The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) estimates that over 200,000 children under 14 years old are injured every year in playground accidents. More than half of these injuries are the result of defective or poorly designed equipment. Injuries sustained range from minor to severe, including muscle sprains, scrapes, cuts and bruises, bone fractures, head and neck trauma, internal injuries and strangulation.
Not all playgrounds are safe. Many are riddled with safety hazards, whether by design or lack of maintenance, including:
- Absence of appropriate protective surfaces. Children sometimes fall when they play. A playground should have a safe surface to soften the blow of any potential falls, such as rubber matting, sand, or mulch.
- Protrusions and tripping hazards. If a playground is not properly maintained, there may be sharp areas sticking out from the equipment’s structure. A child’s clothing could get caught and tangled in these protrusions, which could cause strangulation or other serious injuries. Improper maintenance may also result in tripping hazards, such as broken pavement, tree stumps, or rocks.
- No guardrails. Slides and other play equipment with high areas should have guardrails to prevent falls, which could otherwise result in fractured bones or head injuries.
If defectively designed playground equipment were to cause an injury to your child, the manufacturer, or others within the chain of distribution, may be held liable. A lack of guardrails can be considered a defective design. Playground equipment may be safely designed, however, but defectively manufactured, such as a merry-go-round with improperly fitted hardware.
At Todd Miner Law®️, we understand that you are going through an overwhelming time. Whether you or someone you care for is injured, our team is here to assist you from start to finish, so you can focus on recovery while we handle your case. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.
Call us today for a free consultation at 407-214-4743.
