It is normal for parents to want to take their kids to exciting places. Kids can exert energy while having fun. This sounds great, doesn’t it? What could possibly go wrong when a parent takes their child to a place like a trampoline park? Well, with the rising popularity of trampoline parks across the country, there is also an increase in injuries sustained from the parks.
Doctors can attest that the similarities between trampoline accidents and vehicle crashes are uncanny. The injuries sustained in a car crash at 90 miles per hour that throws the victim 100 feet from the vehicle are very similar to being thrown from a trampoline.
This is why trampoline parks are enforcing parents or guardians to sign a release form that allows for their children to actively participate in the park. This limits the business’ liability if a child is injured.
Trampoline Park Injuries
The most common injuries trampoline victims suffer from while visiting trampoline parks are:
- Broken bones
- Complex fractures
- Strains and sprains
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Brain injuries
- Torn ligaments
Preventing Trampoline Park Injuries
Now that the most common injuries have been established, you might be thinking, if there is anything that can be done to prevent such injuries. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to decrease trampoline injuries. Given that many trampolines are connected with steel cables covered with thin padding, the spring-loaded area can lead to many dangers if participants are not careful.
When there are people jumping on these connected trampolines waves of energy are radiated in different directions. Thus, the energy spreads throughout the wall-to-wall trampolines and the impact can lead to collisions. To prevent trampoline injuries at parks here is what you can do:
- Avoid double bounces- these bounces send jumpers higher than usual with little to no control because of the magnified bounce caused by another. This usually leads to collisions between jumpers or can cause a child to fall off the trampoline.
- Take turns- when there are more than 2 people jumping on a trampoline at the same time, the likelihood of injury increases. Limiting the number of people on the trampoline will significantly reduce the risk of injury.
- Refrain from doing flips or somersaults-do not let individuals on trampolines attempt to do any tricks that would be harmful to them or others. Ensure that kids stick to only their true abilities and stray away from dangerous tricks.
- Don’t mix ages or sizes- look to keep younger and older kids separate so there is balance and control while jumping. Younger and smaller children are more prone to injuries but older kids may experience more severe injuries.
- Inspect the equipment- check that the padding and netting surrounding the trampoline is adequate and sufficient. Any uneasy feelings should not be ignored. Trust your instincts and take your child to another place.
If you or your child are injured at a trampoline park, you may be eligible to receive compensation. If you signed a waiver though, your right to recover compensation may have been revoked. The good news is that some waivers only address injuries in correlation with the activities at hand. It may not include waving the cost of injuries due to any negligent acts of the operator. When you file a claim against a trampoline park you must prove duty, breach of that duty, causation and damages. Once these four components are established you have a legitimate case on your hands and you should turn to legal professionals.
Call Kwartler Manus Today
Research and gather all the data and information you can to help your case. In doing so, it will make it easier for an attorney to fight for the justice you deserve. Then, contact the experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Kwartler Manus. Call our office at 267-457-5570 to schedule a consultation today.