Non-Professionals Designing Dangerous Rides

When paying the entrance fee to attend an amusement park, most people would assume that some basic level of safety is guaranteed. Included in this assumption is the reasonable guess that all of the rides have been designed with safety in mind, by qualified professionals including engineers. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Three people are under indictment in response to the 2016 death of a 10-year-old at a water park in Kansas City. Included in the charge is the co-owner of the park, who helped design the dangerous ride despite lacking any credentials or training, and the contractor who built it. The slide was billed as dangerous and asked riders if they were crazy enough to ride it, and was even named with the German word for “insane.”

The contractor who constructed the ride and is facing indictment, Henry & Sons Construction, is in trouble for failing to ensure that the ride met all engineering requirements. Court records indicate the contractor took part in some phases of the design. Considering the fact the ride included a 50-foot freefall, reasonable minds might have concluded it was potentially dangerous.

In all, over 17 people have injured in the brief time the ride was open, including four minors. Sadly, amusement park injuries are common, and even a history of causing injuries will not keep a ride closed. All too often, it takes the death of a rider to actually draw the necessary attention to how dangerous some of these contraptions can be.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an amusement park accident, please consult with a qualified attorney. Holding the park accountable for their actions is often the best opportunity to get a dangerous ride shut down before it results in death. A qualified lawyer can guide you through the process of making your case.