Amusement park rides, horseback riding, water sports, and snow sports – the American West offers endless opportunities for recreation. Unfortunately, avoidable injuries happen.

If you were injured in an outdoor activity or a theme park accident the company you paid for your recreation may be responsible for your medical expenses and other costs. A Personal Injury lawyer at our California or Nevada law firm, David Allen & Associates, will be happy to evaluate your case. Contact our office to make arrangements for a free consultation.

The companies offering outdoor recreation and thrill rides know the activities can be dangerous. One of the first things you will be asked to do if you are at a ski resort or scuba diving is to sign a waiver – a legal document limiting your right to sue the company if you are injured. Read any such document carefully, without letting anyone pressure you into signing something that states you are more experienced than you are, you are highly trained or were issued safety equipment you never received, or you are over eighteen if you aren’t. You may not realize that amusement park and carnival rides also hand you a waiver – usually on the back of the ride ticket.

However, that waiver does not mean the company is automatically free from liability if you are injured in a waterslide accident, a roller-coaster accident or suffer a sports product injury.

It is important to report the injury at the time it happens. An outfitter or ride operator may not even notice there is a problem, and later argue that it didn’t happen If you are injured in a bicycle accident, the rental agent should be told. It is also important to make note of any other information your attorney may need, including, especially for a traveling carnival, the name and permanent address of the company. Keep the waiver – the exact wording will be important.

Other information to note if you rented equipment for an activity such as skiing, hang-gliding, snowboarding, scuba diving, or horseback riding will be exactly how long any training or mini-lesson lasted, how thoroughly instructions were explained, the condition of equipment issued, and the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. If you were injured at a theme park or carnival, note the condition of equipment such as safety bars or harnesses and the time the attendant took to check that people were properly restrained.

Whenever possible, take pictures of the site and close-ups of the failed equipment. If you don’t have a camera with you, someone in your group may have one, or you may be able to quickly buy a disposable one. Be sure and take pictures of any bruises, since they fade. The pictures will demonstrate the extent of your injuries.

A law exists in California allowing you to sue the owner of property if you paid to use the property and get hurt. If you were injured in a recreational activity such as river rafting, rock climbing, or using a roller coaster, you can get a free consultation by contacting an attorney at David Allen & Associates’ offices in Nevada or California. We help clients from communities including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento, California, and Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada.

We charge attorney fees only if we help you collect. We can help you and provide representation through e-mail, mail, the telephone, or in some cases, by visiting you at another location. You are always welcome at our office.