Munich court rejects Oktoberfest injury claim

The Munich District Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking 10,000 euros in damages following an injury at the 2025 Oktoberfest. A man suffered a broken wrist when his hand struck a support beam on an amusement ride after he raised his arms in the air.

The plaintiff argued that the ride's warning signs, which prohibited leaning out of the vehicle and stretching out arms and legs, did not explicitly forbid raising arms above the head. However, the court ruled that the term “stretching out” (Hinausstrecken) encompasses raising arms overhead.

An expert testified that the ride was structurally sound and that sufficient warning signs were posted. The operator also contested the presence of steel beams capable of causing such an injury, stating no such incident had occurred previously. The ruling is not yet legally binding.