A Texas family is suing a local trampoline park after their child was severely hurt while on the premises. The trampoline park is a new trend popping up all over the United States. Companies that start these parks purchase large warehouses and outfit them with trampolines. Some lead to foam pits, some to ball pits, and others are surrounded with padded walls for tricks and stunts. The trampoline parks are open to the public for an entrance fee, and give kids a new way to expend their energy.
In Houston, a trampoline park called Cosmic Jump now faces a lawsuit for negligence. Allegedly, the teenage boy who was injured slipped through a rip in the trampoline canvas and hit the concrete floor below, suffering serious injuries. The teen was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, with bleeding on his brain and skull fractures. The victim wasn't paralyzed from the injury, but his mother says that her son wanted to be an astronaut prior to the injury. He now struggles with basic tasks like writing or keeping his balance.
The family is seeking compensation in a premises liability lawsuit for unsafe conditions which lead to the child's brain injuries. The suit may also allow the family to receive money for the victim's past and future medical expenses. They are also seeking punitive damages for pain and suffering after the potentially permanent loss of faculties.
Trampoline injuries are common, and can often result in tragic injuries like this one. This is why many trampoline parks require that all customers sign waivers before they enter the trampoline park. This way, in the event of an accident, the trampoline company can argue that the victim already signed a waiver declaring that he or she wouldn't sue for injuries that were suffered in the location.
It is important to note that no matter what wavier you sign, the company cannot legally apply this waiver to situations where the company is negligent and allows dangerous conditions on the premises. If the trampoline was ripped, and the child suffered injury because of a failure to repair the trampoline, then the premises can be sued. Also, if there was an unprotected metal bar at the trampoline location, and a child slipped and fell onto the bar, which should have been covered in protective foam, then the victim has the right to sue because the company was negligent in caring for their premises correctly.
It is important for parents to note that trampoline parks are often less regulated than theme parks or other state parks because they do not have any moving parts or machinery. Therefore, the standard of safety may be lower, and this may lead to serious injuries. Also, the parks may rely on a child's assumption of risk to defend lawsuits. The parks can often claim that a child was violating the rules of the trampoline park or moved outside a designated jumping area and this is why the accident happened. If you believe that the park was to blame, you need to argue this point effectively.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that it is best to confine trampoline activity to supervised settings like a gymnastics facility, Trampoline parks can result in ER visits when jumpers collide with one another, fall onto the trampoline springs, or fall off the trampoline. Also, some jumpers will try stunts, and will fall onto their necks, spines, or limbs, causing severe breaks or injuries. If you believe that you have a lawsuit against a trampoline park, don't hesitate to call a skilled personal injury attorney in your area for representation today!