Thorpe Park Accident Compensation Claims Guide

By Jo Jeffries. Last Updated 4th October 2022. 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.

We also touch on ‘Can I claim compensation for a Thorpe Park death or an accident at work that causes injuries in a theme park?’ For tips on claiming for an accident in Thorpe Park, including ‘Can I claim for deaths at Thorpe Park or another theme park accident?’ and ‘what possible compensation payouts for a Thorpe Park accident could I receive?’ please read on. We even answer FAQs such as ‘Has anyone ever died at Thorpe Park?’ and ‘Can you help me claim for a Thorpe Park crash?’

Tips on claiming for an accident in Thorpe Park or a theme park accident in general

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 the park. And of course, there is a myriad of minor accidents that could occur, such as slips, trips or falls that a visitor to the park could suffer.

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.

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A Guide To Theme Park Accident Claims Against Thorpe Park

The online guide will cover the process of making a claim against Thorpe Park, for victims of an accident at Thorpe Park. We will cover many of the most common accidents at a theme/amusement park. Also, we will aim to answer questions such as, has anyone died atThorpe Park? We start this guide with a basic definition of what a Thorpe park accident is.

The middle part of this guide covers some specific, common types of theme park claims. This includes roller coaster accidents, and accidents on other theme park rides due to poor maintenance. We also cover slip, trip and fall accidents and accidents caused by ineffective safety barriers. Finally, we cover fatal accidents, and look at the kinds of evidence you may need to submit in support of your claim.

The last part of this guide relates to aspects of the claims process itself, this includes a discussion of the financial considerations. You will find a table that shows possible ranges of compensation for a number of different injuries. You will also find a list of the types of damages that claimants commonly attract as part of their overall compensation settlement.

Lastly, you will find an overview of our core service offering, and how we can provide you with a solicitor who will work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to process your claim. Meaning you don’t pay anything unless your claim is successful. For more information, and to find out which personal injury claims time limit will apply in your case, call our claims team on the number at the bottom of the page today.

What Do We Mean By Thorpe Park Accidents Or Injuries?

An accident at Thorpe Park would be any instance of Thorpe Park rides causing harm to a person riding on them, and also more minor accidents such as slips, trips and falls. Theme park rides are generally very safe. Safety requirements are stringent. But from time to time a ride does injure a visitor to the park. For example, in 2014 a young girl was injured whilst riding on Loggers Leap at Thorpe Park. We will look at several accidents involving rides further down this guide.

No matter what kind of accident you are injured in, if it can be proven that the direct or indirect cause of the accident was the operator of Thorpe Park, you could be able to make a compensation claim. In some instances, the claimant may have partially contributed to the accident themselves. In this case, Thorpe Park would agree on a reduced level of liability. This would be expressed as a percentage, and would be used to calculate any compensation paid. For example, if the defendant agrees to 70% liability, the claimant would receive 70% of the maximum level of compensation possible. For more information about liability and your eligibility to make a claim, speak to a member of our claims team

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. This includes Swarm, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Flying Fish, The Smiler, Oblivion and Vampire. The park has a very good safety record regarding rollercoasters, and there is yet to have been a Thorpe Park roller coaster accident.

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

We have already explained how every ride is regularly inspected to ensure that is it safe. Yet despite this, accidents do still happen from time to time. Thorpe Park does have a pretty good safety record, but there have been some ride-related accidents in the past, including:

  • An accident in 1987 – involving the Rumba Rapids ride, when an 11-year-old boy was thrown from the ride and he lost an ear
  • There was an accident in 2000 – involving the ride at Thorpe Park, X: No Way Out when an 11-year-old boy fell out of the ride. He broke both legs and suffered permanent brain damage
  • An accident in 2014 – involving the Loggers Leap ride, when a 14-year-old girl was injured due to being crushed by a safety bar
  • There was a Vortex Thorpe Park accident in 2018 – where a piece of foam broke away from the ride during operation, and luckily, nobody was injured, as the ride was stopped quickly
  • And finally, in 2000 there was a major fire, which started in Ranger County Thorpe Park. The fire engulfed several rides including Mr. Rabbit’s Tropical Travel, and then spread to Wicked Witches Haunt. The fire was eventually put out, and nobody was injured

These examples all show how despite the best efforts of the park operator, serious accidents on rides can and do happen from time to time. If the park owner is to blame for an accident on a ride, we could be able to assist the injured party in making a claim.

Theme Park Customer Safety Barrier Accidents

This section will discuss accidents caused by a safety barrier, and will answer questions such as, is Loggers Leap still at Thorpe Park? And why did Loggers Leap at Thorpe Park close?

Loggers Leap is no longer hosted at Thorpe Park, it was closed down at the end of the 2015 season. Loggers Leap was the cause of one of the most highly publicised of all UK theme park accidents.

There was a Thorpe Park accident in 2014 that injured a 14-year-old girl who was riding on Loggers Leap. The girl suffered damage to her legs and knee joint, due to being crushed against the safety bar. The claim was made due to the fact the attendants had allowed too many people onto the ride, making it unsafe, and forcing people into the safety barrier. This was found to be true, and the claim for injuries sustained in Thorpe Park accident on Rumba Rapids was successful.

Safety barriers are regularly tested, and form part of the safety checklist when a ride is being inspected to decide whether it is safe to operate. Therefore, any accident involving a malfunctioning or ineffective safety rail, could be deemed as being the fault of the park operator, and a claim could be possible. If you need more information about claiming for an accident involving the safety bar on a ride, speak to our claims team today.

Fatal Accident Claims Against Thorpe Park

The answer to the question, has anyone died at Thorpe Park? Is no. The park has a fairly good safety record, with no fatal accidents involving one of the rides to date. However, this does not mean that there will never be a fatal accident at Thorpe park. In the cases of a fatal accident, three separate legal entities will be in a position to potentially make a claim, and these are:

  • Any dependants of the deceased
  • The close family of the deceased
  • The deceased’s estate

As well as claiming for a fatal accident that occurred to a member of the public, you could also make fatal workplace accidents if someone you loved was fatally injured at work. Statistics from the HSE show there were 142 workplace fatalities in 2020-21, and you can see the causes below. If you could prove that your loved one’s death was due to employer negligence, you could make a fatal accident claim.

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We can assist people who have lost a loved one in a fatal accident, to get the compensation that they could be eligible to. Our claims team can tell you more, if you give them a call.

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

There are ways to get a rough estimate of how much compensation you could claim. You might be able to find a personal injury claims calculator to get a rough idea. You can also use this table below to look up the compensation range for your injuries.

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What Type of Injury? How Severe Was It? Possible Compensation Information
Injured hand Minor to moderate Up to £13,280 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Moderate to serious £14,450 to £61,910 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment. All injuries that fall short of amputation.
Amputation £96,160 to £201,490 The loss of a single hand, or both.
Injured arm Moderate to severe Up to to £130,930 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment. All injuries that fall short of amputation.
Minor to moderate Up to £39,170 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Amputation £96,160 to £300,000 The total loss of one arm below the elbow, to both arms at the shoulder.
Injured back Moderate to severe £38,780 to £160,980 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment.
Minor to moderate Up to £38,780 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Injured neck Moderate to severe £36,120 to £148,330 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment.
Minor to moderate Up to £36,120 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Injured foot Minor to moderate Up to £24,990 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Moderate to very severe £24,990 to £109,650 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment. All injuries that fall short of amputation.
Amputation £83,960 to £201,490 The loss of one foot, or both feet.
Injured leg Moderate to severe £39,200 to £135,920 More serious injuries, such as compound fractures and serious musculoskeletal injuries. Severe soft tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or joints, as well as a deep puncture wound or lacerations and serious burns. In the worst case, these injuries would leave the victim with an impairment. All injuries that fall short of amputation.
Minor to moderate Up to £39,200 Here, we are including all minor to moderate injuries to the skin (burns, cuts, etc.) and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), as well as minor fractures and also dislocations. All injuries that would heal completely within 6 months fit into this category.
Amputation £97,980 to £282,010 The total loss of one leg below the knee, to both legs at the hip.

Although this table is based on the actual Judicial College Guidelines used by UK courts and insurers to value a claim, it only gives the range of compensation. To get a more accurate estimate based on your own circumstances, call our claims team who will arrange for a solicitor to value your claim for you.

Special Damages You May Be Able To Claim

If your claim is successful, you would be offered a compensation settlement by the defendant, or be awarded one by the courts. The settlement will be made up by potentially a number of different types of damages, for example:

  • Special damages for non-physical loss:
    • 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
  • General damages for physical harm:
    • A permanent disability such as loss of use of a limb, lowered mobility or
    • Long-term recovery and painful treatment
    • Psychological damage such as depression, anxiety, or new phobias
    • Pain and suffering during the accident
    • Stress and trauma caused by being involved in an accident

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

These external links might contain useful information:

Reading these other guides might also be useful:

FAQ On Theme Park Accidents In The UK And Making Claims

Could I claim for a child who is injured in theme park accidents in the UK?

Has your child been injured in a theme park accident in the UK? You could claim compensation as their litigation friend. The compensation in such cases would go into a trust for your child and would not come directly to you. However, if they needed some medical treatment, then an application to the court could be made. This could release some of these funds if you needed to pay for the treatment. If you would like to learn more about making a claim on behalf of a child call us. Whether for a Thorpe Park accident or an accident another theme park, we would be delighted to speak to you.

Please note that if you were claiming on behalf of your child you would usually have up until their 18th birthday to make a claim. However, it may be prudent to consider making a claim as soon as possible after the accident in order to make sure the evidence is readily available. If you don’t claim on behalf of your child, they could make their own claim once they turn 18 years old. They would usually have three years to do so.

Would compensation for a Thorpe Park death include funeral costs?

Fatal accident claims could include damages to cover the costs of a loved one’s funeral. If you are interested in finding out about the types of compensation you could claim for a Thorpe Park death, we would be glad to speak to you. We understand how traumatic making a fatal accident or injury claim could be. We would handle your case with the upmost sensitivity as we recognise that it could be a difficult time for you. As well as claiming for funeral costs, you could be eligible to claim a bereavement award, and in some cases come out loss of financial support.

Could you offer some tips on claiming for an accident in Thorpe Park or for another theme park accident?

You may want tips on claiming for an accident in Thorpe Park. If so, you can call our team and give us details of the accident, we could assess whether you could be eligible for compensation.

However, some general steps you could take to strengthen your claim might include the following:

  • Keep all documentation regarding the accident – this could include contact details of witnesses, photographs of injuries and the scene of the accident and proof of expenses caused by the injuries you sustained.
  • Get medical attention for your injuries
  • Call us for free legal advice

I had an accident in Thorpe Park where another member of the public attacked me – could I claim?

If you had an accident in Thorpe Park and suffered injuries when a member of the public attacked you, you could be eligible for compensation. 

Your claim could be made via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. We could assist with an assault claim. Please call our team, and we will be happy to assess your case to see whether you could be eligible to claim. 

Possible compensation payouts should a Thorpe Park accident ocurr

If you were to be injured in Thorpe Park due to a breach of the park’s duty of care towards you, the award you could receive would depend on the level of severity of your injury, and the impact on your life. This could include the financial impact of the injury, if, for example, you lose out on income or have to pay medical or care costs. 

In the table earlier on in the guide, we provided figures for general damages, which come from the Judicial College Guidelines’ 16th edition, released in April 2022. This could give some insight into how much such injuries could be worth. However, it is only a rough guide. 

I was injured in a slip, trip and fall Thorpe Park accident, would I have a claim?

If you suffered an injury after a slip, trip or fall accident at Thorpe Park, could you claim? This would depend on the circumstances and facts of the case. To have a valid claim, you’d need to prove that someone breached a duty of care towards you, and that the breach caused your injury. If you tripped over your own shoelaces, for example, there would not likely be a valid claim.

If you would like to have your case assessed for free, to see if you could be eligible to claim compensation, please call our team. We would be happy to assist you with your case if you have a valid claim.

Can I claim for a Thorpe Park crash in the car park?

You may be wondering if you can claim for a Thorpe park crash in the car park. All road users owe a duty of care and if they breach this it is known as negligence. If they cause you harm due to their negligence, you may be eligible to claim. For example, a driver may have failed to check their mirrors before pulling out of a parking space. As a result, they may have crashed into you causing you a severe head injury.

What happens if you’re injured in ride accidents or rollercoaster accidents as a child and no one claims for you?

As we have mentioned, it could be possible for someone else to claim for injuries from rollercoaster accidents or ride accidents that you incurred as a child. A responsible adult could apply to be a litigation friend so they could claim on your behalf. If this happens, your compensation from a successful claim would go into a trust for you called a Court Funds Office account. But what if no one has claimed for you?

In such cases, you could make your own claim once you reach adulthood. Usually, you would have three years from your 18th birthday to claim. You can only make a claim if no one else has claimed for your ride accident injuries previously. 

Is it difficult to claim for ride accidents that happened a long time ago?

While it could be harder to claim for rollercoaster accidents that happened years ago, due to evidence being harder to find, it could still be possible. If you call our team about your potential claim, we’ll do our best to determine whether you could still have a valid claim. 

I was injured in a Thorpe Park crash in the car park. Would the at-fault motorist be liable for my injuries?

If another motorist was at fault for a crash in the car park, you could make a claim for injuries sustained in the crash. However, if it was the state of the car park that caused your injuries, the owner or operator of the car park could be held responsible. However, you would have to prove that a third party breached the duty of care they owed you and caused you harm.

For more information, call our team.

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