The big wheel, hook a duck, and – my favourite – the dodgems, are all attractions you will often find at your local fairground. Fairgrounds attract a lot of people every year, and unfortunately, amongst the excitement, there is the strong possibility of an injury occurring.
The major areas that stand out as possible causes of injuries are poorly maintained rides, slips and trips from the area which the funfair is responsible for, and unfortunately food poisoning from the numerous food vans and onsite vendors. I will address each of these individually:
1- Poorly maintained rides – As some fairgrounds are temporary and therefore travel around the country, it is a possibility that rides are either poorly maintained or not set up properly and are therefore unsafe. For example; the harness on a ride may be loose and consequently not hold you in as safely as it should; I don’t need to say how serious injuries could be in this occasion. Another scenario can arise where parts of the ride have broken or come loose; for example; if a screw comes loose and is in the dodgems arena, this could then cause a dodgem to veer uncontrollably.
2– Slips and trips – Of course the British weather is renowned for its unpredictability, so the area where a fairground is based can become dangerous as well. As most rides require visitors to use metal steps to alight, the smallest amount of rain can cause these surfaces to become very slippery, posing a serious hazard. The person responsible for the fairground should ensure that reasonable steps are taken to remove the risk of slipping under these conditions through the use of signs and cordoning off unsafe areas. It is not only when it rains that this scenario can arise, spilt drinks can also cause a similar accident and again, steps should be taken to ensure these things are cleaned up as soon as they happen.
3- Food poisoning – If you suffer from food poisoning because of something you have eaten at a fairground you may be able to claim. However, your injuries or suffering must last at least 4 weeks for an injury lawyer like us to deal with the claim, as this is the approximate threshold for a solicitor to be able to recover their fees from the other side. If your injuries do not last 4 weeks you may still be able to pursue a small claim through the small claims court.
If you or someone you know has been injured after a visit to a fairground and it was caused by somebody else’s negligence you may be entitled to claim for compensation – give us a call on our free claims helpline on 0800 634 75 75 for free advice today.
