Who is Responsible for Accidents Caused by Broken Playground Equipment?

 Posted on June 17, 2019 in Premises Liability

Summer can be a wonderful time for adults and children alike to enjoy a break from school and spend more outside. The last thing a family enjoying a public park or playground needs to worry about is whether or not the equipment the children are playing on is safe. While most playground injuries are only small bruises and cuts, sadly, much more serious injuries and even deaths have occurred due to playground accidents. If your child has been hurt or has passed away because of a playground accident, you may have a valid personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Top Causes of Playground Accidents

Of course, sometimes playground accidents occur and are not caused by carelessness on anyone’s part, the accident is just bad luck. However, many serious or fatal playground accidents are caused by negligence. Improperly constructed or installed playground equipment can have pieces which are broken, unsecured, or are otherwise unsafe. Equipment which is not properly maintained can rust away and break, exposing children to hazards which can seriously injure them. Sometimes, a playground injury is caused by inadequate supervision of children.

Injuries Which Can Be Caused by Playground Negligence    

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emergency room departments treat over 200,000 children under age 14 for injuries sustained on a playground every year. While some of these injuries are minor cuts and bruises, the CDC estimates that nearly a half of these injuries include serious internal injuries, fractures and broken bones, dislocations, concussions, and amputations. Some playground injuries can leave a child permanently disabled or disfigured. When negligence is the cause of a serious or fatal playground accident, the parents of the child injured or killed may be able to collect compensation through a personal injury claim.

Who is Liable for Damages Caused by Playground Injuries?

The question of liability in a personal injury case can be incredibly complex. If the accident was caused by a poorly-maintained equipment, it is possible that the city or county responsible for maintaining the equipment can be legally-responsible for damages. If the accident occurred due to defective equipment, the company that designed or manufactured the equipment could be responsible. When an accident is caused by improper playground equipment construction or installation, the company which built the playground may be liable for damages.

Contact a Rockford, IL Premises Liability Lawyer

To learn more about pursuing compensation for damages caused by a playground accident, contact a Winnebago County personal injury lawyer from Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois. Call us today at 815-215-7561 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

Source:

https://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Playground-Injuries/playgroundinjuries-factsheet.htm