Summertime is just about here, which means that people of all ages will soon be planning trips to amusement parks and water parks. While some prefer the tranquility of a miniature train ride or a relaxing soaking pool, others seek the adrenaline rush that comes from the simulated danger on roller coasters and other thrill rides. Unfortunately, not all of the dangers are simulated, and thousands of people are injured at amusement parks every year.

No Federal Oversight

Forty years ago, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was responsible for the regulation of mobile carnivals—such as county fairs—and fixed-site amusement parks. During the 1980’s, however, federal lawmakers decided that state and local governments should regulate the fixed-site parks in their respective jurisdiction. Federal regulators still oversee mobile carnivals, but there is no national standard for permanent parks.

If you are on someone else’s property without their permission and you are injured, do you have any rights to seek compensation for your injuries? In many cases, you may be rather out of luck, as a property owner has relatively few responsibilities for keeping adult trespassers safe—children may be a different story. Depending on the circumstances, however, you may have some hope of holding the property owner liable for your damages. A ruling in federal court in Connecticut recently addressed this question and allowed a lawsuit to continue on behalf of an injured trespasser.

Gruesome Injuries

In March 2011, a 26-year-old man climbed an electrical tower on property owned by a commuter railway company. It is unclear how high he had climbed, but while well above the ground, the man was hit by an arc electric shock from one of the surrounding high-voltage wires. He subsequently fell from the tower and was caught by a network of live wires beneath him while electricity continued to surge through his body. Witnesses say they saw the man “hanging with his leg in flames from the tower,” before rescue workers could extract him nearly 45 minutes later. Somehow, the man survived but suffered burns over most of his body, and both of his legs had to be amputated.

When you rent from a landlord, it is generally assumed that the property owner will keep common or shared areas safe and in compliance with building and safety codes. In many rental properties, staircases present the most danger, as even a single damaged step or slippery tread can lead to serious injury, and potentially, a lawsuit on the basis of premises liability. One such example can be found in the case of a man who fell down a flight of stairs, which his suit claimed did not have even a handrail, leading a Stamford jury to award him more than $2 million in damages.

“His Life Changed Forever”

The man’s injury dates back to 2010, when he fell down a staircase that led to a room he was renting from a couple on Irving Avenue in Stamford. According to the injured man’s attorney and subsequent lawsuit, the victim suffered a fractured skull and other injuries that kept him the hospital for six weeks. Much of the hospital stay was reportedly spent in intensive care and the man’s skull injuries required surgery.