Who’s Liable if I’m Injured at the Delaware County Fair?

December 14, 2023

Every summer, you and the family enjoy the pastime of the Delaware County Fair. You expect to make more memories, consume deep-fried dishes, and enjoy the community event. You do not expect to have your fun quickly turn into a nightmare because of injuries resulting from carnival rides. It’s unfortunate that such a great experience like the county fair can bring harm to your family because of negligence. It’s important to be aware of the dangers so you can protect yourself and your family and find out who is responsible if you suffer injuries while at the fair.

Injuries at County Fairs

When the rides are working as they should, no one thinks twice about indulging in the fun. Thousands of children, teens, and even adults can spend hours on their favorite rides. Yet, when a malfunction happens, that can cause visitors to think twice.

Accidents can happen for several of reasons:

• Failure to properly maintain equipment
• Mechanical failure
• Defective parts
• Design flaws
• Assembly failure
• Operator misconduct
• No operator training
• Operator fatigue
• No safety inspection

County fair rides are not for everyone. Thinking that you could avoid injury by avoiding rides, however, isn’t always the case. There are several other ways to experience personal injury besides being a thrill seeker and riding rides:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Inadequate security
• Unsafe food or drinks
• Poorly maintained tents or booths
• Unfinished construction
• Parking lot car accidents
• Dehydration due to lack of appropriate facilities

Some of these accidents require more than a trip to the medical tent. A trip to the emergency room can cause costs to spiral out of control — hospital stays, treatment plans, surgery, etc. The more severe the injury, the more intensive course of treatment is required.

Determining Who’s Liable

The Delaware County Fairgrounds is owned by the county government. However, because of the demand and expectation of the fair each year, most county fairs hire outside agencies to bring rides and attractions. Depending on the details of your accident, both the contracted amusement company and the Delaware County Fairgrounds could be liable for your injuries. Evidence would need to be gathered that both parties failed at their duties in some way. This is best left to the attorneys that will fight your case for you — they know what to look for.

Filing a claim begins with the appropriate party’s insurance carrier. This could be the insurance of the amusement company, the county, or both. If the insurance company is not offering a fair settlement, that is when the next move is to file a lawsuit. Your medical bills, lost wages, care costs, and treatment plan should be included in any settlement offer worth considering. A Muncie personal injury attorney can negotiate a settlement on your behalf and file a lawsuit if necessary.

Hire a Muncie Personal Injury Attorney

There are so many things to consider in a premises liability case. Seek the help and advice of experienced Muncie personal injury attorneys. Trusting your case to attorneys can help relieve some of the stress while knowing that people are fighting for your compensation. In the unfortunate circumstance that an injury happens to you during the Delaware County Fair, call Hensley Legal Group today or contact us online for a free consultation.