Trampoline parks are meant to be places where families and children can go to have fun and spend time together. However, trampoline parks can sometimes cause severe or life-threatening injuries to many individuals and their loved ones. Falls, slips, and inadequate equipment may cause these injuries to occur, leaving families in a state of fear and uncertainty for their future. Understanding trampoline park accidents and the necessary steps to take to recover is crucial to maintaining your health and safety.
Trampoline Parks and their Dangers
Unlike many recreational facilities, trampoline parks involve multiple individuals jumping up and down at the same time. Common causes of trampoline park injuries include:
- Collisions between participants
- Falls from elevated platforms
- Improper landing techniques
- Defective trampoline surfaces
- Torn jumping mats
- Broken springs or frame components
- Poorly maintained foam pits
- Inadequate staff supervision
- Failure to enforce safety rules
- Overcrowding
While some injuries may appear minor, others can have lasting consequences.
Types of Injuries that may Occur
Common injuries can include but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Wrist and ankle fractures
- Torn ACL or other knee ligament injuries
- Shoulder dislocations
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Facial fractures
Children are especially vulnerable because of differences in size and physical development.
The Importance of Waivers
Liability waivers are usually used by businesses offering recreational activities. Their purpose is to inform individuals that certain risks are inherent in the activity. However, California courts do not automatically enforce every waiver under every case. Several factors may affect whether a waiver applies, including but not limited to the following.
- How clearly it was written
- Whether it specifically covered the type of activity involved
- Whether it was properly presented
- Whether the business acted reasonably in maintaining a safe facility
Each situation depends on its own facts, making it important to evaluate the circumstances carefully.
Natural Risks
One of the most important legal distinctions involves the difference between inherent risks and preventable hazards. Certain risks naturally exist whenever someone chooses to participate in trampoline activities. Examples include:
- Losing balance
- Landing awkwardly
- Minor collisions
- Misjudging a jump
These types of risks may be considered part of the activity itself. However, preventable hazards may present different legal issues. Examples may include:
- Broken equipment left unrepaired
- Missing safety padding
- Unsafe facility maintenance
- Employees ignoring dangerous conditions
- Allowing excessive overcrowding
- Failure to follow established safety procedures
Maintaining Facilities
Trampoline parks have an ongoing responsibility to inspect and maintain their equipment. Routine inspections may include checking the following components.
- Trampoline fabric
- Springs
- Safety nets
- Foam pit depth
- Padding
- Railings
- Walkways
- Obstacle course components
When maintenance is delayed, or inspections are not properly followed, hazards can develop that increase the likelihood of injury. Maintenance records, inspection logs, repair histories, and surveillance footage may become important sources of information when evaluating how an accident occurred.
The Importance of Proper Training for Employees
Proper supervision is another important factor of trampoline park safety. Employees are often responsible for the following.
- Monitoring participant behavior
- Enforcing age restrictions
- Limiting overcrowding
- Responding to unsafe conduct
- Closing damaged attractions
- Assisting after injuries
If staff members fail to address obvious safety concerns, those circumstances may become relevant during an investigation. Training programs, staffing levels, and internal safety policies may all be examined when determining whether reasonable safety measures were followed.
Who is most Vulnerable?
Many trampoline park injuries involve minors. Young children often:
- Have less body control
- Cannot accurately judge distance
- Are more susceptible to fractures
- May not fully understand safety instructions
Facilities usually separate attractions by age or size to reduce these risks. When parks fail to enforce their own safety rules or allow unsafe interactions between individuals of different sizes, injuries may occur that could potentially have been avoided.
Preserving Important Documentation
After any serious trampoline park injury, preserving evidence and documentation may help clarify what happened. Examples of potentially useful information may include:
- Photographs of the accident scene
- Pictures of equipment involved
- Contact information for witnesses
- Incident reports
- Medical records
- Surveillance footage
- Copies of the signed waiver
- Receipts or admission records
Obtaining information while it is still available may be helpful because conditions inside a facility can change quickly after an accident.
Speaking with a Legal Professional
Legal guidance and support may help victims who are experiencing the aftermath of a trampoline park accident understand their rights and responsibilities in their personal injury case. A qualified attorney may be able to explain the specific facts of your case and determine potentially liable parties moving forward. This may be beneficial when dealing with the consequences of these types of accidents.
KAASS LAW
The legal team at KAASS LAW understands the challenges victims may face when dealing with trampoline park accidents. Our skilled attorneys may be able to review the circumstances surrounding the accident, maintain necessary pieces of evidence, and speak to insurance companies to help you recover as soon as possible. We want to help you understand the important steps to take as well as your rights throughout the legal process. Call KAASS LAW today to learn more.