or instructions provided by ride manufacturers
- Malfunctioning electronics, brakes, or restraint release mechanisms
Premises Liability in Amusement Park Accidents
Chicago premises liability claims against amusement park owners or operators include:
- Wet, uneven, or broken walking surfaces cause slip and fall accidents
- Poor maintenance causes injuries from falling down stairs, railings, or platforms
- Unsafe ride entry or exit areas
- Lack of protective barriers near mechanical areas or ride paths
- Failure to repair known hazards on park property
Operator Negligence in Amusement Park Accidents
Common examples of Chicago amusement park accidents caused by unsafe park operation or the ride operator’s negligence:
- Inadequate staff training or supervision during ride operation
- Ignoring height, weight, or health restrictions
- Failing to secure restraints or verify rider compliance
- Operating rides at unsafe speeds or settings
- Not responding to visible distress or safety issues during the ride
Negligent Security and Amusement Park Injuries
Chicago negligent security claims resulting in amusement park injuries can include:
- Inadequate crowd control during peak hours or events
- Lack of security personnel in high-risk zones
- Failure to prevent or respond to fights, assaults, or shooting incidents in Chicago
- No emergency protocols or delay in contacting medical personnel
- Poor lighting or surveillance in key park areas
General Negligence in Amusement Park Accidents
General negligence in amusement park accidents can include:
- Operating rides without valid permits or inspections
- Failing to meet the Illinois Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act standards
- Skipping required daily safety checks or maintenance logs
- Ignoring state-mandated operator certification requirements
Water Park, Theme Park, and Amusement Park Injuries in Chicago, IL
The amusement park accident lawyers from our Chicago accident injury law firm handle the following types of cases and more:
Common Chicago Water Park Injuries
- Drowning and near-drowning accidents in Chicago, IL
- Slip and falls
- Head injuries from water slide collisions
- Fractures from raft ejections
- Spinal injuries from diving or sudden drops
- Lacerations from pool grates or slide seams
Common Chicago Theme Park Injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Concussions from head impact
- Ejection or falls due to restraint failure
- Crush injuries on crowd-heavy attractions
- Severe burn injuries in Chicago from mechanical contact or hot surfaces
- Emotional trauma from ride malfunctions
- Trip hazards in themed walkways or dark areas
Common Chicago Amusement Park Injuries
- Chicago whiplash claims from bumper cars or spinning rides
- Fractures while entering or exiting rides
- Dislocations from mechanical bulls or go-kart tracks
- Fainting from extreme motion rides
- Entrapment injuries in ride machinery
- Limb injuries from sudden stops or derailments
Amusement Park Ride Accident in Chicago
High-Altitude or Fall-Related Amusement Park Rides
- Drop Tower Accident (Giant Drop): When brakes or restraints malfunction, those onboard can free-fall and may be killed.
- Sky Trek Tower Accident: Collisions from sudden drops or cabin misalignment.
- Rope Tows (Winter festivals or ski hills): Rope entanglement, sudden jerks, or loss of grip can hurt wrists, drag victims, or make them fall.
- Ski Lifts: Midair falls, entrapment, and impact with ski lift structures from misloading, stops, or seat detachment from ski lifts.
Roller Coaster Accidents in Chicago Theme Parks
- Wooden Roller Coaster (American Eagle): Rough track vibrations and steep drops can cause multiple types of trauma if restraints loosen or alignment fails.
- Launched Coaster (Vertical Velocity/V2): Restraint errors and ejections from sudden acceleration and backward motions.
- Inverted Coaster (Batman: The Ride): Loose items or track debris can strike lower limbs. Restraint malfunction on tight inversions may injure guests, as well.
- Spinning Roller Coaster (Joker Free-Fly Coaster): Independent seat rotation combined with sharp drops may lead to serious injuries if harness systems fail.
Spinning, Swinging, or Rotating Amusement Rides
- Revolution Accident (Revolution): Head or neck damage and ejections from excessive spinning or restraint malfunction.
- Swinging Spider Ride Accident (The Lobster): Mechanical arm malfunction can lead to seat detachment or high-speed spinning injuries.
- Carousel Ride Accident (Six Flags, Navy Pier): Slips or falls often result in children suffering serious injuries.
Collision-Based Amusement Rides
- Bumper Car Accident: Trauma from unrestrained collisions.
- Train or Tram Ride Accident: Orthopedic injuries from mechanical malfunctions or derailment on trams.
Other Types of Theme Park and Amusement Rides
- 4D Theater Ride Simulator (Justice League: Battle for Metropolis): Malfunctions in ride simulators may cause back strain or organ damage.
- Log Flume Accident (Logger’s Run): Tipping, jamming, or ejection during splashdowns can lead to drowning or crush injuries.
Chicago Carnival Ride Accident
Fall or Ejection-Related Chicago Carnival Ride Accidents
- Zipper (Taste of Chicago): Rotating cages can malfunction or open mid-ride.
- Ferris Wheel: Ejections and entrapment from door latch malfunctions or sudden stops.
- Bungee Jumping (Portable Trampoline Bungee): Uncontrolled falls and spinal trauma from rope or harness malfunctions.
- Mobile Climbing Walls: Falls due to harness errors, unsecured footholds, or improper supervision can lead to harm.
- Cliff Hanger: Midair drops from tilting system errors.
High-Speed Spinning and Swinging Ride Accidents in Chicago
- Freak Out (Pendulum Ride): Poor harness locking or excessive swings often leave guests severely injured.
- Wave Swinger (Yo-Yo Style – Navy Pier): Riders are thrown into structures or onto the ground from chain or seat detachment.
- Gravitron/Starship: Unrestrained centrifugal pressure can lead to fainting, internal trauma, or rib fractures.
- Himalaya (Music Express): Riders may slide violently due to loose belts and fast circular motion.
- Tilt-A-Whirl (Fiesta Del Sol): Whiplash, concussions, and side-impacts from uncontrolled tilting and spinning.
Non-Mechanical or Walk-Through Attractions
- Haunted House, Fun House, Glass Maze: Slick surfaces, moving floors, or visual confusion can lead to falls, fractures, or facial lacerations.
- Inflatable Attractions: Slides and Bounce Houses: Blow-overs, crush injuries, and asphyxiation from lack of training or overcrowding.
- Dry slides: Often found at carnivals and festivals, and can cause friction burns, tailbone injuries, or impact trauma.
Other Amusement Rides
- Kiddie Rides (Mini Trains, Small Spinners): Children are injured from a lack of restraint or adult supervision.
- Mechanical Bull: Excessive force or speed can eject riders into hard surfaces, causing dislocations or spinal injuries.
- Fire Ball: This is a high-intensity carnival ride, and injuries occur if restraints fail during inversion.
- Go Kart Tracks: Go Kart accidents involving rollovers, rear-end collisions, or ejections from the vehicle often lead to broken bones or burns from engine contact.
- Power Trampolines (Bungee Attractions): Tether failure or uncontrolled bouncing can cause midair flips, resulting in severe trampoline injuries in Chicago.
Chicago Water Park Accident
- Water Slide (Wahoo Racer, Dive Bomber): Children on water slides can fall off mats, collide at the bottom, or strike the slide walls.
- Wave Pool (Monsoon Lagoon): Strong waves and crowding can lead to drowning, near-drowning, or trampling injuries.
- Lazy River (Castaway Creek): Collisions with other rafts or concrete edges can cause facial injuries, lacerations, or slips while entering or exiting.
- Raft Ride (Bahama Mama & Bubba Tub): Overloaded or unbalanced rafts may flip or get stuck.
- Body Slide (Hurricane Mountain): Children on water slides may hit their head, twist their knees on landing, or lose control on steep drops, resulting in fractures or abrasions.
- Water Playground (Skull Island): Slip and falls on wet surfaces, impact from dumping buckets, or ladder falls can lead to concussions or broken bone claims in Chicago.
- Diving Pool: Unsafe diving depth and mid-air collisions from lifeguard negligence.
Illinois Laws For Carnival Carelessness and Amusement Park Negligence
Illinois Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act
- Requires inspections annually for all rides and attractions operated in Illinois, including carnivals and mobile events.
- Temporary school fair or carnival rides must be inspected each time they are set up.
- Operators must have a state permit.
- Each ride, whether stationary or mobile, must have its own liability coverage and be inspected and permitted by the Illinois Department of Labor before operating. The insurance must meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements; operating without it is a violation of state law.
- Amusement parks, theme parks, and carnivals must maintain liability insurance, train operators, and post proper warnings.
Certain rides that are considered high-risk, like drop towers, inverted coasters, pendulum swings, gondolas, and large inflatables, require stricter safety standards under the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act. Under the act, certain rides require enhanced inspections by licensed engineers, proof of liability coverage, detailed maintenance records, and ride operators with more stringent background checks.
These requirements apply based on the ride’s design complexity, passenger height, and potential for mechanical failure or injury. A carnival or amusement park ride operator’s negligence can result from failing to follow such standards before offering them to the public.
If you were hurt at an amusement park, consult our Chicago amusement park accident lawyer team for a free consultation to explore your legal options.
Illinois Premises Liability Act For Amusement Park and Carnival Injuries
- Park owners and property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors and warn of known hazards.
- The Premises Liability Act applies to all premises, whether public or private.
- Failure to correct or warn about dangers may constitute amusement park liability.
- Injured persons must prove the park owner or operator owed a duty of care, breached it, and caused damages through carelessness or inaction.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries at an amusement park, contact a Chicago amusement park injury lawyer for skilled property owner liability claims assistance in Chicago.
Product Liability Law For Defective Carnival or Amusement Rides
If manufacturing or design defects in carnival or amusement park rides or safety devices result in harm, ride manufacturers or distributors can be held strictly liable for the defective product under the state’s product liability laws.
If you were injured on an amusement park ride, contact our Chicago amusement park accident attorney for skilled products liability claims assistance.
List of Chicago Amusement Parks, Theme Parks, and Water Parks
- Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor (Gurnee): Multiple lawsuits involving assault, permanent disfigurement, severe water slide injuries, wrongful death, and five total fatalities.
- Magic Waters / Hurricane Harbor Rockford (Rockford): About a dozen lawsuits for spinal compression fractures on the “Splash Blaster” with total settlements around $2.53 million.
- Pelican Harbor Aquatic Park (Bolingbrook): Two separate lawsuits for children injured on water slides.
- Haunted Trails Family Amusement Park (Burbank and Joliet): Settlement for $32,773 after a child was ejected from the “Bone Shaker” ride due to operator negligence.
- Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park (East Dundee): Brain bleed lawsuit filed over the forces on the Typhoon roller coaster.
- Funway Entertainment Center (Batavia): One knee injury claim allowed to proceed despite defense objections.
- Navy Pier: A Child fell 24 feet from a climbing wall due to failure to properly secure a harness; lawsuit filed.
- Skokie Water Playground (Skokie): Child injured on a “cloud swing”; court ruled in favor of the park.
- Raging Waves Waterpark (Yorkville)
- Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center (Des Plaines)
- Pirate’s Cove Children’s Theme Park (Elk Grove Village)
- Kiddie Kingdom (Oak Lawn)
- Safari Land (Villa Park)
- Enchanted Castle (Lombard)
- Rainbow Falls Waterpark (Elk Grove Village)
- Barefoot Bay (Mundelein)
- Deep River Waterpark (Crown Point)
Contact a Chicago Amusement Park Injury Attorney For a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been injured in an amusement park accident in Chicago, it is essential to seek experienced legal help promptly. Our dedicated Chicago amusement park accident lawyers are prepared to investigate your case, protect your rights, and help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation today to discuss your situation and explore your options for justice and recovery.
Call us at 312-321-1111 to schedule your free consultation.