Chicago Water Park Accident Attorney

While water parks can be a great way to cool off and create lasting family memories, they also sometimes lead to injury. Crowded wave pools, poorly maintained water slides, or slippery surfaces can all lead to water park injuries.

An estimated 51,000 park injuries occurred in the United States over ten years between 2012 and 2021 [1]. A water park accident can leave you with expensive medical bills and chronic pain.

An experienced Chicago water park accident lawyer can help you identify who is liable for your injury and recover compensation following a water park accident.

Common Types of Injuries at Water Parks

Some of the most common types of park injuries include the following:

• Drowning
• Slip and falls
• Broken bones
• Back and neck injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Food poisoning
• Concussion
• Traumatic brain injury
• Laceration or deep cuts

Common Causes of Water Park Accidents

Water parks may contain more safety hazards than you realize. Here are some of the most common causes of water park accidents:

• Faulty Rides: Defective parts or ride malfunctions can lead to an accident. Broken parts or defective seat belts could also cause injury. Ignoring ride safety regulations, like age limits and weight restrictions, could also cause injury.
• Slippery surfaces: Water parks tend to have many slippery surfaces. The surfaces around wave pools or water slides can lead to slip-and-fall accidents. 46.6% of water park injuries were due to slick surfaces [2].
• Contaminated water: Despite modern disinfection systems, illness outbreaks in public swimming places are common [3]. Failure to properly clean and sanitize a water slide or pool could cause injury.
• Lack of safety inspections: Safety inspection requirements are regulated at the state level, sometimes leading to unclear protocols.
• Chemical reactions: Improper filtering and cleaning protocols could lead to toxic chlorine inhalation [4].

Some common injuries from water parks are not even due to water slide rides or other equipment. Food poisoning from a lack of food safety standards could lead to foodborne illness injuries for guests.

States vary in their regulations and inspections of water parks and amusement parks. New Jersey has some of the strictest regulations in the country, while other states, like Nevada and Alabama, have no laws requiring inspections [5].

Liability for Water Park Accidents

Establishing liability is necessary for claims following water park accidents. Any of the following parties could be to blame when accidents occur at water parks:

• Inspection crews: Some states, like Pennsylvania, have enacted laws requiring ride operators to follow specific guidelines to ensure ride safety [6]. Failing to adhere to these inspection requirements could make inspection crews liable.
• Park owners: The water park owner may also be liable if they don’t consider safety when hiring or training employees.
• Parts manufacturers: Faulty or defective parks could lead to a water park accident, which could make the product manufacturer liable.

Proving Negligence

Proving negligence is a crucial part of filing a personal injury claim. In a lawsuit, our legal team will aim to establish the following elements:

• Duty of care: We must establish that the responsible party has a legal duty of care for your well-being. Water parks, in general, are expected to maintain and inspect their equipment so it’s safe for guests.
• Breach of duty of care: Your water park accident lawyers will also gather evidence to show the liable party breached that duty of care. Negligence is the most common and may include an untrained ride operator or poor ride control.
• Causation: A water park accident lawyer will also prove causation, specifically that the negligence caused the serious injury.
• Damages: Water and amusement park accidents also require damages that can be compensated through a personal injury lawsuit. Our law firm will collect evidence, including medical records and expert witness statements documenting your expenses.

You Have Limited Time to Take Legal Action

The statute of limitations for accidents at amusement and water parks varies by state but typically falls between one to three years from the date of the injury. This time frame determines how long victims have to file a personal injury claim against the park or responsible party.

Failing to file within the statute of limitations can result in losing the right to seek compensation for injuries, making timely action crucial. Always consult a local attorney to understand the specific statute in your area.

How Our Chicago Water Park Accident Lawyers Can Help

A water park accident lawyer can be valuable to your case. A personal injury attorney from our law firm can help in the following ways.

Collecting Evidence

Evidence is an important part of your case. Our water park injury lawyers will work diligently to gather as much evidence as possible, including medical report records, emergency room discharge papers, and income statements. Expert witnesses may also benefit your case, especially when proving factors like ride operator error or pool water contamination.

Establishing Value of Damages

Calculating the value of your case can help you better evaluate any settlement offers you may receive. In many cases, the water park owners may be willing to offer a settlement to avoid the time and money required to go to court. However, while a settlement may be beneficial to everyone involved, it’s important only to accept an offer that covers the full extent of your short- and long-term injuries.

Negotiating With Insurance

The insurance company may not always offer you a fair settlement, and your personal injury lawyer will negotiate with them to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve.

Representing You in Court

Our personal injury lawyers will take your case to trial if the responsible party doesn’t offer a fair settlement. Your personal injury lawyer will collect the necessary evidence, build your case, prepare you for trial, and ensure the party responsible is held liable. Our law firm offers free consultations, so there is no risk in exploring your legal options.

What You Should Do After a Water Park Injury

Immediately following a water park injury, the steps you take are essential for your overall well-being and for protecting your legal rights. If you or a loved one is ever injured at a water park, here are a few important steps to take:

• Gather time-sensitive evidence: Some evidence, like photos or videos from the accident scene, may not be available later.
• Receive medical care: Prompt medical treatment should be a priority following an injury. Some injuries, like neck injuries or spinal injuries, require immediate medical care. Keep copies of your medical bills.
• Report the accident: Report the accident to the water park’s staff or owners. Doing so can help keep other guests safe.
• Contact a waterpark accident lawyer: Be sure to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after a water park injury. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation to discuss your case.

Compensation Available to Victims

Economic and non-economic damages may be available in a water park accident case. Your lawyer may include the following damage types in your claim.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the financial impacts of a water park injury. Common economic damages in a water park injury case include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and diminished earning capacity.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages cover the non-financial aspects of a water park injury. Suffering injuries on a defective water slide can lead to pain and suffering. Broken bones or a head injury from a fall could prevent you from enjoying the same hobbies you once did.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are awarded in addition to other funds and are meant to punish gross negligence. If a park operator knew of a defective water slide and still allowed guests to use it, they could be liable for punitive damages if an injury occurred.

How much compensation you receive in a personal injury lawsuit will vary, depending on factors like the severity of your injury and who’s liable. However, if you suffer injuries while visiting a water park due to negligence, you should be eligible for financial compensation.

Contact Our Water Park Accident Attorneys Today!

Water parks should be safe and entertaining. However, that’s not always the case. Safety standards aren’t always followed, and when they’re not, you can be left with severe injuries and even death.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers help those injured by the negligence of local water parks. Whether you or a loved one was injured due to a defective water slide or contaminated pool water, our lawyers are here to help. We offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis, which means you never pay anything unless we win your case.

Call us today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our convenient online form.

Resources: [1] Property Casualty360, [2] Turkish Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, [3] Pennsylvania Department of Health, [4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [5] Insurance Journal, [6] Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Division of Rides and Amusements,

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.