Personal Injury Advocate
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Were you or your child hurt on a ride at an amusement park or fair?

If you were hurt on a roller coaster, a fair ride, or another attraction, we are sorry this happened during what was supposed to be a fun day out.

Are you in an emergency right now?

  • Check for injuries and get clear of the ride or any moving parts.
  • Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt.
  • Tell park or fair staff right away so they can secure the ride.
  • Get medical care even if you feel fine. Some injuries show up later.
  • This page is for after you are safe.

This page covers amusement park injury deadlines and what to do right now. We are the injured person's advocate. We connect you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours, so you get the full settlement your recovery deserves. Always free. Talk to an advocate. We usually reply within minutes, at most one business day.

Why these cases are tricky

Almost every amusement park ticket includes a liability waiver, language saying you accept the risk of riding. Many people assume that ends any chance of a claim. It usually does not, at least not completely. Courts in most states will not enforce a waiver against gross negligence (a serious failure to follow basic safety rules) or against claims involving a minor, though the exact rules vary by state. Talk to an advocate before you assume a waiver ends your options.

Rides are inspected under a patchwork of state programs, and strictness varies widely. Some rides are inspected by state officials, others by private companies hired by the ride operator. A ride can pass inspection shortly before a serious failure. Ask who inspected the ride and when.

Maintenance records, inspection reports, and manufacturer defect notices are usually held by the park or manufacturer. Getting access to that information quickly matters, so talk to an advocate early.

Protect your case

  1. Get medical care right away, and ask park staff to call emergency services if needed. A nearby hospital or doctor can document your condition.
  2. Talk to an advocate at WeHelpInjured. It is free.
  3. Ask for a written incident report from the park or fair operator.
  4. Photograph the ride, the restraint system, and the surrounding area if you are able to.
  5. Get names and contact information for any witnesses, including other riders.
  6. Keep the ticket, wristband, or any waiver you signed, along with the receipt.
  7. Ask whether the ride is state-inspected or privately inspected, and when it was last inspected.
  8. Warning: don't wait! The filing deadline is a trap. It is different in every state, so people wait, and waiting kills cases. The longer you wait, the fuzzier memories get and inspection records get lost or overwritten. Talk to an advocate immediately. A ride-injury claim tied to a hospital stay can carry a shorter medical deadline, so do not assume the standard rule applies. See our state pages for details.

Never do these

What real amusement park cases have paid

These are publicly reported settlements and verdicts. They are examples only, not a promise of what any case is worth. Most cases settle for far less.

These examples show that inspection and maintenance failures, not the waiver on the ticket, are usually what decides these cases.

When it goes wrong: a true story

On July 26, 2017, the Fire Ball ride at the Ohio State Fair came apart while in motion, killing 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell and injuring seven others, including Keziah Lewis. A court later found the manufacturer, KMG, had known about excessive corrosion risk since at least 2012 but never warned ride owners nationwide. Lewis was awarded $20 million, nearly seven years after the accident (WCPO Cincinnati). Talk to an advocate early. They will introduce you to a lawyer who can help preserve records before they disappear.

What we can help with

We help you understand whether a waiver actually limits your claim, figure out what inspection records matter, and connect you with a lawyer who handles cases like yours. All of it is free to you. We never take money from injured people.

Talk to an advocate. A signed waiver is rarely the end of the story.

Sources