The Most Common Water Park Accidents
Water parks may be great places for families to enjoy the summer sunshine – but there are also plenty of reasons to be wary when you visit the water park. From bacterial infections to falls from rides, water parks invite a veritable tidal wave of safety hazards in their wake.
While summer may be almost over, injuries are always possible at a water park. Before you head down to the local amusement or water park for a final hurrah this season, make sure to research the injury hazards and prepare your family accordingly.
What Are the Accident Risks at Water Parks?
Earlier this month, a Chinese water park had to shut down when a mild wave pool turned into a massive tsunami in a matter of minutes. Although these kinds of glaring product defects are not common, they do happen. There are many other more quotidien dangers that you should know about, too. Each year, up to 4,200 people leave the park with water-park related injuries, many of which include concussions and spinal cord injuries.
Here are some other common types of water park accidents:
- Cuts and lacerations from foreign objects in pools and slides
- Falls from extreme rides
- E. Coli and Crypto infections from ingesting pool water
- Broken bones and fractures from ride defects
- Slip-and-fall injuries from running on wet surfaces
- Electrocutions from unsafe electrical wiring near pools
- Head injuries from deep-water diving and fast-moving rides
- Drowning injuries for small children and weak swimmers
Who Is Liable for My Water Park Injuries?
Because of the way water parks are regulated, most water parks will require you to sign a liability waiver before entering the park. However, these liability waivers are not binding in every single case, and you may be able to bring a lawsuit regardless of its terms. Anyone involved in the water park pipeline – from the ride manufacturers to the park operators to the food vendors – may ultimately be accountable to cover your damages.
