Playing on a playground is an enjoyable activity for many children throughout the United States and many visit playgrounds on almost a daily basis. Playgrounds are not only good for recreation and entertainment but also for physical activity and socialization. Unfortunately, playgrounds also pose the risks of injuries to kids. According to statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 200,000 children under the age of 15 visit an emergency department each year for injuries sustained on playgrounds.
Some playground accidents are simply that—an accident. Children may simply lose their footing when running, may lose their grip on monkey bars, or may not be careful enough on high platforms or slides. However, in other situations, playground accidents happen because the owner of the playground was negligent in some way.
Negligence on Playgrounds
Like any other type of property, playground owners are legally expected to keep the equipment and premises well-maintained and free from hazards that may injure unknowing children. Some common hazards that may cause injury can include the following:
- Nails, screws, or other sharp objects protruding from slides or other equipment;
- Rusty or weak swing chains;
- Not having adequate ground covering to prevent injuries in falls;
- Having railings that are loose, too low, or nonexistent;
- Loose objects that can fall and hit a child below.
All of the above and more can cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken or shattered bones, spinal cord injuries, serious contusions, lacerations or puncture wounds, among other injuries that require emergency medical attention.
Recovering for Your Child’s Losses
A playground injury can result in extensive medical bills and can cause your child to miss a significant amount of school. In addition, some severe injuries such as a TBI or spinal cord injury can leave a child with long-term or permanent impairments that changes the entire course of their lives. If someone else’s negligence resulted in the playground accident, you and your child deserve to hold that party liable for all of the injury-related losses.
The requirements for a playground injury case can vary depending on who owned the playground in question. For example, if the playground was on private property, you would have to file a claim in civil court against that party. If the playground was in a public park or at a public school, however, the procedures for recovery can be very different. You should speak to an attorney about your child’s playground injury as soon as you can.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney for Help Today
Seeing your child get hurt is always difficult and the treatment they require can cost your family tens of thousands of dollars or more. At Wilton Law Firm, we will fight for your rights to recover for your family’s losses. We will evaluate what happened to determine whether you have a valid claim and will pursue the compensation you deserve. There may be a limited time to pursue a claim, however, so you should not hesitate to contact our office as soon as possible. Please feel free to use our online form or call us at for a free consultation today.
