Trampoline parks are popular recreation centers in Nebraska and across the country. They are often marketed to children, college students, and full-grown adults. These parks advertise an opportunity to fly high and exercise—all in relative safety, with visitors protected by padded mats and other protective equipment.
However, trampoline parks have serious risks. Even the most modern facilities may have poor maintenance and unreported defects, which could increase the chance of a child being injured without warning.
In far too many cases, parents are told that they have no choice but to pay for treatment out of their own pockets, with business owners pointing to signed waivers and contracts as a first-line defense against liability.
The Law Office of Matthew A. Lathrop, PC, LLO, believes injured children and their families should not have to pay for a trampoline park’s negligence. For over 15 years, Matthew Lathrop has helped Nebraskans fight for their rights, standing up to companies that prioritize profits over children’s safety. No matter the odds, our experienced team of legal professionals could help you or a loved one begin exploring your best options for a fair recovery.
Protecting Your Child’s Rights After an Omaha Trampoline Park Accident
The costs of a trampoline park accident can accumulate quickly and unexpectedly. Parents may face impossible decisions – they may need to work to pay mounting medical bills and have an urgent need to take time away from work to care for their injured child. You shouldn’t have to choose between providing uninterrupted care for your injured child and ensuring that your family has the finances needed to obtain the best possible treatment.
Under Nebraska state law, many parents have options beyond enduring hardship. You can protect your child’s rights to a fair recovery by taking the following steps:
1. Obtain Immediate Medical Care
Your child’s physical health and well-being always take priority. If they have been injured, try to keep them calm and reassured. Ask for help if you need it, and call 911 if your child has broken a bone, head injury, or suffered other injuries that necessitate medical intervention. Even if your child is not in immediate pain, we encourage you to take your child to a doctor. Children cannot always describe or express pain the same way adults do, and a physician could help identify, diagnose, and treat any “invisible” injuries.
2. Collect Evidence from the Accident Site
Once your child is safe, collecting as much evidence as possible is essential. Try to photograph the dangerous condition that caused your child’s injury—perhaps a broken trampoline, a protruding mat, or an age-inappropriate obstacle.
Document your other observations, and take pictures of your child’s injuries and any protective equipment they may have been wearing.
3. Report the Incident
Report the accident to an employee or manager. Ask for their name, and keep a copy of their business card or other contact information.
4. Speak to Eyewitnesses
Eyewitness testimony can make or break a trampoline park accident case. If another parent saw your child’s accident, approach them and ask for their full name and phone number—their testimony could prove critical at trial.
5. Contact an Attorney
After a serious trampoline park accident, parents often feel they have no real options for recourse. Even if the facility was poorly maintained, many business owners pre-empt personal injury claims by asking families to sign waivers, which say, in no uncertain terms, that the facility cannot be held liable for any jumping-related injuries on their premises.
However, a liability waiver does not absolve trampoline parks of their legal obligation to protect visitors from unreasonable risks. If your child’s accident was caused by poor maintenance, employee negligence, or even a trampoline manufacturing accident, the Law Office of Matthew A. Lathrop, PC, LLO, could help you gather the evidence needed to make a compelling case for compensation.
Contact a Trampoline Injury Lawyer Today
Not every personal injury lawyer will take a trampoline park accident case. These cases can be very complicated and require a lot of time and effort. However, Attorney Matt Lathrop is not afraid of hard work and is happy to evaluate your case if you or your child has been hurt in a Nebraska or Iowa trampoline accident. He will fight for the compensation you deserve and take the case to court if the insurance company is unwilling to negotiate a fair deal. Fill out our online contact form or call us at 402-281-9668 to schedule a free consultation.