Monmouth County Trampoline Injury Attorneys

Experienced Injury Lawyers Representing Individuals who Have Been Injured in Trampoline Accidents in Lakewood, Pine Brook, Ocean Township, Avenel, Hazlet, and throughout Southern New Jersey

Driving through your neighborhood, you will probably see many houses with trampolines in the backyard. Schools and families are encouraging children and teens to be more active. Not all children enjoy sports, so many families use trampolines to encourage their kids to bounce their way to health. Commercial trampoline parks have become increasingly popular for birthday parties and friendly outings. They present a variety of obstacles, swinging ropes, and trampolines to keep patrons busy for hours.

Unfortunately, trampolines can turn a day of fun into tears and a trip to the Emergency Room, maybe even the operating room. Trampoline injuries can be extremely serious and can cause repercussions that last a long time. The U.S. Product Safety Commission has reported approximately 100,000 trampoline injuries annually since 2018.

The team of injury attorneys at Chamlin, Uliano, and Walsh possesses substantial litigation background, which equips us to pursue cases of negligence against trampoline parks that fail to protect their visitors’ welfare. Our proficiency lets us skillfully present your case, optimizing its potential value in a lawsuit. If you or a family member has sustained an injury at a trampoline park in Red Bank, Wall, Asbury Park, Freehold, Eatontown, Neptune, Toms River, Howell, or other communities along the Jersey Shore, you might be eligible to file a trampoline injury claim. Contact a New Jersey trampoline accident lawyer today to assess your eligibility by calling (732) 440-3950 for a free consultation.

Most at Risk Population for Trampoline-Related Injuries

Children between the ages of 5 and 16 are more prone to injure themselves on a trampoline.  Between 2009 and 2018, according to a report published by the Pediatric Emergency Care Group, 800,000 children were injured on trampolines. Teenagers are the second most common population, followed by adults.

Severity and Types of Trampoline Injuries

The most common injury is a fracture of the humerus. When children put out their arm to try to catch themselves. Collarbone, femur, and tibia fractures are also common. In 2020, 32% of children’s trampoline fractures required surgery. Transverse fractures create a straight horizontal break across the bone and usually don’t require surgical intervention. In contrast, an impacted fracture, where the broken ends of the bone are pressed together unevenly, is a surgical emergency. The most dangerous fracture is an exposed or compound fracture, which occurs when a broken bone fragment protrudes from the skin. Compound fractures have a high risk of infection and take much longer to heal than others.

Neck and spinal cord injuries can cause partial or total paralysis. Concussions, internal injuries, sprains, strains, and soft tissue damage include pulled or torn ligaments and tendons of the shoulder, elbow, hips, knees, or ankles. Ruptured ligaments or tendons can require surgery. Trampolines can be risky business.

Age-Related Safety Concerns at Trampoline Parks in New Jersey 

Most parks have no age requirement to play on their trampolines. It is recommended that the age limit should be six years and older. Younger children have softer, more flexible bones that bend and break but do not separate into pieces. This is called a greenstick fracture because green branches are hard to break completely.

Trampoline parks do not control the number of people on a trampoline. Participants can crash against each other, fall and trip someone, or become distracted by those around them. Trampoline parks set up the trampolines in vertical and horizontal patterns that allow patrons to jump from one trampoline to another, disregarding those around them. Also, diving from platforms and doing somersaults can cause injuries. Trampoline parks have small trampolines set up like a chessboard, encouraging children to hop from one square to another on two feet. Still, because these smaller trampolines have less give and are 7 to 9ft across, that is nearly impossible.

Home trampolines are much smaller and usually don’t have more than 2 or 3 children simultaneously. Problems emerge when the children have a large age or size gap. If a much larger child jumps while a minor child is still, the trampoline rebound will send the little child into the air, perhaps unprepared to catch themselves after the jump.

At Home or in a Park, Trampolines Can Still Cause Severe Injuries

Although a home trampoline is much softer than the commercial ones, the injuries are similar. At trampoline parks, the trampolines are thick and more powerful than backyard ones. The heavy springs create a recoil strong enough to break small bones. As the trampolines are connected, jumpers can create a traffic jam, causing spills and injuries. Jumpers receive no instruction or skills evaluations. They leave it to the participants to self-check and not do anything out of their skill set. Maneuvers such as flips, somersaults, or other aerial moves can lead to severe consequences. Jumping horizontally from trampoline to trampoline can cause joint injuries such as broken ankles or knees. Off-balance landings can result in falling on the springs, steel frames, chains, or steel posts. Jumping off sidewalls (set diagonally at a 45-degree angle) changes the body position, making it difficult for jumpers to land on two feet.

Overcrowded parks, untrained staff members, and faulty or improperly installed equipment can all contribute to trampoline injuries in commercial playgrounds. Home trampolines with exposed springs, rusty metal fixtures, ripped netting, no netting, too many children on at once, and no adult supervision can cause accidents at home.

Safety Guidelines from Installations to Maintenance to Avoid Trampoline Accidents

Home trampolines should be installed according to the instructions given by the manufacturer. The homeowner should inspect them frequently for protruding metal pieces or screws or weakened rubber on the trampoline. To avoid accelerated wear, a plastic cover should be placed over the trampoline and its springs during inclement weather.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has recommended that no children under six years old should use a trampoline. There should only be one child on a trampoline at the same time.   Adult supervision is a must, no matter the age of the participants. Ensure that all parts of the trampoline are padded and in good condition. Pets should never be on a trampoline. Talk to your children about how to stay safe when using a trampoline.

Belmar NJ Personal Injury Attorneys Equipped to Help File a Claim for Trampoline Accident Injuries

At Chamlin, Uliano, & Walsh, our team of top-notch attorneys will work your case with aplomb in Colts Neck, Holmdel, Tinton Falls, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Manasquan, or other towns in Monmouth County, Ocean County, and Southern New Jersey. We are confident that with the evidence we gather by talking to witnesses, doctors, and experts, we will work to obtain the settlement you deserve.

Whether it is an accident at a friend’s birthday party or a commercial trampoline venue, your injuries require attention, which means costly bills. Many people don’t have homeowner’s insurance, and while your neighbors say they will” take care of everything,” when the rubber meets the road, they may balk at the high costs and leave you holding the bag. Commercial trampoline centers have a waiver that participants (or their guardians) must sign. Those waivers and arbitration agreements are often not worth the paper they are printed on in the eyes of the law. Our experienced attorneys will go head-to-head to get you a settlement for trampoline accident injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you have had an accident or know someone who has at a trampoline park or while using a trampoline on private property in New Jersey, call us today at (732) 440-3950 or reach out by completing a contact form.