Trampoline parks are a popular place to take children and teenagers to have fun and get out energy. They have also become increasingly popular among adults, who visit trampoline parks for the fun and exercise of it. Unfortunately, just like other types of recreational parks, accidents can happen. Children are the most commonly injured at trampoline parks, but adults can also fall victim to injury while participating in activities at this type of park.
What Is A Trampoline Park?
Trampoline parks are a type of recreational park that typically have several large trampolines installed indoors. Guests can bounce on the trampolines, and many parks have foam pits that kids and other jumpers can jump into from the trampoline. Most trampoline parks are indoors, but some also offer trampoline experiences outdoors. Many trampoline parks also have arcade games, food and beverages, and other sources of entertainment, making it a great place for birthdays, celebrations, or even just a fun day out of the house.
When you go to an indoor trampoline park with your family and friends, you anticipate a safe environment where rules are in place and upheld by visitors and employees. This is the case in most situations; however, some trampoline parks may be lenient on their rules and regulations, which can result in serious injury for visitors. Additionally, the very nature of trampolines can cause potentially dangerous situations, as trampolines result in individuals leaving the ground and bouncing into the air. Without efficient control, individuals can experience a number of different accidents that can result in a myriad of injuries.
Causes Of Trampoline Park Accidents
There are several different causes of accidents at a trampoline park. The most important point to distinguish between accidents is whether the accident was the result of negligence on behalf of the park or the park’s employees or if the guest caused the accident due to their own negligence. Examples of causes of accidents at trampoline parks include:
Energy Transference On The Trampoline
Trampolines are designed so that energy transfers with each step a person takes on a trampoline. This energy is also transferred to any other jumpers on the trampoline, meaning that a person’s movements are directly impacted with others who are on the trampoline. This can result in a child or other person being bounced higher or in a different direction than they anticipated and lead to injury.
Design Flaws
Design flaws in how the trampolines are created and connected can also cause injury. Most trampoline parks have several trampolines connected together rather than just one big trampoline. If the trampolines are not connected properly, they can result in reduced energy transfer between the trampoline pads which can affect how a jumper experiences each jump. If a jumper jumps but does not get the appropriate energy transfer, they can injure their legs or other body parts.
Unsafe Jumping
Jumpers who do not follow the rules of the trampoline park and participate in unsafe jumping such as performing somersaults, flips, or “double bouncing” are at a much higher risk of getting injured or injuring others.
Too Many People Jumping
If a trampoline park allows too many people to jump on the trampolines at once, the risk of injury is much higher. There should be a maximum number of jumpers, usually two or three, who are allowed to jump on the trampolines at one time.
Missing Protective Parts
If the trampoline facility fails to put proper protective parts in place, jumpers can easily become injured if they fall, land improperly, or hit a hard surface.
Other common causes of accidents at trampoline parks include:
- No adult supervision when children are jumping
- Insufficient staff supervision
- Improper assembly of the trampolines
- Jumping by children who are too young to properly use the trampoline
Common Injuries Incurred In A Trampoline Accident
Injuries that a person can experience at a trampoline park range from mild to severe. And, unfortunately, trampoline injuries are very common. In fact, an estimated 100,000 emergency room visits occur each year as a direct result of an injury obtained while on a trampoline. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against “recreational trampoline use by children” unless they are under the direct supervision of adults, adequate protective padding is in place, there’s only one jumper per trampoline, and no somersaults or flips are performed while jumping. While these conditions would certainly make for a safer experience at a trampoline park, they are rarely the case. Many trampoline parks allow several jumpers per trampoline and also allow somersaults and flips.
Common injuries experienced at a trampoline park include:
- Broken bones, such as to the arms or legs
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Dislocations
- Sprains and strains
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Contusions, abrasions, and scrapes
- Facial bone injuries
Younger children are much more likely to get injured at a trampoline park than others, but no one is immune to the potential dangers of this activity.
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Liability Facts At Trampoline Parks
If you or a loved one is injured while visiting a trampoline park, determining who or what was liable for the accident is an important component when seeking compensation for the injury. The following are individuals who may be held responsible depending on the circumstance in which you or your loved one was injured:
- The trampoline park operator and owner: Due to premises liability the property owners of a trampoline park have the responsibility to keep their guests safe while on their property. If some part of the park was the direct cause for the injury, the trampoline park owner could be held liable for you or your loved one’s injury. For example, if an accident happened as a result of poorly maintained equipment, this would be considered negligence on behalf of the park and the owner would be held responsible for any injuries that resulted in the accident.
- The trampoline manufacturer: The manufacturers of the park’s trampoline equipment can also be held liable for injuries if the cause was a faulty or defective product.
- Other trampoline park guests: If another park visitor is the direct cause of you or your loved one’s injuries, they may be held liable.
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Contact Florin|Roebig To Discuss Your Trampoline Park Lawsuit
If you or your child or loved one has been injured while playing at a trampoline park, it will be important to determine who was responsible for the injury, especially if a waiver of liability was signed to access the park. This typically requires an extensive investigation to sufficiently prove liability. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney can help ensure you efficiently determine liability and get the compensation you need and deserve for the injury. Contact the law firm of Florin|Roebig today for a 100% free consultation and legal advice regarding your personal injury lawsuit.
