Trampoline Injuries, Personal Injury Lawyer – The Mason Law Firm.
Indoor trampoline parks have become a trend around the country and have Trampoline Injuries. It seems that they are popping up everywhere, offering family entertainment for the whole family. But, are trampolines and indoor trampoline parks safe?
According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), trampolines pose a significant risk of major injury for children. Hence, they are NOT recommended. Wonder what could go wrong? The list of potential dangers is long and alarming:
- Fractures;
- Dislocations;
- Sprains;
- Strains;
- Bruises and other soft-tissue injuries;
- Ankle injuries;
- Head and neck injuries; and
- Spinal injuries.
What Do Statistics Show?
Statistics reveal that on average, about 92,000 children are injured annually on trampolines. In fact, according to data collected by the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics between 2002 and 2011, an estimated 1,002,735 Emergency Room visits were made for trampoline-related injuries, including 288,876 (29.0%) incidents involving various fractures.
Average Ages of the victims
- 92.7% were aged 16 years or younger;
- 9.5 years: the average age of victims with fractures;
- 16.5 years: the average age of victims who sustained fractures in their axial skeleton, i.e. the spine, skull/face, rib/sternum;
- 8.7 years: the average age of victims who sustained lower upper extremity fractures;
- 10.0 years: the average age of victims who sustained lower extremity fractures.
Location of the Fractures
- 59.9% of the fractures occurred in the upper extremity;
- 35.7% of the fractures occurred in the lower extremity;
- 4.4% of the fractures involved the axial skeleton (spine, skull/face, rib/sternum).
The difference in the Sexes
- 51.7% of the victims who sustained fractures were male;
- 67.9% of the victims who sustained fractures in their axial skeleton were male;
- 54.0% of the victims who sustained fractures in the lower extremity were females.
Most Common Upper Extremity Fractures
- 37% involved the forearm;
- 19% involved the elbow.
Most Common Lower Extremity Fractures
- 39.5% involved the tibia/fibula;
- 31.5% involved the ankle.
Most Common Spine Fractures
- 36.4% involved the cervical spine (neck area);
- 24.7% involved the lumbar (lower back).
Total Emergency Room Expenses
- $1.002 billion: total Emergency Room expenses for all trampoline injuries over this 10-year period;
- $408 million: total Emergency Room expenses related to fractures.
Causes of Injuries
- About 75% of trampoline injuries result when more than one person is on the trampoline at the same time. In fact, we have learned that if two people use the same trampoline at the same time, the person weighing less is 5 times more likely to be injured than the heavier person.
- Many injuries are caused by failed attempts at somersaults and flips while on a trampoline.
- Injuries occur even with adult supervision – studies reveal that up to one-half of trampoline injuries occur when an adult is nearby.
Are Trampoline Injuries Limited to Children?
No. Trampolines pose a danger to adults, children, and even professional athletes. Many may remember Joba Chamberlain, former New York Yankees pitcher who now pitches for the Detroit Tigers. In March of 2012, Chamberlain suffered a career-threatening ankle injury while jumping on a trampoline with his 5-year-old son at a children’s play facility.
So, even if you are in shape physically, trampolines still pose a danger.
Indoor Trampoline Parks – Are They Safe?
As indicated earlier, indoor trampoline parks have become a trend around the country. For example, in the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), we have Jump5150 and Sky High Sports. Are they safe?
The answer is “NO.” Indoor trampoline parks belong to an industry that is not regulated. Hence, they pose several dangers because of:
- Their failure to perform safety tests;
- Their failure to properly design and maintain their equipment;
- Their failure to properly supervise guests; and
- Their failure to properly train their staff.
These failures have led to lawsuits against such facilities:
- Our office is currently handling a personal injury case against Jump5150 resulting from an incident where our client (a minor at the time) sustained a broken neck.
- Our office is currently handling a personal injury case against Sky High Sports from an incident where our client (an adult) fractured both legs.
Because indoor trampoline parks are dangerous, they rely on written waivers to protect themselves. But, are these waivers enforceable? It depends on the waiver and many of them are not enforceable.
For these reasons, if you or a loved one have been injured at an indoor trampoline park, it is very important to seek the advice of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
This article is brought to you by Personal Injury Attorney Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm. We will provide you with an honest and complete assessment and educate you as to your options.
Our Contact Info:
Phone: 661-270-5677
Email: [email protected]
The Mason Law Firm
28494 Westinghouse Place, Suite 202
Valencia, CA 91355
This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm, a full-service personal injury attorney and accident lawyer. We represent clients all throughout California and Los Angeles County, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, Newhall, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
We can be reached at (661) 270-5677.
This article is meant for informational purposes only.