Insurance for Amusement Rides

Comprehensive Coverage for Amusement Ride Operators

Amusement parks and rides are enormously popular with people of all ages, which makes them potentially lucrative businesses to run. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded over 1,200 amusement and theme parks in the United States in 2023. North America’s top 20 amusement parks had an attendance of 145 million in the same year. During the weekends or holidays, you can almost guarantee a line to get on your ride or even enter the park.

The safety of your guests and staff is paramount. Even when vigilant, accidents occur, so it is important to have insurance for carnivals, fairs, or amusement parks in place.

Amusement Park Accidents Are Common

In 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that over 27,000 people suffered injuries from amusement park attractions, including rides. In the past 5 years, the CPSC estimates that over 4,000 people were admitted to the hospital for injuries they suffered on amusement park rides. Children ages 14 and under were the most likely to get hurt, with children ages 5 to 9 experiencing the most injuries over the past 5 years.

States primarily regulate amusement park rides, leading to safety regulation discrepancies. Some states have a specific governing body offering comprehensive oversight, while others have little to no oversight. The American Society for Testing and Materials has a committee devoted to amusement ride safety, with various standards. However, states still have the authority to decide if they enforce these standards.

A Few Common Risks

Accidents and injuries in amusement parks or on rides are caused by issues like:

• Rider errors: Negligence by the guest, knowingly or unknowingly violating safety regulations, could lead them to take unsafe actions like standing up on a moving ride, unfastening their restraints, or ignoring height limits.
• Operator errors: Negligence by the ride operator, such as failing to use ride controls effectively, could create safety concerns. Distraction, fatigue, or improper training could impact operators.
• Missed inspections: The park’s failure to carry out safety inspections could lead to undetected wear and tear, causing equipment breakdowns. Issues could range from broken restraints to electrical failure.
• Medical events: Preexisting medical conditions, whether diagnosed or not, could lead riders to experience injury on a ride. These conditions could range from heart problems to pregnancy.

Protecting Yourself With Insurance for Amusement Rides

With so many accidents occurring in the leisure industry, sooner or later, one could happen on your ride or in your park. As the owner, you could be considered liable. Lawsuits can financially ruin a business or damage your reputation to the point where no one wants to visit your amusement park again.

Having carnival ride insurance solutions may help protect you if someone is injured while using your amusement facilities. If you are taken to court and proven liable, the coverage may pay for the claim up to policy limits in the case of a covered claim. This financial protection could provide the support you need to keep your business afloat.

What Coverage Is Included?

Depending on the solution you get, your insurance for amusement rides could provide coverage for:

• Third-party bodily injury: This type of coverage may help protect against claims for injuries suffered by park visitors due to the park’s negligence or actions. Various amusement park situations, including ride-related injuries, slips, and falls, could fall under this category.
• Third-party property damage: This solution helps provide coverage if rides or other attractions cause damage to property you don’t own, such as cars owned by guests or a business next door.
• Advertising injury: Coverage for advertising injury may help protect against nonphysical harm, like libel or slander, arising from an amusement park’s advertising.

XINSURANCE Coverage Options

XINSURANCE is a specialty liability insurance brokerage with over four decades of experience in finding liability coverage solutions for high-risk activities and businesses, including family entertainment center insurance solutions. We pride ourselves on being able to locate coverage options, even if you already have a claims history or have been denied coverage in the past by a different insurer.

XINSURANCE is powered by Evolution Insurance Brokers, LC (“EIB”), an excess and surplus lines insurance brokerage, and we are in a unique position as we can find customized coverage solutions via our “all-in-one” approach. We look at your operations and experience level to determine what kind of coverage solutions will suit you best.

We may be able to identify the following solutions to insurance for amusement parks:

• Amusement parks and amusement rides
• Theme parks and theme park rides
• Family fun centers
• Adventure parks
• Trampoline parks and indoor trampolines
• Inflatables, including bounce houses, inflatable water slides, inflatable rentals, inflatable mechanical bulls, and more
• Special events

We may also be able to work with you to find communicable disease coverage solutions. These solutions may offer protection if your amusement park is held liable for the spread of communicable disease.

Our coverage is available in all 50 states.

Get Started With XINSURANCE

If you need theme park insurance solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with XINSURANCE for a quote. We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about how we can help.

Authored by Rick J. Lindsey, President, Chairman, and CEO of XINSURANCE

Rick J. Lindsey hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working in the mailroom of his father’s Salt Lake City insurance firm, getting his introduction to the business that became his lifelong career. Rick J. Lindsey quickly rose through the ranks while working in nearly every imaginable insurance industry job. As an entrepreneur, specialty lines underwriter, claims specialist, risk manager, and a licensed surplus lines broker, Rick J. Lindsey is highly skilled in all levels of leadership and execution. As he progressed on his career path, Rick J. Lindsey discovered an urgent need for insurers willing to write policies for high-risk individuals and businesses. He was frequently frustrated that he could not provide the liability protection these entities desperately needed to safeguard their assets. He also formed the belief that insurance companies acted too quickly to settle frivolous claims. Rick J. Lindsey decided to try a different approach. He started an insurance company and became the newly formed entity’s CEO. This opportunity has enabled Rick J. Lindsey to fill a void in the market and provide a valuable service to businesses, individuals, and insurance agents who write high-risk business. XINSURANCE also specializes in helping individuals and businesses who live a lifestyle or participate in activities that make them difficult for traditional carriers to insure. If you’ve been denied, non-renewed, or canceled coverage, don’t give up quite yet. Chances are XINSURANCE can help.