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Two Places Potential Lawsuits May Be Lingering At Your Local Fair

As the cool days of fall descend, many places are getting ready to host their local county or state fair. Not only does this mean all sorts of fried foods and games of chance, but it also means that there is an increased potential for accidents and injuries to take place. Here are a few dangers that may lurk in the shadow of all of the bright colored lights.

Ride Injuries

The fair is known for rides that go upside down, round and round, that twirl and spin, and more. For many people, part of the excitement of spending the day in such a location is to see how many of these attractions you can ride in a single day. Millions of people are able to do so safely, but unfortunately, each year there are some people who are injured and in 2016 approximately 30,900 were injured severely enough to require a hospital visit, and some injuries even result in deaths

While all states have very stringent guidelines in place that govern the setup and inspections of the rides at the fair, accidents and injuries do happen. When this occurs, you may be able to sue if you are able to show certain factors. These include:

  • Negligent operation: Was the standard operation of care being used when the ride was being operated?
  • Design/product defect: Was the design of the ride flawed, or did something in its construction or assembly allow it to cause your injury?
  • Improper maintenance: Was the ride properly maintain? Did improper maintenance lead to the ride's malfunction?

If any of these are the case, not only will you have a potential lawsuit against the owner and/or operator of the ride, you may have a potential suit against the manufacturer of the equipment, and the city, state, or agency that was sponsoring the fair.

Food Poisoning

If you think you will be able to maintain your safety by staying off the rides and simply spending the day walking around eating, think again. Most of the time food served at the fair is being sold by independent vendors who may or may not be maintaining proper food safety standards. While the vendors should be maintaining the same level of food safety practices that would be had in a traditional restaurant setting, this is not always the case.

To reduce your chances of contracting a food borne illness at the fair you will have to do your homework and use your power of observation. 

  • Look into the food truck or stand to see if it is clean and maintained
  • Look for hand-washing stations and look to see if employees are washing their hands
  • Look to see if they are wearing gloves when handling your food
  • Look for licensing or inspection ratings and more

If you do contract a food borne illness and you are able to narrow down which vendor you may have gotten it from, make sure that you report it to the fair officials and your county health department. If reported soon enough, they may be able to perform an onsite inspection and eliminate whatever it was that made you sick. Your illness may just be the tip of the iceberg, and you may be able to prevent others from becoming ill from the same vendor. 

If you become ill, you may be able to force the vendor to pay for the cost of your care. Food vendors can be held liable just like restaurants for any illness that is related to unsafe food practices. 

If you feel that you have an accident, injury, or illness that was caused by the negligence of your fair or carnival experience, you need to contact an injury lawyer as soon as possible. They will review your case and assist you in receiving the compensation you deserve. For more information, click this link, or others like it.


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