Trampoline parks are going up all around the country, and many homeowners add trampolines to their yards. Did you know that hospital visits from trampoline injuries have gone up 150% over the last two decades, and are the subject of many lawsuits each year? This is what you need to know.
Trampolines were designed for the training purposes of gymnasts and acrobats, and are used for military pilot training as well. In this capacity they are monitored and have strict guidelines making them a safe and effective aerobic activity. The same safety precautions many times are not taken, or followed as thoroughly for entertainment usages, resulting in injuries.
The cardinal rule of trampoline jumping is one at a time. Most injuries happen when this is not followed. Users collide with one another, are double bounced, and land improperly, receiving injuries on the trampoline, springs and frame, or on the nearby ground. This happens easily at homes, but trampoline parks many times do not sufficiently supervise jumpers, increasing the likelihood of incidence.
This results in lawsuits against trampoline parks. Despite waivers, customers of the trampoline park, Sky High, in Bellevue, WA, have been able to move forward with personal injury lawsuits against the facility. The court ruled that such waivers are unenforceable for jumpers under the age of 18. It is likely other states will follow too. Sky High has come back stating their ability to sue parents of jumpers for indemnification.
There are some other issues with trampolines. Homeowners may have trouble insuring homes with a trampoline. Some insurers will decline altogether, while others will insure at the exclusion of the trampoline. This leaves homeowners vulnerable to lawsuits. Liability for injuries is likely the homeowner’s here, even for trespassers.
There were a quarter of a million trampoline injuries over the last decade. Some of those injuries were minor breaks, but spinal injuries and death occur at an uncomfortable rate also. The American Academy of Pediatrics say that there is no way to make a home trampoline safe, and that they should never be used there. For trampoline parks, those in the business say it’s not a matter of if you get sued, it’s a matter of when. In other words, injuries are forecasted in the future. Is it worth it?