What You Need to Know About Playground Equipment Safety and Dangerous Accidents in Alabama
Playgrounds and schools provide environments for your children to learn, play, and have social interaction with other children. There are also some inherent dangers at these locales due to problems of poor upkeep, manufacturer’s defects, and lack of supervision.
When you take your child to a local park or place them in the care of a school, there is an expectation that the facilities will meet some minimum safety standards. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. The land owners, designers, caretakers, and facilities managers that build and maintain these playgrounds have a duty to make them safe to use. If they fail in this duty, both children and adults could be seriously injured or even killed in a dangerous playground accident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 are treated in emergency rooms each year in the U.S. for playground injuries. Approximately 15 children die annually from playground-related injuries. Of these playground injuries, many occur at schools, day care facilities, and other public parks.
Common Causes of Playground Injuries
There are a number of factors that can contribute to playground accidents, but some are more common than others. A few of the common causes of these tragedies include:
- Poor design of equipment. Some playground equipment simply isn’t designed properly and contain hazards in places that can cause injuries. These might include sharp edges, protruding bolts or nails, or slippery surfaces. When a playground is installed, it should always have a soft falling surface as a floor, as many playground accidents are the result of falling from a height.
- Lack of proper maintenance. Even when a playground is designed correctly, it will deteriorate over time if not properly maintained. Bolts and screws need to be inspected and tightened when at regular intervals. Ropes could become brittle and require replacement. Non-skid surfaces might also need to be replaced.
- Lack of adequate adult supervision. One common cause of playground accidents is a lack of supervision. Children don’t inherently understand their own limitations and must be reminded not to climb over certain surfaces or engage in dangerous activities. The failure to supervise children in these environments could lead to playground accidents with severe and devastating injuries.
The Most Commonly Seen Playground Injuries
According to the National Program for Playground Safety, most playground injuries (67%) are the result of falls. When children swing, climb, and slide on this equipment, they have a greater risk of falling than when they are engaged in some other play activities. The most common playground injuries include:
- Broken and fractured bones
- Bruises and lacerations
- Head injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Internal injuries
Who is Liable for a Playground Injury?
The liability for a playground equipment accident could vary depending on the nature of the accident and its location. If the accident occurred because of an equipment failure, there are several parties that could be found negligent in this case. Let’s assume that a city, school, or hospital paid one contractor to design the playground and another carry out the construction. Either of these parties could be held liable for injuries due to an equipment failure. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) provides standards for public playground equipment and safety.
The owner of the property, as well as the company in charge of maintenance, are also parties that can be held responsible for a playground accident. If the injuries were caused by lack of maintenance and upkeep, this is especially the case. If the accident took place due to lack of supervision, the business or parties charged with supervising children on the playground could be held responsible in a personal injury or wrongful death case.
If your child was involved in a dangerous playground accident in Alabama, Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, has the expertise and skills required to take on manufacturers, contractors, private businesses, local governments, and school boards to hold them accountable for their negligent conduct. Our experienced Alabama personal injury attorney understands what it takes to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve in these often emotional cases. Call our office today at (334) 279-7770 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at your convenience.