On December 31st, 2012, the California Supreme Court ruled that amusement parks are not financially liable for personal injuries that patrons suffer on bumper cars, or any other thrill rides. The ruling stated that park visitors who ride bumper cars automatically assume a certain level of risk, similar to people engaging in contact sports, and therefore have no right to sue the theme park for injuries incurred during use of the bumper cars.
This ruling reverses a former state appeals court ruling that was in favor of the plaintiff, who sued an amusement park in Northern California after breaking her wrist on the bumper cars attraction. According to one of the Associate Justices, driving bumper cars or riding a roller coaster involves a small degree of risk, which riders assume for the thrill of the attraction.
Laws governing theme park liability are almost completely governed at the state level; there are very few federal regulations for amusement park rides. In order to win a personal injury case involving an amusement park, you need an attorney who is intimately familiar with the state laws that apply in your unique case.
If you have been injured at an amusement park, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices, LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced California theme park injury lawyer.
