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Accident Watch

What is Accident Watch?

In the United States, no official source is keeping a complete national record of theme park accidents. And in many U.S. states, including Florida, theme parks are not legally required to report accidents involving injury to anyone.

That's why Theme Park Insider users are stepping up, to provide amusement park safety data that the public needs, and ought to be entitled to get.

In 2001, the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Online News Association honored Accident Watch with the Online Journalism Award for Service Journalism.

Recent Verified Incidents

Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida
10/14/2009
An employee fell from a ladder after the ride had closed for the evening, falling from the ride building's third story to its second. The worker was not believed to have suffered serious injury.

Recent Reports Awaiting Verification

GhostRider at Knott's Berry Farm
11/8/2009
This ride is extremely rough and jerky! Jerked me so hard to the left and then instantly jerked me hard to the right, hitting my sister's shoulder! Felt something pull apart in my ribcage and I continued to experience alot of pain as the ride continued for what seemed "forever" as the coaster car jerked terribly while all the while, dropping up and down on the track! The pain in my rigcage was so terrible and I screamed to my sister that I felt I would pass out! I heard her yell back to me "stay with me, it's almost over!" In alot of pain rest of day, guarding my left ribcage area. I was having shooting pains and it hurt to touch ribcage and sternum area and to breathe in! The Ghostrider was the first and last ride of the day for me! As it was my nephew's 16th birthday at Knott's, I put on a "happy face" not to put a damper on his special day. Early next morning, I was driven to Urgent Care(could not drive myself due to the pain). Received immediate pain shot order from MD. CT scan was done to rule-out internal injury. Subsequently, was diagnosed with severe chest wall strain/tear! Sent home with narcotic pain reliever and muscle relaxant. Off work for 4 days! This nurse is still in pain on day 3! In fact, my 16 year old nephew who rode all of the faster and more intense coasters that same day (more than once) stated to me, "the Ghostrider is definitely the roughest and jerkiest ride at Knott"s."

How to stay safe at a theme park

For more information on how you can keep yourself and your family safe on theme park rides, check out this advice from Theme Park Insider and its readers.

Browse recent theme park accident reports

You'll find the five most recent verified accidents reported to Theme Park Insider on the right of this page. A complete list of all verified accidents reported to us is available here.

How to report an accident

You can submit an accident report for any attraction listed on Theme Park Insider from its attraction listing page. Or, go straight to the report submission pages by using this form.

Official information

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission surveys a sample of U.S. hospitals to collect information about product injuries, including those at amusement parks. However, this survey does not include incidents from seven of the nation's most popular theme parks, including those at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Nor does the survey include injuries that required medical care, but not a trip to an emergency room.

The CPSC has used this survey data to create a report on amusement ride injuries and deaths from 1987 to 2004. The CPSC estimated 3,400 accidents at fixed site parks in 2004.

The CPSC also provides an overview of what states are--or are not--doing to inspect rides. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required for both reports.)

These remain the best *official* sources of information on theme park safety in the United States.

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