Public Playground Safety: What You Need to Know

16 Apr, 2016
By: Donald W Fohrman
Public Playground Safety: What You Need to Know

Injury Statistics

It is estimated there are at least 500,000 playground injuries each year, with 200,000 of these resulting in emergency room visits. About 45% of these injuries are severe, including fractures, dislocations, amputations, internal bleeding, and concussions. Most injuries are the result of a fall. This means about one in five children injured on a playground sustain severe injuries. Children age five to nine are most at risk for injury. Climbers like jungle gyms, slides, and swings pose the biggest hazard.

Liability

Many parents wonder who is liable if their child is injured on a public playground. A personal injury attorney in Chicago can give them detailed advice, on their specific situation. A public playground or daycare can be held liable for injuries a child sustains on a playground if there was negligence involved. Public schools, however, cannot be held liable for injuries.

Negligence

For private schools, public parks, and daycare centers you must prove that some form of neglect caused your child’s injuries. Equipment not being maintained properly, an improper fall surface, not enough supervision, and allowing children in play areas that aren’t age appropriate are all possible grounds for neglect.

Equipment

If the equipment was the actual reason for the injury, then they may be held liable as well. This holds true regardless of where the injury happened, because equipment manufacturers aren’t given the same protections as government entities. It then falls under the category of products liability.

Proving Liability

It is important for the parents to gather all the evidence they can as soon as possible after an accident. Photos, witness statements, and even doctors’ statements can help to prove what actually happened. A personal injury attorney in Chicago can also advise the parents on what they should do and help them gather evidence.

Preventing Injuries

Parents can help prevent injuries by inspecting the playground before they allow their children to play. They should check for a proper fall surface and equipment that looks unsafe.

Category: Personal Injury

About The Author

Photo of Donald W Fohrman
After completing law school Donald became an assistant Attorney General for 7 years and was assigned to the Industrial Commission Division. During that time he spent evenings establishing his own firm. Donald became a founding partner of a large workers’ compensation/personal injury firm but decided to leave the firm in 1990 to start a smaller “boutique” firm with the belief that bigger isn’t always better!
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