Callahan & Blaine

Ten people were injured on a rollercoaster ride in Buena Park, California at Knott’s Berry Farm when the Pony Express Ride malfunctioned last week. One car rolled back an on incline and crashed into a second stationary car in the loading area. Nine people on the first car and one person climbing into the stopped car were rushed to the emergency room with back and neck injuries.

The Pony Express debuted in 2008. Riders straddle “horses” that go from zero to 38 mph in just three seconds. The restraint system on each “horse” is centered around the lower back and provides little support for the shoulder and neck area where the injuries occurred.

State officials and the ride’s manufacturers will inspect the ride to find out what caused the malfunction. In September 2009, California state investigators found Knott’s Berry Farm accountable for an accident involving the Xcelerator that injured two people when debris came loose from the ride. The Swiss-based manufacturer of the Xcelerator was also held responsible.

Amusement park ride accidents like the one at Knott’s Berry Farm can result in permanent injury or death. As rides get faster and more thrilling, the likelihood of severe injuries increases. Even a stroke or heart attack can be caused by excessive g-forces, and pregnant women should be extra cautious.

Callahan & Blaine, California’s Premier Litigation Firm, is one of the leading catastrophic injury firms in the state of California. In fact, in the last five years alone our lawyers have obtained over $1.2 billion in verdicts and settlements, including a $7 million settlement for a cyclist who was left with a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a newspaper delivery truck, and a $7.25 million settlement in a case when a man was run over trying to board a city bus in Orange County, California.

Our success in litigating and negotiating personal injury cases comes from our uncommon approach; we handle each personal injury case as though it were a complex business litigation case, attacking it from every angle possible. While our firm is located in Orange County, California, we handle serious personal injury, wrongful death and product liability cases nationwide.

If you or someone you know has suffered a catastrophic injury or died as the result of a theme park accident, please contact our California law firm for expert legal counsel.