For a very long time, trampolines have been a favorite pastime for people all across America. Kids and adults alike enjoy going out into the backyard to bounce around on the trampoline, do flips, and play jumping games with friends and neighbors. Now, trampolines are not just an outside activity. Indoor trampoline parks have been popping up everywhere. Here in Florida, these indoor parks are a popular attraction to escape the heat and blazing sun. While these parks have become a popular attraction, that popularity is not without some safety concerns. Studies have shown that there has been an increase in injuries associated with trampoline parks.
The number of trampoline parks in Florida has jumped from around 40 parks to 280 in recent years. Nationwide, there are now approximately 600 indoor trampoline parks. Each of these parks holds the potential for serious injuries, however. There have been more and more reports of children, and even adults, being injured while playing on the trampolines. Visitors to these indoor parks are provided with instructions for play: Avoid double bouncing, double flips, do not climb on the walls, and more. There is employee supervision and there are numerous safety signs displayed, but some visitors still participate in unsafe jumping practices. Kids and teens are attempting to perform difficult stunts right next to one another, increasing the potential for injury, according to local news reports.
With more and more injuries occurring, victims are asking, who might be held liable for injuries sustained at an indoor trampoline park? A teen in South Florida was visiting a popular indoor park recently and broke her ankle when another person landed on it. The teen and her family are trying to hold the trampoline park liable for her injuries, claiming that the indoor park was negligent in their supervision of the patrons, leading to the injury. However, the park claims that they are absolved from liability because the injured teen’s parent signed a waiver prior to the injury. The waiver warned of the dangers that might be associated with playing at the park and included a clause to not take legal action against the company should any injuries occur.
The language absolving the trampoline park of liability from injuries is common throughout many different indoor trampoline parks. While on the surface it might seem like the park cannot be held liable for injuries of patrons, the park might still be found negligent in some cases. Even if a patron signs a waiver, the trampoline park company could still be negligent if it did not abide by the terms outlined in the waiver. For example, not providing adequate adult supervision could be an instance of the trampoline park being negligent in its duties.
If you or your child has been injured at a trampoline park, the personal injury attorneys at Dennis Hernandez & Associates are here to help. We want to get you the best result possible under the circumstances. Even if you signed a waiver, a company is not permitted to be outright negligent and cause you harm. Contact us today for a consultation.
