Find an amusement ride injury lawyer in Midland: fair carnivals, inspections and waivers
We did not find a permanent amusement park in Midland. The rides most people meet here are carnival rides at the Midland County Fair. Texas rides must be inspected yearly by the owner's insurer, not the state, and most carry $1,000,000 in injury coverage. A suit over a ride injury generally has to be filed within 2 years.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (25)
Where are amusement rides in Midland?
Mostly at events. The Midland County Fair is held at the Midland County Horseshoe each August; the 2026 fair ran August 20 to 23. Its carnival sits inside the fair grounds and is ticketed separately from fair admission.
Texas also covers inflatable rides. Operators of inflatables must carry at least $1 million per occurrence. Children's rides, called Class A, are fixed rides built mainly for children under 13.
Who inspects and insures carnival rides in Midland?
| Texas rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Inspection | At least once a year by an insurer or its contractor. The Texas Department of Insurance does not inspect rides. |
| Sticker | A compliance sticker is valid for one year from inspection. |
| Insurance | $1,000,000 bodily injury and $500,000 property damage, or $1,500,000 combined. |
| Injury records | The operator keeps records of each injury that needs medical treatment and files an injury report every quarter. |
| Public reports | TDI publishes the injury reports and takes reports of rides out of compliance. |
When we checked TDI's public injury list, we did not see a Midland entry. Lists change, so check the current file before you rely on that.
What should I do after a ride injury in Midland?
- Get help from fair staff or call 911. Midland Fire's medics cover the county as well as the city.
- Go to the emergency room. Midland Memorial's trauma designation is Level 3.
- Photograph the ride, its sticker, the restraint and the posted rules.
- Write down the ride name, the operator and any serial number.
- Ask for an incident report. Operators must keep records of injuries needing treatment.
- Keep your ticket, wristband and clothing.
Does a signed waiver stop a Midland ride injury claim?
Not always. For a child, Texas lower courts have said a parent's pre-injury release may not bind the child. Whether that release binds a child is still an open question, because the state's highest civil court has not ruled on it. A waiver you signed as an adult is a bigger hurdle, so keep a copy.
What if a city or county ride or event hurt me in Midland?
A government changes the deadline. If the City of Midland ran an amusement, Texas treats amusements owned and operated by a city as a proprietary function. The city charter still sets a 60 day written notice. The state rule is 6 months.
If you are more than 50 percent at fault, Texas bars recovery. If a child was hurt on the ride, the time to sue is paused until age 18.
Where is an amusement ride lawsuit filed in Midland?
A ride-injury suit starts at the Midland County District Clerk, 500 N. Loraine, Suite 300, 432-688-4500. A smaller claim can be heard in a Midland County Court at Law, which takes civil cases up to $500,000. Civil filing is electronic only. The deadline is 2 years.
Questions
Does the Midland County Fair carry its own insurance?
We could not confirm that. Ask the fair and the carnival company for the insurance certificate for the ride that hurt you. Most Texas rides must carry $1,000,000 in injury coverage.
How do I report an unsafe ride in Midland?
Report it to the Texas Department of Insurance, which takes reports of rides that do not comply.
What if I was hurt on a ride in another city?
The Texas ride rules on inspection and insurance apply statewide, so a ride in Lubbock or Dallas follows the same yearly insurer inspection. Where you file a suit can change, so ask a lawyer.
Amusement park injury in Midland? See if you are owed money.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (25)
- Midland County Fair, checked 2026-11-09. “The Midland County Fair takes place at the Midland County Horseshoe from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23.”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.101, checked 2026-11-09. “has had the amusement ride inspected at least once a year by an insurer or a person with whom the insurer has contracted”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “TDI doesn't inspect rides.”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.101, checked 2026-11-09. “for Class B amusement rides: (i) $1,000,000 bodily injury and $500,000 property damage per occurrence; or (ii) $1,500,000 per occurrence combined single limit”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
- Midland County Fair, checked 2026-11-09. “The carnival is inside the Fair grounds and separately ticketed from Fair.”
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Agriculture Law, checked 2026-11-09. “a pre-injury release signed by a parent is not enforceable to release the defendant from all liability”
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Agriculture Law, checked 2026-11-09. “The Texas Supreme Court has never directly addressed this issue.”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.1012, checked 2026-11-09. “in an amount of not less than $1 million per occurrence”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.002, checked 2026-11-09. “an amusement ride with a fixed location designed primarily for use by children younger than 13 years of age”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “An amusement ride compliance sticker is valid for one year from the date of inspection.”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.103, checked 2026-11-09. “shall maintain accurate records of each injury caused by the ride that results in death or requires medical treatment”
- Tex. Occ. Code 2151.103, checked 2026-11-09. “The operator shall file an injury report with the commissioner on a quarterly basis.”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “Amusement ride injury reports”
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “How do I report a ride that is not in compliance?”
- City of Midland, About MFD, checked 2026-11-08. “provides fire protection and emergency medical services”
- Midland Health, Our Services, checked 2026-11-08. “is a Level 3 Adult Trauma Center”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.0215, checked 2026-11-09. “amusements owned and operated by the municipality”
- City of Midland Charter, Sec. 8, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified within sixty days after the same has been sustained”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
- Midland County, Staff Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Suite Number 300”
- Midland County Courts-at-Law, checked 2026-11-09. “Civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $500,000”
- Midland County, checked 2026-11-09. “Electronic Filing is required in Midland County for all Civil and Probate Cases”