State Fairs and Carnivals
State fairs and carnivals - they're a great way to spend time together as a family or with friends. You can play games, go on rides, and eat some delicious foods. But did you know the way these rides are set up are lurking with danger? Our experiened personal injury team wants to share what dangers to look out for when going to an outing at a state fair, carnival, or amusement park in Texas.
The Three Main Dangers of Rides at Texas State Fairs and Carnivals
1. Temporary Rides
The temporary nature of these rides makes them more dangerous than your average amusement park. When these state fair rides come to town, they're set up and broken down quickly, usually only staying up for about a month. Since these rides are not permanently reinforced into the ground like a traditional amusement park, they can be unstable.
2. Ride Maintenance and Rules
Rides need constant maintenance and inspections to ensure they're safe. When regular maintenance is ignored, it can put innocent people at risk of serious injury. Plus, trained staff must enforce safety rules to ensure riders meet requirements.
3. Qualified Staff
Many times, the staff operating the rides aren't qualified, trained, or supervised. The staff's lack of knowledge and experience can pose dangers to visitors and riders. For example, ride operators who are untrained may allow a young child who is too small to get on a ride meant for older kids and adults.
Other common things that can cause injuries at carnivals and state fairs are:
- exposed wires that cause electrocution,
- unmaintained and malfunctioning rides causing brain injuries or spinal cord injuries by being jolted around too quickly,
- inexperienced ride operators putting too many kids on one ride or making a ride go too fast
What to Do If You Were Seriously Injured on a State Fair Ride
If you know someone seriously injured at a state fair or carnival, ensure that they receive immediate medical care. After this, be sure to contact our legal team. We're dedicated to helping people keep moving forward after they've suffered catastrophic injuries.
You can reach out to a member of our experienced team by calling (214) 699-4409 or filling out the contact form at the bottom of this page.
