Most Common Water Park Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Gregg Hollander | October 5, 2022 | Premise Liability

Most Common Water Park Accidents in Fort Lauderdale

Warm, sunny Fort Lauderdale is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida, and part of the reason is the abundance of family-friendly water parks. 

Many cities are lucky to boast just one amusement park full of towering water slides, lazy rivers, and splash pads, but Ft. Lauderdale is home to nearly a dozen. And with beautiful sunshine nearly every day of the year, Ft. Lauderdale water parks are almost always operating.

With all this fun comes the risk of injury and accidents — some of which, tragically, may be fatal. Before buying your tickets and putting on your sunscreen, learn more about the most common water park accidents in Fort Lauderdale and what to do if the unthinkable happens.

Common Water Park Accidents

Most people associate a water park accident with drowning, and while this is a devastating kind of accident, there are many other risks at a water park, such as:

  • Falling from heights (a ladder or a slide)
  • Slip and fall accidents from running on a wet surface
  • Tripping and falling
  • Electrocution
  • Diving accidents (diving into shallow water)
  • Bacterial or viral infections from contaminated water
  • Ride accidents caused by malfunction, poor design, or operator negligence
  • Wave pool accidents (waves causing dangerous riptides or undertow)
  • Pump and drain accidents (when swimmers are caught in the equipment)

These aren’t the only ways that a park visitor can get hurt, and many times, a water park accident can be avoided by responsible safety measures, inspections, and consistent oversight.

Common Injuries After a Water Park Accident

The type of injury a park visitor experiences depends on how the accident was caused. For example, broken limbs may be common in falls or tripping accidents, while drowning or significant lung damage can occur in wave pool accidents. 

Water park accident victims may experience these injuries:

Sadly for many water park accident victims, multiple injuries can result from one accident.

Who Is Responsible for Water Park Accidents and Injuries in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Establishing liability in a water park accident case can be tricky, which is why it’s so important to consult an attorney familiar with these types of cases. 

Water park visitors are required to sign a waiver of liability before they’re allowed to enter, but just because you sign a waiver doesn’t mean you cannot file a suit for damages if you or a loved one gets hurt. Sometimes, the gross negligence of another party supersedes the park’s waiver.

Parties that can be liable for a water park injury include:

  • The park’s management company or owner
  • Employees, like ride operators and lifeguards
  • The designer of the rides and the construction crew
  • Third-party pool maintenance companies
  • Third-party food and beverage vendors
  • Other guests, such as a reckless guest who creates an unsafe condition

Victims of a water park accident can file a claim for their actual damages, such as the medical care they need and treatment for their injuries. 

If the park owner or ride designer is found to have been responsible for allowing an unsafe ride to operate or failing to ensure proper safety protocols, a judge may assess punitive damages against that party.

The water park will often try to blame the victim in an accident and stand behind their waiver. But you have rights if you’ve been hurt. An experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can protect your rights and pursue your interests after an accident.

Contact Our Premises Liability Law Firm in South Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

We proudly serve Palm Beach County, Broward County, and its surrounding areas:

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Boca Raton Law Office
7000 W Palmetto Park Rd #500
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(561) 347-7770

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Fort Lauderdale Law Office
200 S.E. 6th Street #203
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 287-0566

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – West Palm Beach Law Office
319 Clematis St #203
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 556-7873