One of the first motor skills a child learns is bouncing up and down on their feet.
You can trace a natural progression from bouncing in a crib to bounding on a trampoline. It is no wonder that trampolines are so popular both in backyards and as larger trampoline parks. Unfortunately, all of that bouncing can lead to some severe injuries. Those injuries can be considered the typical kind of accidents that happen to kids.
However, what if the trampoline park staff neglected to adequately supervise their patrons? Improper maintenance and overcrowding can lead to injuries that could have been prevented.
It is important to look at trampoline injury statistics to understand the scope of this problem.
The Injury Numbers
The American Academy of Pediatrics keeps track of a wide range of injuries related to children and teens. The following are the statistics they compiled specifically about trampoline park injuries:
- Over 8,387,178 “jumper hours,” there were 13, 256 injuries.
- 11% of the total number of injuries were rated as significant.
A Pediatric Emergency Care study published in 2022 by the National Library of Medicine highlighted that, out of all reported trampoline accidents, 18.1% occurred at a sports venue. Here are some additional injury statistics:
- 1% of the injuries were to the arms and legs.
- 9% were head and neck injuries.
Their findings conclude that adolescents and girls are at the highest risk of a trampoline injury that required some form of hospitalization.
Reasons for Trampoline Injuries
More trampoline injuries occur when two or more jumpers are in the same area. It is not uncommon for there to be even more jumpers in a confined area at a trampoline park. These are the reasons for most of these injuries:
- Falling on the trampoline mat incorrectly
- Improperly attempting stunts such as flips and somersaults
- Bouncing off the trampoline mat onto a hard surface
Common Injuries Suffered With These Accidents
The types of injuries associated with trampoline park accidents include the following:
- Minor lacerations
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Trunk injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
Understanding the Role of Liability Waivers
Every parent who takes a child to trampoline parks is asked to sign a waiver. This waiver is meant to remove the trampoline park from liability if the child gets injured. This means that a parent takes full responsibility if something happens to their child. However, a case that made its way through the Kentucky courts found that a trampoline park could not enforce its liability waiver.
News station WDRB reported on the Kentucky court’s ruling. The impact of that ruling means that if your child is injured at a trampoline park, you might be able to hold the park and staff liable for the accident.
The Merits of a Case
If your child was injured at a trampoline park in Louisville, the priority is to make sure they get the medical attention they need for a full recovery. After that, you might want to discuss what happened with the Thomas Law Offices. We will listen to your account of the incident and decide on the merits of the case. We can then advise you on the best way forward to seek a remedy for the injuries.
Call to schedule a consultation to talk about what happened.
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