Trampolines can be great fun. If you doubt that, watch the next kid you see on a trampoline. It won’t take long before you learn that they are having the time of their lives.
It should come as no surprise that among all the fun and frolic that sometimes accidents happen. In most instances, the injuries that result are minor, like cuts and bruises. But what happens when the injuries are more serious?
It’s instances such as these that a call to alex hernandez lawyer corpus christi can help.
What Happens When the Unthinkable Happens?
Most parents who attend to their children when they are playing on a trampoline exercise a reasonable amount of caution when they are doing so. Unfortunately, when something does happen, the parent usually says they didn’t realize how dangerous a trampoline could be. As it turns out, every year, more than 200,000 children under the age of 16 are hurt on trampolines. Further, according to a report published by the Mayo Clinic, play on trampolines pose a “high risk for children.” It also states, “The activity can result in fractures and sprains in the arms or legs -; as well as neck and head injuries.” The American Academy of Pediatrics also chimed in with a report discouraging the use of trampolines stating, “Between 2002 and 2011, there were more than 1 million emergency room visits for trampoline injuries, with the vast majority of patients younger than 17 years.”
The First Ounce of Prevention
The first step toward trampoline safety is to understand that they can be dangerous if not used with caution. Trampolines can cause injuries of all sorts, including broken bones, dislocations, and spinal cord damage. In extreme cases, a trampoline can cause paralysis and even death.
If you or your child have suffered an injury due to the use of a trampoline, get medical help as soon as possible. If the injury seems to be serious, you should contact 911 immediately and request an ambulance.
If There is a Trampoline Injury, Who is Liable?
The first step towards trampoline safety is to understand that they can be dangerous if not used with caution. Trampolines can cause injuries of all sorts, including broken bones, dislocations, and spinal cord damage. In extreme cases, a trampoline can cause paralysis and even death.
A 2019 paper published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) showed that more than 66 percent of all trampoline injuries occur on products located at homes as opposed to those in specialized parks. In these cases, especially if the product is determined to have been assembled incorrectly, it would probably be the owner who would be found liable. Even if the product is determined to have been assembled correctly, if there was no supervision or if other safety precautions, such as helmets, were not used, the owner could be found liable. In cases of this sort, it is a good idea to carry an insurance policy to help.
Trampoline parks have become the rage in recent years. In these cases, trampolines tend to be assembled better than those in home use. For a variety of reasons, it has been determined that injuries at these establishments are often more severe than those at home. In these cases, however, waivers are usually signed for those under the age of 17, which makes pursuing a case more difficult but not impossible.
If there is negligence involved in any case, whoever the perpetrator might be, it’s always a good idea to contact a lawyer to ensure that rights are protected.