A trip to the amusement park is a fun way to spend a day. Whether you watch people enjoying the twists and turns of amusement rides or you jump on a coaster yourself, everyone trusts that the rides are as safe as possible. Sadly though, sometimes something goes wrong and defective products on rides can quickly turn an afternoon of fun until a lifetime of tragedy. A family who experienced such a situation recently is suing an amusement park, as well as the company that designed the ride that involved the horrific event.
Back in July, a 52-year-old woman fell from the Six Flags Over Texas ride, the Texas Giant, and was killed. Her family had initially filed a lawsuit against the amusement park, but recently amended the lawsuit to include the manufacturer of the ride, a company based in Germany.
Both the park and the ride designer denied any wrongdoing, calling the woman’s death a tragic accident. The park’s representative stated that they did not believe any similar accidents have occurred with rides designed by the German company. The company that designed the ride also claimed they were not negligent, and that the ride was not designed with a defect.
The crux of the issue is that the woman was not properly secured in the ride when the ride started. How or why her restraints did not work properly is the center of the lawsuit. The family posits that either the park was remiss in how she was secured in the seat by park staff, or there was a defect in the design of the restraint by the designer.
This is a tragic situation that even a win will not completely fix, since a family has lost a treasured member. However, compensation can help a family cope with the loss without worrying about financial matters. Anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation should consider speaking with a legal professional to determine their rights to damages and if pursuing those damages is the best course of action.
Source: Dallas News, “Six Flags wrongful death suit amended to include ride maker” Karen Robinson-Jacobs, Oct. 30, 2013