An amusement park injury is the last thing anyone anticipates on a trip to their local theme park to take in a day of rides, cotton candy and outdoor fun. Each spring these family fun parks across the United States open for the warm weather season and most people visiting will only experience a little motion sickness at worst. But behind the excitement and the thrills the risk of minor to severe injury lies whenever rides are unsafely maintained and supervised.

The first roller coasters were exceptionally dangerous and the brave volunteers who tested them frequently died from whiplash injuries on just one ride. Current models are far safer and although the G forces on riders may be quite high, state-of-the-art safety restraints and ride design protect more people that are harmed.

Nevertheless, an injury can occur on any ride; children fall from roller coasters and break limbs, suffer spinal injuries or die, employees are crushed under ride tracks and passengers are flung out of their seats when safety restraints fail. Whiplash, a brain injury, accidental amputations, paralysis and even death can occur on the most innocuous kiddie ride or the scariest roller coaster but this is not a reason to avoid amusement parks altogether. With the proper precautions any amusement park attendee can rest assured that he or she has done all within his or her power to safely enjoy the park.

Preventing Amusement Park Injuries If you stay alert and follow the guidelines below, chances are excellent that you'll avoid most amusement park hazards.

Rules are posted for reason, follow them. Most restrictions on age, size and weight are designed to make sure that the safety restraints on the rider capable of adequately harnessing the people in their seats. If you ignore these restrictions you greatly increase your risk for devastating injury.

Restrictions are there for your safety; do not enter restricted areas at any time. All restrictions on riders and areas of the park are there for your protection to ignore them is to go forth at your own peril.

Do not enter rides that seem unsafe or unsupervised. If a rider seems unsafe for the ride attendant is inattentive can skip it and move onto the next one. Why risk everything for thrill?

When riding remain in your seat and secure all harnesses in place tightly. If safety gear doesn’t work you should immediately call the attendant.

Do not move your limbs around inside the ride. Hold on to the grab bar and keep your legs in their designated spot when riding to avoid cuts, abrasions, bruises, broken bones or an accidental amputation.

Never force unwillingly children onto rides just in case they may feel compelled to attempt to get off once the ride is in motion.

If all measures have failed or you have already been in an amusement park accident then contact a personal injury attorney who has worked successfully on amusement park injury cases to determine whether you have a case against the amusement park in question.