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How Much Compensation For A Fairground Ride Accident?

By Jo Greenwood. Last updated 6th June 2023. When attending a theme park or a fairground, you expect to have fun. One thing you shouldn’t have to anticipate is sustaining an injury through no fault of your own. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case. In this guide, we take a look at claiming compensation for a fairground ride accident.

We also take a look at some other examples of accidents involving employees of funfairs, slips, trips and falls when walking around a fairground, and potential compensation payouts.

We’ve represented many people in claims against fairgrounds and we can help you too. If you’d like to take advantage of our free case check, simply:

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Your legal rights after a fairground ride accident

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The Criteria For Claiming Compensation For A Fairground Ride Accident

If you have been injured in a fairground ride accident, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim. However, you will need to prove that your injuries were caused by a relevant third party breaching their duty of care.

Anyone in control of a public space is considered an occupier. Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, all occupiers owe a duty of care. Per their duty of care, they must take all the necessary steps to ensure the reasonable safety of members of the public who are using that space for its intended purposes. This also applies to those in charge of fairgrounds. They could maintain their duty of care by performing regular risk assessments and maintenance checks of all fairground rides. If they were to breach this duty of care, this could result in you being injured in an accident, and you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.

If you meet the above criteria, you must also ensure that you start proceedings within the personal injury claims time limit. The Limitation Act 1980, you will have three years to start a claim from the date of the accident that injured you. However, there are certain exceptions to this time limit.

To learn more about the time limit exceptions for personal injury claims or to see if you have a valid claim, you can contact our advisors.

Can I Make A Personal Injury Claim On Behalf Of My Child?

Parents can launch fairground accident claims on behalf of their children. If your child has been injured while at a fairground, you can make a claim for them.

If you don’t do so, they will also have the option to make a claim themselves. They have three years from the date of their 18th birthday to do so.

Of course, if your child is young, it is better to launch a claim now. The details will be fresh in your mind and it will be a lot easier to gather evidence.

If you wait until your child becomes an adult, making a claim will be a lot more difficult, and your child may not realise they are entitled to compensation until it is too late.

Advice On Claiming Compensation After A Fatal Fairground Ride Accident

If someone you loved has been involved in a fairground accident, which has resulted in their death, you may be able to claim on their behalf. We have years of experience in fatal fairground accidents, and our experienced solicitors will be able to ensure you get the maximum compensation you and your family deserve.

Are you entitled to make funfair accident claims on behalf of the deceased? You can make a claim if you are a family member of the deceased, or if you are a dependent of the deceased, i.e. the person that has passed away provided you for financially.

In such cases, you will be able to claim for general damages, a bereavement award, funeral expenses, medical expenses, and punitive damages. Other expenses associated with death, which you can claim for, include loss of benefits, future loss of earnings, mental suffering and emotional pain, and effects that have a long-term impact upon family members of the deceased, including loss of ongoing protection and care, as well as loss of potential future inheritance, due to loss of savings and long-term earnings.

Please read on for more information about making fairground accident claims.

Accidents At Work And Fairgrounds

While most fairground accidents occur to members of the public, you may have also sustained an injury while working at a fairground. Perhaps an object fell on top of you? Maybe you slipped on an unmarked wet floor? No matter what has happened, if the accident was not your fault, you will be able to launch funfair accident claims. You simply need to be able to prove that your employer is at fault for your suffering.

There are many different ways your employer could be to blame. They may have failed to provide you with the correct training. Other possibilities include failing to carry out regular risk assessments, ignoring risk assessment findings, allowing you to use defected machines, and failing to inform you about potential hazards.

A lot of people worry about making a claim against their employer, as they fear that they could lose their job as a consequence. This is something you do not need to worry about. If you have been injured and your employer is responsible, they will recognise that you need to be compensated. After all, every employer is required to follow health and safety legislation by law. They are also required to have insurance in place, which will cover the cost of such incidents. If your employer were to fire you, they would only land themselves in bigger trouble, as you would then have grounds for unfair dismissal as well.

Please read on for more information about fairground accident claims or get in touch with our team today.

Slips, Trips And Falls In Fairgrounds

There are many different types of accidents that can occur at a fairground. Not all accidents happen because of issues with the rides. Some accidents occur for other reasons, and slips, trips, and falls are just one of these.

Perhaps you fell due to a pothole that wasn’t corned off? Maybe you slipped on an unmarked wet floor? No matter what has happened, so long as you can prove that you were not to blame for the slip, trip, or fall you experienced, we will be able to secure compensation for you.

Aside from establishing responsibility, the only other criteria you need to meet to have grounds to make fairground accident claims are as follows: the accident must have happened within the past three years, and you must have seen a doctor for your injuries. We can, however, arrange a local medical for you if required. All you need to do is give us a call and you can get your free consultation about making funfair accident claims today.

What To Do If Injured In A Fairground Ride Accident

If you are eligible to make a personal injury claim following a fairground ride accident, you could collect evidence to support your case. Some examples of the evidence you could gather include:

  • Any video footage of the accident occurring, such as CCTV footage.
  • Photographs of the accident scene and any visible injuries you suffered, such as cuts and lacerations
  • The contact details of any witnesses to the accident so that they could provide a statement at a later date.
  • Medical evidence regarding your injury, such as a copy of your medical records.

If you choose to work with a solicitor on your claim, they could assist you with gathering evidence.

To find out if you could be eligible to work with one of our solicitors, you can contact our advisors. They can also help answer any questions you may have about personal injury claims.

The Fairground Rides That Can Cause Injuries

Of course, accidents can happen on any type of ride, and in manner different ways. However, we have compiled a list of some of the most common types of fairground rides that cause accidents and could give rise to funfair accident claims being made. These include but are not limited to:

  • Child rides
  • Family rides
  • Circular rides
  • Extreme thrill rides
  • Ferris wheel
  • Flying coaster (ski jump)
  • Bouncy castle
  • Swings
  • Trampolines
  • Octopus
  • The waltzers
  • Mont Blanc (airways)
  • Skid (swirl)
  • Dodgems

Such rides can cause injuries due to a number of different reasons. Some of the most common causes are as follows:

  • Lack of protection on a ride
  • Fires
  • Electrical failures
  • Carriages coming loose from rides
  • Collisions
  • Unsafe tracks
  • Failed signals
  • Hydraulic or mechanical failures
  • Rides suddenly stopping

The Most Popular Fairgrounds In The UK

There are many fairgrounds across the UK that could become subject to funfair accident claims. The following list includes some of the most popular that you may find yourself wanting to make fairground accident claims against. However, it is by no means exhaustive, so get in touch with our team today if you don’t see the company liable for your injuries included here:

  • Thorpe Park
  • Wicksteed Park
  • Windsor Safari Park
  • Southport Pleasureland
  • Sundown Adventure Land
  • Rhyl
  • Chessington World of Adventures
  • Paramount London
  • Paultons Park
  • Pleasureland Arbroath
  • Oakwood Theme Park
  • Joylmm
  • Drayton Manor Theme Park
  • Brean Leisure Park
  • Flambards Village Theme Park
  • Adventure Island
  • Knowsley Safari Park
  • Lightwater Valley
  • Longleat Safari Park
  • Ocean Beach Pleasure Park South Shields
  • Landmark Forest Adventure Park
  • Legoland Windsor
  • Woodlands Family Theme Park
  • Adventure Wonderland
  • Barry’s Amusements
  • M&Ds, Scotland’s Theme Park
  • Pleasurewood Hills (East Anglia)
  • Robin Hill
  • Twinlakes Theme Park
  • West Midland Safari Park
  • Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
  • Gulliver’s Land
  • Blackpool Pleasure Beach
  • Gulliver’s World
  • Flamingo Land Resort
  • Funland
  • Brighton Pier
  • Codonas Amusement Park
  • Crealy Great Adventure Parks
  • Clarence Pier
  • Diggerland
  • Dreamland Margate
  • Fantasy Island
  • Alton Towers Resort
  • Billie bates fair abbey park
  • Blackgang Chine
  • Gulliver’s Eco-Park
  • Gulliver’s Kingdom
  • Butlins

If you have been injured at any of the fairgrounds mentioned above, please do not hesitate to give us a call and we will be happy to launch a claim for you. A lot of people worry about making claims against large companies, as they fear the company will be able to use its size and power to wiggle its way out of it.

Such fears are unfounded. It does not matter what fairground you were injured at, if the accident was not your fault, you have grounds to make a claim.

Compensation Payouts In Personal Injury Claims

If you make a successful personal injury claim for a fairground ride accident, you will be awarded general damages. This compensates you for the pain and suffering your injuries have caused you.

Many legal professionals will refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) when valuing this head of claim. This document lists compensation guidelines for various injuries. In the table below, we have listed some of the amounts stated in the 16th edition of the JCG.

Please only use this table as a guide.

Edit
Injury Typical compensation amount Comments
Back injuries – severe £91,090 to £160,980 At the lower end of the scale, there are cases of disc fractures, disc lesions, and soft tissue injuries. Higher awards are for cases that involve severe injuries, such as those involving damage to the nerve roots and spinal cord, which leads to a combination of very serious consequences. There will be severe disability and pain, with a combination of significantly impaired sexual, bowel, and bladder function, as well as incomplete paralysis.
Back injuries – moderate £27,760 to £38,780 This is cases where there is residual disability but it is of a lesser severity when compared with the category above. At the lower bracket of this injury, there are claims involving disturbance of the muscles and ligaments, which results in soft tissue injuries and backaches.
Leg injuries – amputations (ii) £104,830 to £137,470 One leg is amputated above the knee.
Leg injuries – less serious (ii) £9,110 to £14,080 Simple femur fractures with no damage to the articular surfaces.
Arm amputations – loss of one arm (i) Not less than £137,160 One arm is amputated at the shoulder.
Chest injuries – moderately severe £31,310 to £54,830 Damage to the lung(s) and chest that causes some continual disability.
Arm injuries – less ssevere £19,200 to £39,170 The person will have suffered with significant disabilities, but a substantial recovery will or is expected to take place.
Post-traumatic stress disorder – moderate £8,180 to £23,150 In such cases, the injured person will largely make a recovery and any continual effects will not be grossly disabling.
Shoulder injuries – serious £12,770 to £19,200 Damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus with a dislocated shoulder that causes shoulder and neck pain.
Chest injuries – moderate £12,590 to £17,960 This relates to relatively simple injuries that will cause some lasting damage to the tissue, however, there will not be any significant long-term effects on the lung function. An example of this could be a single penetrating wound.

Some personal injury compensation payouts may also include special damages. This compensates you for the financial losses you have suffered due to your injury. Some examples of the losses you could be compensated for include:

  • Medical expenses.
  • Travel costs.
  • A loss of earnings.

You will need to provide evidence of these losses, with bank statements, invoices or payslips.

Contact our advisors today if you have any questions about making a personal injury claim for compensation.

Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?

One of the key benefits associated with choosing our service is the fact that all of our fairground injury solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means anyone is able to make a claim, irrespective of their current financial standing. No Win No Fee basically means that you only need to pay legal fees if your case is successful. Therefore, if for some reason we are unable to secure compensation for you, you won’t need to pay us a penny. This eliminates the financial risk that is associated with using the services of funfair accident claims lawyers that charge per hour.

If you were to work with a solicitor that charges per hour, there is always the risk that you are going to end up with a massive legal bill and no compensation to fund it. Not only this, but you cannot be sure that the solicitor is taking on your case for the right reasons. After all, they are going to get the same amount of pay irrespective of the outcome of your fairground accident claim. When you work with us, you can be confident that we will never waste your time. We only take on fairground accident claims that we believe have a genuine chance of success.

Make A Personal Injury Claim Today

If you want to make fairground accident claims for an incident that you have been involved in, all you need to do is give us a call.

You can speak to a friendly and professional member of our team by dialling 0800 073 8804. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you are ready, we will begin the claim process for you, connecting you to one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors who will give you the best chance of securing the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.

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Learn More About Claiming Compensation For A Fairground Ride Accident

Below, you can find more useful links on making a personal injury claim.

Post traumatic stress disorder compensation

Have you suffered from PTSD due to a fairground accident contact us to find out if you can claim compensation today and get free legal advice.

NHS – on Post traumatic stress disorder

This link is useful for anyone that is feeling anxious after the fairground accident they were involved in. It takes you to the NHS page for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You will find information on the symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Lists of amusement park incidents

This link takes you to a list of amusement park incidents. It includes incidents at Disneyland Resorts, incidents at European amusement parks, incidents at independent amusement parks, and more.

HSE on Health and safety guidance for fairgrounds

This link takes you to the Government’s Health and Safety Executive website, where you will find information on health and safety for fairgrounds. This includes information of fair organisers, ride controller employers, self-employed fairground ride operators, and members of the public.

Theme Park Accident Claims – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?

Have you been involved in a theme park accident? If so, contact us today for free legal advice and find out if you can make a no win no fee theme park accident claim.

If you need any more advice on claiming compensation for a fairground ride accident, get in touch.

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    Meet The Team

    • Patrick Mallon

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.