No parent wants to think that their child is unsafe on a playground, yet more than 200,000 kids are treated in emergency rooms across the country due to injuries they sustained while on a playground. In some cases, the accidents are the result of the child not being supervised, some are caused by the child misusing the equipment, but others are caused by unsafe playground equipment.
If your child was injured while playing on a playground, it’s important to know that you’re not alone – thousands of other parents are going through what you’ve gone through. In fact, you may be eligible to be compensated for your damages via a premises liability lawsuit. To find out if you qualify, and to learn more about your options, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free case evaluation.
Injury statistics on playgrounds
The Center for Disease Control, otherwise known as the CDC, tracks playground injuries. They’ve found that three in four happen at either a day care center or a school and kids between the ages of five and nine are the most at risk. The most common spot for kids to be hurt is on equipment that’s used specifically for climbing.
As we mentioned above, many of these accidents are just that – accidents. On the other hand, some are caused by playgrounds that aren’t maintained appropriately by the owner of the property or the government entity that has a responsibility to make sure they’re in good working order. If an owner has been negligent in addressing defects or unsafe issues, then they can be held responsible for a child’s injuires.
There are safety regulations for playground equipment
There are a number of things that anyone who owns or oversees playground equipment should make sure they’re doing. First, they want to provide a ground surface that’s cushioned and that extends at least six feet beyond each piece of equipment. Some types of playground equipment needs an even larger perimeter, including slides and swings.
Any playground equipment that has moving parts should be in a separate area and should be thoroughly inspected for any points that can crush the hands or fingers of a child. Any wooden equipment needs to be checked for splintering or cracking, while metal equipment must be kept free from rust. Any materials used should be able to handle any type of inclement weather and any equipment that needs maintenance should be out of use and clearly designated as such.
Of course, there should also not be any type of sharp edge that can cut a child, and there shouldn’t be s-shaped hooks or bolts that could cut a kid or tangle up into their clothing. If there are ramps or platforms on the playground equipment, they should have something to prevent children from falling off – such as walls or guards.
If your child has been injured on playground equipment then you need to speak to a California personal injury attorney. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away for your free case evaluation.
