State officials are allowing the Xcelerator rollercoaster at Knott's Berry Farm to reopen next week after an amusement park accident in September injured two riders. The rollercoaster ride was closed for seven months. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) report about the accident faults both the ride manufacturer and Knott's Berry Farm for failing to inspect it properly. On September 16, 2009, a 12-year-old boy suffered leg injuries and another man sustained back injuries after a cable snapped loose during the zero-to-80mph hydraulic launch. A blast of debris sprayed riders as the cable broke loose.

Knott's Delayed Ride Inspection

State investigators said the manufacturer's maintenance instructions for the ride were confusing because they did not state clearly whether the cable should be inspected every month or every six months. Knott's was inspecting the cable once in six months instead of every month as the manufacturer, Intamin, AG, intended. Moreover, Knott's was 19 days late on the six-month cable inspection when the accident occurred, the state report points out. This Xcelerator incident was the second major incident at the Orange County attraction. In 2001, a 40-year-old woman was fatally injured after she fell from the Perilous Plunge water ride also built by Intamin.

Amusement Park Injuries

Amusement parks are required to constantly inspect their rides and attractions, as are carnival operators. When amusement park ride accidents occur, victims often sustain catastrophic injuries because of the size of the equipment, the elevation at which some of these rides operate and the speed at which they operate. The number of injuries and/or fatalities could also be high because of the large numbers of people who actually take these rides. In 2004 alone there were 2,500 amusement ride related injuries reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Liability Issues

It is not clear whether the manufacturer and Knott's face any fines or penalties for failing to properly inspect his ride and putting hundreds of park visitors in danger. I hope the two injured victims have sought the counsel of a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer to represent them in this case. Based on the state's report, the manufacturer and the amusement park operator can be held liable for injuries caused in the September 16 accident. Injured victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, physical therapy, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other related damages.

Do you feel safe riding an amusement park ride in any of the large parks?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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