Just about every day, trampoline parks across the United States are packed with children bouncing, playing tag, and leaping into foam pits. Sadly, a fun family outing can turn sour quickly if your child gets hurt. You might be wondering who is to blame for your child’s injury and whether you can file a trampoline park lawsuit. Here’s what you should know.
Trampoline Park Injuries: An Overview
When you take your family to a trampoline park, you expect that the facility will be run by consummate professionals who maintain a safe environment for their guests. Yet every year, thousands of people get injured at these locations. Tragically, there have been at least six deaths reported at trampoline parks in recent years. One common cause of injury is double bouncing, in which one person’s bounce affects the rebound of the other. In these instances, the other person can be catapulted into a vulnerable position. Another common injury is landing on a spring or the edge of the trampoline. Collisions with other people, contact with hard surfaces, jumping into shallow foam pits, and sliding into the springs can also lead to serious trauma.
Common trampoline park injuries include:
- Scrapes, cuts, rashes, and skin irritation
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis
Causes of Trampoline Park Accidents
Although the park is responsible for making safety paramount, it doesn’t always do so. Trampoline attractions can be hazardous if the staff neglects to enforce the rules and maintain their equipment. Accidents may occur for a number of reasons, such as:
- Too many people are allowed on the trampoline at once.
- Guests are encouraged to jump in an unsafe manner.
- The staff does not supervise its guests.
- The trampoline is not assembled properly.
- The trampoline is missing protective devices.
Liability in Trampoline Park Accidents
If your child suffers an injury at a trampoline park, the circumstances surrounding the accident will determine who was responsible. That may include:
- The Park Owner: Under premises liability law, property owners have a legal obligation to keep their property safe. Therefore, it’s possible that the park owner could be liable for your child’s injury. Oftentimes, property owners are considered responsible for injuries that result from poorly maintained equipment. Failure to repair a trampoline, for example, will likely be seen as negligence.
- The Manufacturer: The equipment manufacturer must ensure that the trampolines they produce and sell are safe. The manufacturer can be held liable for a parkgoer’s injuries if they occur due to a defective trampoline.
- Another Guest: If another park guest directly causes your child’s injury, they may be held liable. For example, another child might push your child off the trampoline, leading to injury.
Contact a Trampoline Park Lawyer
Proving liability requires an in-depth investigation and careful analysis of the facts. If your son or daughter was injured at a trampoline park, it’s important that you hire an experienced attorney. You may be able to recover significant financial compensation in a trampoline park injury lawsuit. To get started, fill out a free case evaluation.