Guests at Halloween Mazes Can Get Hurt
By Susan Schaben
BUENA PARK, California (Sept. 18, 2017) — Armed with a flashlight in a dark interactive maze called Trick or Treat Lights Out, guests at Knott’s Scary Farm meander their way through the Halloween attraction where they likely encounter a few jump-scares from a host of creepy characters.
The Orange County theme park attracts thousands to its annual Halloween-themed mazes every year, but these darkened attractions packed with goons and goblins can be hazardous.
Take for instance Special Ops: Infected where guests use a laser gun to hunt and shoot at a zombie apocalypse. As with most mazes, guests are taken through the attraction where there is limited lighting and potentially hazardous situations that could lead to an injury.
Common injuries from accidents at Knott’s Scary Farm and other Halloween haunts, pumpkin patches and horror nights include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Head injury
- Strains and sprains
- Food poisoning
- Animal bites at petting zoos
- Death
Zombies, Monsters and Goblins — Oh My!
Many of the injuries suffered in these theme park attractions are caused by interactions with zombies and monsters, a dangerous condition or hazard that is unseen due to darkened conditions, ride malfunctions or other problems with design or materials.
Indeed, most encounters at Knott’s or other theme parks are perfectly safe and fun. These types of attractions are now held all over the United States and around the world. In fact, with the 2017 season set to begin, a 21-year-old man in Hong Kong has already lost his life. He was killed this past weekend (Sept. 16) when he was struck by a coffin as he walked through the Buried Alive haunted house attraction in Hong Kong.
While there have been no deaths reported at Knott’s Scary Farm here in Orange County, there have been numerous injuries.
These mazes are among Buena Park theme park created just for Halloween. Other mazes are the Red Barn, The Hollow, Special Ops: Infected, Paranormal Inc., Pumpkin Eater, CarnEVIL and Dark Ride.
Knott’s was one of the first amusement parks to create a Halloween haunt in 1973 for its guests, but now numerous parks offer similar attractions at California theme parks including:
- Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
- Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights
- Knotts Scary Farm
- Halloween Time at Disneyland
- Legoland Brick-o-Treat
- Seaworld Spooktacular
California Amusement Park Accidents
The law offices of Johnson Attorneys Group are located within a few miles of Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland in Orange County, California.
Our personal injury attorneys have experience handling claims on behalf of people hurt at a theme park due to an unsafe condition, slip and fall accident, ride, dangerous condition or negligent operations.
It is important that if you are hurt or have lost a loved one in a theme park accident or scary farm incident, that you take immediate steps to protect your legal rights by calling a qualified attorney to review your claim. There is no cost to speak with the attorney and fees are only paid if a settlement is obtained. Call us now at 800-235-6801.
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