Recent Accidents Put Spotlight on Amusement Parks and Childrens’ Rides

As we enter into summer, we’re reminded of the unfortunate accidents that can happen while our children are at play. This weekend the news reported 2 such accidents in neighboring states to Pennsylvania.

In New York, a heavy gust of wind appears to be the culprit in an accident that left 13 people injured, according to an article on CNN.com. As a soccer tournament was held in Long Island, 3 inflatable bounce houses floated away when wind blew across the field and sent them airborne. A Nassau County police officer is quoted in the article as saying, “Once they hit the ground, they began rolling and struck several people on the ground.”

One person who was about to enter the bounce house said her neck got hooked on a rope connected to the house. A total of 13 people were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals. Although there may not be any criminal charges, it is thought that there could be civil cases stemming from the accident.

On Friday, an 11-year-old girl died after falling from a ferris wheel while on a class trip to an amusement park in New Jersey. According to CNN.com, the girl was riding one of the park’s main attractions, “The Great Wheel.” At 156 feet, it is one of the tallest ferris wheels on the East Coast. The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office continues to investigate the accident. The cause of the girl’s fall is still unknown. Carnival Amusement inspectors were also on the scene conducting their own investigation. This is the first time someone has fallen from the ride since it opened in 1985.

If you are injured because of negligence or if a party responsible for maintaining a property fails to provide a safe environment, you may have a claim. Call the experienced accident attorneys at O’Connor Law for a free review of your case.

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