Japan: Bone-crushing roller coaster stopped

A roller coaster in Japan which is capable of touching speeds over 110 mph has been stopped indefinitely over a pending investigation which may link the injuries of the passengers to the ride.

The amusement park released a press release on August 20 and announced the closure of the ride. It highlighted the injuries sustained by four passengers during December last year and August 2021. Although, the injuries have not been related to the ride but it is what experts and officials are fearing.

The injuries sustained were significant, ranging from cervical fractures to a spine fracture and were found in patients ranging from age 30 to 50, as reported by the local media.

If found to be dangerous for public use, those injured can hold the park and/or manufacturer liable for damage and though decided on a case-by-case basis, an out-of-court settlement would be beneficial for both parties. According to Japanese law, there is no statutory formula to determine damages and it depends on the claims and how the defense handles them.