Kids are attracted to trampolines like moths to flames. In fact, regardless of one's age, jumping on a trampoline provides good old family fun. If their friends have them, your kids may even be begging you to put one up in your own backyard.
Before you buy a trampoline, it's important to know that they often pose a significant safety risk. In fact, a parents.com article revealed a harrowing statistic: more than 90,000 people each year head to the emergency room with an injury sustained in a trampoline accident. Further, a study conducted at Brown University Medical School says that upward of half-a-million children suffered injuries between 2000-2005 from residential trampoline accidents. Serious injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Concussions and other serious head injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Abdominal injuries
In addition to causing serious, painful injuries, owning a trampoline will also have an effect on your pocketbook. Insurance companies categorize trampolines as an “attractive nuisance,†along with pools and tools left unattended. Rest assured, a trampoline will cause your homeowner's insurance rates to rise. In fact, some carriers won't insure a home with a trampoline. Or, they might write the policy excluding any trampoline-related accidents. If someone else gets hurt on your property, the liability to you could be exorbitant.
If you choose to buy a trampoline in spite of the dangers, make sure it is constructed properly. Splurge on any additional safety features such as padding or a very sturdy net. Never allow children to jump without an adult present. And, make a one jumper at a time rule.
If you or your child has been injured on a trampoline, contact a personal injury lawyer immediately to find out if you have a case against the manufacturer or retail outlet who sold it to you.
Contact Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. today for sound legal advice. If you do have a valid case, we will fight for maximum compensation for pain and suffering and medical bills.
