The summer season signals the start of fairs, carnivals, and festivals in the Garden State.  Keep yourself, children, and your family safe. This summer the excitement and thrill of amusement rides might be part of some of these fairs and carnivals in Monmouth County – Fair Haven Firemen's Fair, Freedom Fest State Fair, L.E.A.D. Carnival at Raceway Mall, Manasquan Fireman's Fair, Monmouth County Fair, Strawberry Fair at Monmouth Park, and St. Rose of Lima Church Carnival in Freehold.  In Ocean County, fairgoers may be heading out to the Ocean County Fair at Robert J. Miller Air Park, Lakewood Lions Renaissance Faire, or St. Mary's Parish carnival in Manahawkin.
Fair, carnival, and amusement park operators have duties under the New Jersey Carnival-Amusement Ride Safety Act to keep their rides safe.  If you are riding a ferris wheel, bumper car, waterslide, rollercoaster, zipper, carousel, kiddie ride or other carnival ride or amusement park ride and you, your children or family members are injured or in an accident you must, promptly, report the accident.
Riders of fair, carnival or amusement park rides must report accidents or injuries in writing to the fair, carnival, or amusement park operator within 90 days.  Operators must conspicuously post the reporting requirements at several locations on the fair, carnival, or amusement park grounds.

Law Pertaining To Carnivals

N.J.S.A. 5:3-57: Written report of accident precondition to bringing suit

1. a. As a precondition to bringing any suit in connection with an injury against an amusement park operator, a rider shall report in writing to the amusement park operator all the details of any accident within 90 days from the time of the incident giving rise to the suit.b. In order to facilitate reporting of accidents or injuries, every amusement park operator shall designate an office or location as a site for reporting accidents and injuries. The designated office or site shall be open and staffed during regular business hours and shall be clearly designated in writing. The operator shall designate and identify more than one such office or location if necessary within the amusement park so that no area containing amusement park rides is further than reasonable walking distance from an office or location.c. An accident report shall include at least the following: name and address of the accident victim, brief description of incident location, alleged cause of accident, name and address of the ride operator, others involved and witnesses, if any. The precondition in subsection a. of this section is not applicable unless the operator conspicuously posts notice of the reporting requirement in English and one other language deemed appropriate by the amusement park operator and in at least five different locations on the premises, including each entrance and exit, each place designated for receiving reports of accidents and injuries during business hours and each place designated as a first aid station. The Department of Labor shall provide the rider or his representative with a copy of the accident report as required by section 17 of P.L.1975, c.105 (C.5:3-47) upon request.

New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney

Be safe and avoid injuries or accidents when attending Monmouth and Ocean County, carnivals and amusement parks this summer. If you were injured while at a fair please call Villani & DeLuca at (732) 709-7757 for a free consultation. Know your rights.