Amusement park accidents get a lot of media coverage, but it might actually be the less adrenaline-boosting attractions that cause the most injuries. Although thrill rides and roller coasters might seem like the rides that would most commonly result in injuries, a recent study has shown that inflatable bounce house are the major source of theme park accidents. Trampoline parks have also come under scrutiny, and lawsuits have been filed, after serious injuries were reported.
In a recent study, researchers in Canada collected information from the U.S. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), reviewing hospital emergency room injury reports linked to amusement rides. The researchers discovered that 42 percent of the injuries reported were attributed to inflatable bounce attractions and 20 percent were linked to roller coasters. Carousel-related injuries were third and bumper car-related injuries came in fourth on the list. Of the total 13,000 injuries included in the report, one-third of them were not attributed to a specific ride.
Owners of the increasingly popular trampoline parks might want to take head of this study. Lawsuits alleging park visitors were severely injured due to problems at the park have been filed against various trampoline parks, which are attractions centered on bouncing on trampolines.
In particular, one lawsuit was filed against a trampoline park in Houston when a 16-year-old fell through a tear in the trampoline canvas, hitting his head on the concrete floor underneath. According to a local news station, the teen sustained skull fractures, seizures, and bleeding on the brain. He survived the accident, but his family now says he has suffered long-term injury, and no longer takes honor courses in school.
An investigation by a Denver news channel turned up evidence of dozens of calls to paramedics from area trampoline parks, responding to reports of fractures, concussions, and neck injuries.
Currently, trampoline parks are unregulated for the most part, however, officials in some states are reportedly looking into enforcement of the parks.