There’s something magical about playgrounds. Most of us grew up hanging from the monkey bars or begging for “just one more push on the swing,” and as parents, we can’t wait to watch our own children experience that same joy. But beneath the fun and excitement lies a reality many families don’t think about until it’s too late: playgrounds, designed for fun, also carry real risks. Each year, thousands of children are injured on playgrounds, turning what should be a carefree day into a trip to the emergency room.
If your child was injured on a playground, you may be wondering who is responsible and whether you have the right to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. Understanding how liability works and what steps to take next can make all the difference in protecting your child’s future and holding the appropriate party accountable.
Playground Accident Statistics
Data shared by the Children’s Safety Network shows that each year more than 600,000 children are injured on playgrounds, 218,815 children are treated in emergency rooms for playground injuries, and 15 children die from playground related injuries.
More than 70 percent of playground accidents occur on public playgrounds and most happen while using climbing equipment, slides, and swings. Common injuries that lead to emergency room visits include broken bones, concussions, dislocations, lacerations, strangulation, and dental injuries. Approximately 15 children die each year from their playground injuries, about half from strangulation and one-quarter from falling off of elevated levels of equipment. Most playground deaths occur on home-playgrounds.
Low-income neighborhoods tend to have playgrounds with more hazards such as rusty, old equipment and damaged fall surfaces. Fifty-Five percent of playground injuries are sustained by girls and the majority of emergency room visits are from children ages 5 through 9. These injuries cost over $1 billion annually.
Determining Liability in Playground Accidents
Liability in a playground accident is determined by examining who had a duty to keep the playground reasonably safe and whether that duty was breached. In legal terms, this usually involves proving negligence. The plaintiff (injured party) must prove that a person, company, or public entity failed to exercise reasonable care and that failure caused a child’s injury. For example, if poorly maintained equipment was the cause of an injury, the attorney will gather evidence and witness statements to establish fault.
Several parties may be held liable depending on where and how the injury occurred:
- If the accident happened at a public park or school, a city, county, or school district may be responsible for failing to maintain safe equipment or surfaces.
- Private property owners such as daycare centers, apartment complexes, or homeowners may also be liable if they failed to repair dangerous conditions.
- In some cases, the manufacturer or installer of defective playground equipment can be held accountable under product liability laws if a design flaw or manufacturing defect contributed to the injury.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
A personal injury lawyer can help by thoroughly investigating the accident, identifying all potentially responsible parties, and gathering the evidence needed to build a strong claim. An experienced attorney understands how to navigate claims against government entities, deal with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for medical expenses, future care needs, pain and suffering, and other losses. Having legal guidance allows parents to focus on their child’s recovery while ensuring their family’s rights are fully protected.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
An accident lawyer can help you recover a full and fair settlement for the injuries you sustained in an accident caused by the negligence of another with no up-front costs to you. We know the sneaky strategies used by insurance companies to get injured people to agree to settlements far below what they are worth. Our clients typically end up with a settlement or jury award that is five to ten times larger than they could have negotiated on their own. We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County who were injured in Washington State since 1979. Contact the experienced and hard-working personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Mount Vernon, WA today for a FREE consultation!
