It can happen to anyone. An afternoon filled with children laughing and playing on a trampoline can shift to one of stress when a child lands awkwardly or falls out of the trampoline and suffers an injury. Parents who find themselves in this situation are not alone. From 2009 to 2018 over 800,000 children were injured while using a trampoline. Common injuries include:
- Fractures and sprains: These occur when children land incorrectly or collide with others.
- Head and neck injuries: These are particularly dangerous and can result from falls or flips gone wrong.
- Cuts and bruises: These are frequent due to the trampoline’s springs and frame.
These injuries often require medical attention, leading to substantial costs. Treatment for severe injuries like head trauma can quickly reach over $10,000. The medical experts with Mayo Clinic note that even what may seem like a relatively minor injury from a trampoline accident, like a broken arm, requires surgery 20% to 30% of the time.
What options do parents of an injured child have when dealing with a trampoline accident?
Whether the accident occurs at a trampoline park or in someone’s backyard, Minnesota law provides avenues for parents seeking compensation for trampoline-related injuries. If the family that owns the trampoline or the owners of the trampoline park did not provide adequate supervision or had faulty equipment, they may be liable for the cost of the child’s injuries. This can lead to funds to help cover the cost of medical and rehabilitative care.
Navigating a claim can be complicated. Parents will need to gather evidence to establish that negligence was a factor in the accident as well as medical records to show the cost of the injury. Legal counsel can help guide parents through this difficult time, taking on the burden of the legalities while parents focus on helping their child heal.