Amusement Park Rides and Rodeo Bull Tournaments

There's no limit to the types of whiplash injuries which can be suffered by people under very bizarre or unusual circumstances, but fairground and amusement park rides seem to be strong contenders for the most common cause of strange accidents.

For instance, in 2009 a fairground accident resulted in 21 people suffering injures on a Blackpool rollercoaster.


The 'Big Dipper' ride experienced problems when one of the cars got stuck and was hit from behind by a car which followed along after it - usually at a safe distance.

Three people were treated in hospital for face and neck injuries and the others were described as 'walking wounded', but they might have felt the effects of whiplash later that day.

Symptoms can remain hidden for six to 12 hours in some cases, and occasionally continue getting worse for a few days after the initial injury.

In a 2011 incident in Skegness, 22 people were trapped for more than an hour on the 'Surf Rider'.

The ride, which was a classic mechanical swing boat-type machine - the ones with a giant arm which rocks the rows of seats back and forth slowly getting higher and higher - had broken mid swing.

This meant that all the people on board were stuck at about an 80 degree angle. A witness stated, "It looked like the ride had snapped on its axle and people were stuck. They were leaning on their side & it looked pretty uncomfortable."

Although one woman was reported as having suffered potentially life-threatening head injuries (she was released from hospital later that day), the park's owner stated that it appeared the most common injury amongst the group was whiplash.

Compared to the injuries they could have sustained had circumstances been different they are likely to have considered themselves very lucky to escape with only this minor neck injury.

However, some might have been unfortunate enough to suffer longer-term (chronic) symptoms, which can stay with the personal injury victim for years before finally fading, and even the short-term symptoms can be uncomfortable and stressful.

Not only can people suffer neck pain, swelling and a loss of mobility in the injured area, but they could have difficulty swallowing, find it hard to sleep, suffer from memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision, persistent headaches, pins and needles in their arms and hands, anxiety and depression.

Putting up with any of these symptoms is stressful enough, but depending on where a neck injury victim works, and how severe their symptoms are, they might have to take time off work or leave employment altogether to recover.

Thankfully a good personal injury solicitor should be able to help those with non-fault whiplash injuries claim the compensation they deserve.


Any money received in a successful claim can be put towards recouping lost earnings, paying medical or household bills, or going on holiday to forget the whole unpleasant experience.

Some solicitors services can cost a packet, but others work on a no win, no fee basis and recover the costs of the litigation from the other side.

That means that win or lose the claimant doesn't have to pay a penny and will receive 100% of any compensation they win.

Considering the symptoms that come with whiplash injuries, I am amazed that some people knowingly take part in activities which could cause severe whiplash.

It is understandable that people trust that a ride has been made securely and has suitable neck and head support to stop the G-force of the machine injuring those on board, but to realise that the risk of suffering a neck injury is high and still wish to take part in an activity is, in my opinion, insane.

For example I can't say I understand the men and women who choose to sit on a bucking bull and cling on for their lives for sport. Watching how violently they are shaken about as the irritated animal tries to get rid of them is shocking.

Of course, the rodeo participants are expecting to be shaken around, and there are no doubt neck and back warm-ups and exercises to be performed before and after time in the ring, but is it really enough to protect the neck from suffering injury?

According to one piece of research from May 2006 entitled 'Alberta rodeo athletes do not develop the chronic whiplash syndrome' - well the title explains the study's conclusion.

Although the rodeo participants and spectators questioned had all suffered about the same number of car crashes, the rodeo participants took fewer days off work and stated that their whiplash symptoms lasted for less time than the spectators stated.

It seems that they either have a higher pain threshold due to the sport they participate in, or that their necks have become more supple and the ligaments and tendons cannot be over-stretched as easily as in people who undertake no neck-related exercise.

Perhaps if everyone regularly undertook neck exercise which made their neck stronger and suppler, whiplash injuries wouldn't have such a severe effect on the victims of car accidents and any pain would only be felt short-term.

And next time you go on a fairground ride, perhaps you should do some limbering up exercises before being strapped in to save yourself a neck injury.


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