Trampoline Injuries

What Are Trampoline Injuries?

Has someone you love suffered trampoline injuries? Are you worried about paying mounting medical bills or otherwise supporting your family? Call today or complete the online contact form below to talk with an experienced attorney in your area.

Trampolines have fabric that stretches between a metal frame. Springs around the trampoline’s mat make its surface bouncy. Many children, adolescents and adults enjoy jumping on trampolines for both fun and exercise.

Unfortunately, though, trampoline injuries may be more common than you think. In fact, trampoline injury statistics from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reveal that more than 100,000 individuals sustain some type of injury on trampolines every single year.

Common Trampoline Injuries

Every time a person jumps or stands near a trampoline, he or she is susceptible to a seemingly endless number of injuries. Some injuries are more common than others, however.

Here are the likeliest injuries from using a trampoline:

• Broken bones
• Strained, torn or sprained muscles
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Bruises, burns and lacerations

Broken Bones

Statistics indicate that broken bones are the injuries that most frequently require professional medical attention from trampolines. When jumping on a trampoline, a person may fracture a bone. The same is true if the user lands off the trampoline’s mat.

Furthermore, if a jumper collides with a spectator, both are at risk of breaking bones.

Strained, Torn or Sprained Muscles

A trampoline user does not have to break a bone to suffer serious trauma. Muscle strains, tears and sprains are all possible even if a person uses the trampoline correctly. Similarly, an individual may hurt connective tissues, such as tendons, when jumping on a trampoline.

Strained, torn and sprained muscles may heal on their own or may require medical attention. Sometimes, injured jumpers need surgery to repair soft tissue problems.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries usually occur in two different situations. First, the head may hit a fixed object. Alternatively, the brain may collide with the skull. Both are possible with a trampoline that launches users into the air.

Regrettably, TBIs may lead to serious complications, including hearing and vision loss, personality changes or even death.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord runs from the brain down a person’s back, delivering neurological signals to the entire body. If the spinal cord breaks, tears, bruises or otherwise sustains damage, an individual may become paralyzed.

Sadly, paralysis following trampoline accidents is not exactly rare.

Bruises, Burns and Lacerations

Whether a jumper lands on or near the trampoline, he or she may sustain a bruise. While many bruises are not medically serious, others may be potentially life-threatening. Of course, bruising is not the only typically superficial injury a person may suffer on a trampoline.

Cuts and deep lacerations may happen when a jumper hits the trampoline’s mat or the ground. If a person’s skin pinches in the springs of the trampoline, some types of skin injury are likely. When bare skin rubs against the trampoline’s mat, friction burns are also possible.

Bruises, burns and lacerations often heal without medical intervention. Nonetheless, when jumpers sustain these kinds of injuries, infections and scarring may be possible.

The Personal Injury Process for Trampoline Injuries

If someone you know sustains trampoline injuries, he or she may be eligible for financial compensation from the trampoline’s owner or whoever caused the injuries. Personal injury cases are usually a matter of state law, though. Therefore, it is important to understand the law where the injury occurred.

Generally, trampoline owners are legally responsible for injuries when they act negligently, recklessly or intentionally. Most personal injury cases proceed on a negligence theory, nevertheless.

The Elements of Negligence

To be successful with a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove four elements:

• Duty
• Breach
• Causation
• Harm

Duty is simply the legal requirement to act reasonably. For trampoline owners, this may mean keeping the trampoline in good working condition, erecting a security fence, posting warning signs or locating the trampoline in a safe area.

A breach occurs when the trampoline’s owner does not comply with his or her legal duty to be reasonable.

Causation in negligence matters has two components. First, the trampoline’s owner must be the actual cause of the person’s injuries. The owner must also be the legal cause. Usually, this means the injured party would not have suffered an injury except for the actions of the trampoline owner.

Finally, harm is necessary in every negligence case. That is, it is impossible to succeed with a personal injury case without claiming some type of injury. A person’s harm may include medical bills, lost wages and other damages, although state law usually defines types of harm that are legally compensable.

A Note on Trampoline Parks

While many trampoline injuries occur at private residences, trampoline parks are becoming increasingly popular. These recreational businesses have several trampolines for customers to use.

Before using a trampoline park, individuals usually must sign liability waivers. Whether these waivers are enforceable likely depends on both their language and state law. Still, provided employees of the trampoline park do not act recklessly or intentionally, waivers usually protect the company from civil actions.

Regardless of whether a person signs a waiver, trampoline park injuries are possible. Luckily, many trampoline parks take steps to protect jumpers. This fact may make trampolines at parks safer than their private backyard counterparts, although reliable statistics are not available.

Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer

Personal injury law is incredibly complex. Proceeding with a legal cause of action against a trampoline owner requires a careful examination of the facts and the law. An experienced local lawyer can counsel you on whether it is appropriate to file a claim, seek an insurance settlement or do something else.

When it comes to receiving fair compensation for trampoline injuries, you want a local lawyer on your side. After all, the insurance company and trampoline’s owner are apt to have legal counsel.

Furthermore, because personal injury matters usually fall under the purview of state law, a local lawyer can help you understand liability in your state.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!