Thorpe Park Accident Compensation Claims Guide

By Jo Jeffries. Last Updated 4th December 2024. Welcome to this Thorpe Park accident claims guide. In it, we discuss claiming compensation for theme park accidents in the UK that cause injury, showing you how to make a claim for compensation for a slip, trip and fall, or other types of accidents.

Even though amusement parks like Thorpe Park have to meet rigorous safety standards, this doesn’t mean that a serious Thorpe Park accident can never happen. There have been several serious accidents at theme parks. And, of course, there is a myriad of minor accidents that could occur, such as slips, trips or falls.

This online guide will go over the process of making a personal injury claim for an accident that resulted in a Thorpe Park injury. You may have questions that this guide doesn’t answer fully. If this is so, we can still assist you. Just call our claims team on 0800 073 8801. One of our claim advisers will talk through your claim with you and answer any questions you have. They will also be able to explain to you how one of our solicitors could be a good choice for having your claim processed.

A water raft ride and waterslide with a raft of people at the bottom.

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Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation Following A Thorpe Park Accident?

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, Thorpe Park has a duty of care to all visitors to their premises to take steps to ensure their reasonable safety. As a theme park, this can involve things such as ensuring all the attractions undergo regular and strict maintenance inspections, completing any necessary repairs and keeping walkways, steps and queue areas clear of obstructions.

In order to begin a personal injury claim after a Thorpe Park Accident, you will need to, with clear evidence, demonstrate the following:

  1. You were owed a duty of care by the occupier at the time of the accident.
  2. The occupier failed to take steps to ensure your reasonable safety contrary to their legal duty of care.
  3. This failure resulted in an accident in which you were injured.

To get a free assessment of your eligiblity to claim compensation following a Thorpe Park incident in which you suffered injuries, get in touch with our advisory team today using the contact information provided above.

Causes Of Theme Park Accidents

There are many reasons why a personal injury solicitor may need to help a claimant make a compensation claim for an accident at Thorpe Park. Not just serious accidents involving one of the rides, but also less serious accidents. Some of the hazards at an amusement park can be:

  • Faulty walkways and damaged pavements causing a slip, trip or fall
  • Ineffective or poorly maintained safety barriers
  • Damaged or faulty rides
  • Vehicle accidents in the theme park car park
  • Food-related illness such as food poisoning contracted through eating food in an eatery within the park

These are some of the common hazards, but there are, of course, many more. No matter how an accident was caused, if it injured a visitor to the park, and the responsibility fell to the park operator, we could be able to help the victim make a claim for compensation. Speak to our claims team to learn more.

Thorpe Park Roller Coaster Accident Claims

Thorpe Park has a number of rides that could be classified as a roller coaster.

Rollercoasters present some very specific safety hazards, such as:

  • An ineffective safety harness allowing a rider to fall out
  • Damaged seats moving and crushing a rider
  • Ineffective safety barriers, allowing a spectator to be struck by the ride

All of these hazards could be construed to be the responsibility of the theme park, and a claim could be possible for any harm that a park visitor suffers.

Slip Or Fall Accidents At A Theme Park

A slip, trip or fall accident is a very common kind of accident that every personal injury lawyer will deal with from time to time. Common hazards that can result in this kind of accident are:

  • Damaged roads and public footpaths – potholes, broken paving slabs, etc
  • Spillages – food, drink, water, or oil for example
  • Inadequate lighting – in a stairwell or entryway
  • Damaged floor coverings – torn carpets, warped wooden floorboards, cracked tiles, etc

These hazards can all easily lead to a slip, trip or fall accident. If it can be proven the amusement park owner was to blame for the hazard, we could be able to help the victim make a compensation claim for the harm suffered.

Accidents Caused By Unsafe Or Damaged Rides

This section examines accidents that could be caused by unsafe or damaged rides. Thankfully, a Thorpe Park crash is a very rare occurrence. However, it is possible for such incidents to occur. Possible examples can include:

  • Damage to the track at an indoor area could result in a rider hitting their head when the carriage ran over the broken section. This resulted in a major concussion.
  • Poor staff training could lead to a safety harness not being properly secured. As a result of this, a passenger could fall from the ride and suffer a serious back injury.
  • Not carrying out maintenance checks could lead to damaged ceilings not being repaired on indoor rides. Passengers could be hit by falling objects.

You can get a free consultation regarding your eligibility to claim compensation for a Thorpe Park accident by speaking to our advisors. The team are available 24 hours a day via the contact information provided below.

Evidence To Prove A Theme Parks Liability

Part of the process of making personal injury claims, is proving that the defendant was liable for causing harm to the claimant. In order to do this, evidence can be submitted in support of the claim, for example:

  • Photographs that show the scene of the accident and how it was caused
  • Witness testimony, explaining how the accident happened
  • A medical report, detailing the severity of the injuries that the claimant suffered
  • Documents losses, such as bills, invoices and receipts that show how the claimant has lost out financially due to the accident or their injuries

If you have any questions about the sort of evidence you should submit to support your own claim, please speak to one of our claim advisers who will help you.

Calculating Personal Injury Claims Against Thorpe Park

When calculating compensation for a public liability claim, there are two heads of loss that need to be considered: general and special damages. These compensate for:

  • Physical harm and psychological injury, under general damages.
  • Financial losses, under special damages.

Those tasked with calculating a potential general damages figure can refer to your medical evidence in conjunction with the Judicial College Guideline (JCG). The JCG publication contains guideline compensation amounts for various injuries.

We have used a relevant selection of the JCG figures in our table here. It is important we emphasise that the first entry was not taken from the JCG.

Compensation Table

Please be advised that this table is intended strictly for guidance purposes only.

Type of InjurySeverityGuideline Compensation FigureNotes
Multiple Severe Injuries and Special DamagesVery SeriousUp to £1,000,000 or overSettlements could include compensation for more than one severe injury and related costs, including medical care and loss of earnings.
Brain DamageVery Severe (a)£344,150 to £493,000Very little response to environment, little or no language function and double incontinence requiring full time nursing care.
Moderately Severe (b)£267,340 to £344,150Very serious disability with a substantial dependence on others and need for constant professional care.
Moderate (c)(i)£183,190 to £267,340Moderate to severe intellectual deficit, sensory impact, change in personality and a significant risk of epilepsy.
Chest InjuriesTotal Removal of One Lung and/or Serious Heart Damage (a)£122,850 to £183,190Complete removal one lung or serious damage to the heart causing permanent scarring and serious prolonged pain.
Traumatic Injury (b)£80,240 to £122,850Traumatic injury to the lungs, heart or chest causing permanent damage and functional impairment.
Leg InjuriesAmputations (a)(ii)£245,900 to £329,620Below-knee amputation of both legs.
Severe (b)(ii)£66,920 to £109,290Injuries that cause permanent mobility issues and require the use of crutches or other aids for the remainder of the injured person's life.
Other Arm InjuriesSubstantial and Permanent Disablement (b)£47,810 to £73,050Serious fractures of one or both forearms that cause permanent disability.
Less Severe (c)£23,430 to £47,810Significant disabilities where there has been a substantial recovery.

Special Damages You May Be Able To Claim

Special damages, the second of the two heads of loss, awards for financial harm caused by your injuries. As this head of loss aims to quantify the impact your injuries have on your day to day life, as well as factor in future losses, it is very common to see special damages figures that are much higher than anything paid out under general damages.

Possible costs you could claim back can include:

  • Loss of future prospects due to reduced working capacity.
  • Loss of earnings due to missing work.
  • Medical fees for private medical treatment you paid for.
  • Care costs for hiring a nurse, etc.
  • Travel costs to reimburse you for out of pocket expenses.

Be sure to hold onto documents such as your payslips, as well as receipts, travel tickets and other bills that show what costs you incurred.

If you would like to know more about the kinds of damages that your own settlement could include, please speak to our claims team. One of our claim advisers will be able to give you an indication.

No Win No Fee Accident An Injury Claims Against Thorpe Park

We can offer you a solicitor who will process your claim under a No Win No Fee agreement. What this means is, that you don’t pay anything at all unless your claim is successful. You don’t pay to start the claim or while it is being processed. You also don’t pay if the claim is unsuccessful. When the claim is successful, the solicitor will deduct their pre-agreed fee from the money they received from you. So, as you can see, this removes many of the financial risks of making a claim. For more information about this service, please speak to one of our claim advisers today on the number below.

Start Your Theme Park Accident Claim Today For Theme Park Accidents In The UK

Have you been injured in an accident at Thorpe Park that wasn’t your fault? Do you think you might have the basis of a successful claim? If so, please contact our claims team on 0800 073 8801. A claim adviser will talk over your claim with you, and tell you what legal options you have. If you wish, we can provide you with a solicitor to process your claim for you.

Essential Resources Relating To Thorpe Park Accident Claims

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We hope this guide on what you can do should a Thorpe Park accident occur has helped.