Trampoline Park Injuries

According to the International Association of Trampoline Parks, there are over 600 trampoline parks operating in the United States—nearly 15 times more than there were just six years ago. In fact, it’s a $300 million industry, so you can expect many more to pop up around the state in the near future. But one important question remains: Are these parks safe?

NPR recently released a report that stated emergency room visits from trampoline parks rose from fewer than 600 in 2010 to nearly 7,000 in 2014, with young children being the highest at risk of injury. Trampoline park injuries can result in costly medical bills, mental anguish, physical pain and other devastating losses. If you or a loved one has experienced an injury at a trampoline park, contact our Philadelphia premises liability lawyers at Kwartler Manus, LLC.

Dangers of Trampoline Parks

Trampolines and bounce houses can be dangerous, and the rising number of injuries are cause for alarm. As the safety concerns of trampolines are now more widely known, researchers from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System have identified trends and compared characteristics between trampoline park injuries and home trampoline injuries. Shockingly enough, the results showed that there are higher odds of hospital admission for trampoline park injuries, even though more trampoline injuries occur at home.

Trampoline Park and Bounce House Injuries

So what kind of injuries can you expect at a trampoline park or bounce house?

• Concussions
• Broken bones
• Dislocations
• Sprains
• Spinal cord injuries
• Skull fractures
• Paralysis
• Death

Due to the high risk of injury, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages the recreational use of trampolines by children under the age of 5, as they are at the highest risk for injury. The younger the child, the more likely they are to break a bone due to their underdeveloped body.

Causes of Injury

Despite safety concerns, families will continue to visit trampoline parks. If you and your children do decide to make a trip, consider taking the following precautions:

1. Survey the facility: Make sure the trampolines are in good condition and offer adequate padding.
2. Allow one jumper per trampoline: Don’t let your child jump on a trampoline with multiple people. This increases the risk of collision, which could cause an injury.
3. Avoid acrobatics: Don’t allow your child to perform flips, somersaults or other tricks while on a trampoline. Landing wrong or failed attempts could result in a broken bone or a severe spine injury.

Trampoline Park Liability

If you or your child is injured in a Philadelphia trampoline park or bounce house, the owner or operator of the park may be liable. According to the theory of liability, unsafe products, inadequate supervision, lack of warnings, failure to inforce rules, negligent maintenance and improper installation are all valid reasons to bring a personal injury claim. Aside from owners and managers, you may also have a claim against the installer or manufacturer of the product that caused an injury. Any defects in the design or manufacturing can lead to a personal injury lawsuit.

However, proving liability requires a close analysis of the facts and an in-depth investigation. If you need help, please contact our Philadelphia trampoline injury lawyers at Kwartler Manus, LLC. You may be eligible for compensation to help alleviate you or your child’s suffering.