Indianapolis Lawyers for Children in Trampoline Accidents
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been compiling information related to trampoline injuries since the 1980s. It found the number of trampoline accidents has increased steadily each year. It is no surprise that children under the age of 14 sustain the highest number of injuries as well as the most severe types of injuries as a result of playing on trampolines.
In 2006 alone, there were over 100,000 emergency room visits due to trampoline accidents. Children account for two thirds of these visits annually. Common injuries include damage to the arm/hand or the foot/leg. Head and neck injuries tend to be the most severe. Cervical spine injuries often occur when the child falls off the trampoline or attempts somersaults or flips and lands on their head or neck.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has also been monitoring the rate and severity of child injuries on trampolines, and recently issued a policy statement in regards to trampoline safety in childhood and adolescence. The AAP found that a majority of the child trampoline injuries occurred when there was more than one child jumping on the trampoline at a time. In fact, when multiple simultaneous jumpers were involved, the smaller child was found to be 14 times more likely to suffer a dislocation or fracture when colliding with a larger child.
Falling off a trampoline can cause very serious injury for a child. The AAP mentioned in its policy statement that falls account for almost 40% of the severe trampoline-related injuries. In the late 1990s manufacturers began including netting to enclose the trampoline structure to offer a safer jumping environment. However, the AAP found that this netting did not significantly impact the number of injuries associated with falls off a trampoline.
Lacerations, sprains, and fractures can result from direct contact with trampoline springs and framing. The AAP found that approximately 20% of serious trampoline-related injuries are due to direct contact with trampoline springs and framing. Padding and other safety measures that have been put into place have not been found to significantly reduce this number.
Adult supervision is often cited as one way that trampoline injuries can be reduced. However, multiple studies have shown that even with adult supervision, serious injuries still occur either because of a lack of knowledge of risky behavior or complacency due to safety features.
Your Rights
If your child or a loved one suffers a serious trampoline-related injury, contact us. The Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at Cohen & Malad, LLP have experience litigating claims involving serious injury and wrongful death. Your initial consultation is free. Talk to one of our child injury attorneys to discuss your legal rights and options. We will not collect any legal fees until your claim is paid. We have the expertise and knowledge to aggressively negotiate a settlement and are prepared to take your case to trial if talks break down. When it comes to the welfare of your child, we can help give Power to Your Voice.
