Who Can Be Held Liable For Your Child’s Playground Accident Injury?
From poorly maintained equipment to slippery surfaces and broken glass, there are a number of hazards on playgrounds that can result in your child’s injuries. Unfortunately, not all playgrounds are maintained properly and not all playground equipment is equally safe.
Playground accidents caused by someone else’s negligence are not uncommon in Miami and other parts of Florida. In fact, statistically speaking, about 45% of all playground accident injuries are severe.
Common types of playground-related injuries include concussions, bone fractures, internal organ injuries, dislocations, lacerations, bruises, and cuts. If your child has suffered injures on a playground, you need to talk to a skilled personal injury attorney to determine liable parties.
If your child’s playground accident injury occurred as a result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you could seek compensation for your child’s injuries and losses. Consult with a Miami personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
Causes of Playground Accident Injuries
The vast majority of playground accident injuries are preventable by either adequate supervision or proper maintenance of playground equipment. Some of the most common causes of injuries on playgrounds include:
- Slip and falls
- Lack of supervision
- Inherently dangerous playground equipment
- Poorly maintained playground equipment
- Poorly designed or built playground equipment
- Cuts from exposed metal
- Falls from swings and other equipment
- The lack of guardrails on platforms and ramps
- Injuries inflicted by other kids
Regardless of what caused your child’s injury on a playground, you need to speak with a knowledgeable attorney to identify liable parties and determine the appropriate compensation for your child’s losses and damages.
Who is Liable for Playground Accidents?
The vast majority of playground accidents can be prevented. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s injury, you may be able to pursue a personal injury against the following parties:
- Manufacturers of playground equipment
- School employees
- Operators of the playground
- Supervisors
- The city, county, or another municipality responsible for maintaining the playground
Contact a skilled attorney to determine what caused your playground accident and identify liable parties in your particular case.
What Damages Are Available After a Playground Accident?
If another person or entity was negligent or otherwise responsible for your child’s playground accident injury, you might be able to recover the following types of damages:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
Your personal injury attorney will help you calculate your child’s economic and non-economic damages caused by someone else’s negligence in a playground accident.
How Long Do You Have to Sue a Negligent Party for a Playground Accident?
In Florida, you have four years from the date of the accident to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the party whose negligence caused or contributed to your injury (Fla. Stat. § 95.11).
However, the statute of limitations is shorter when the playground accident occurs due to negligence on the part of a government entity. While government entities are generally immune from liability for personal injuries, Fla. Stat. § 768.28 allows for injury lawsuits under certain circumstances.
Contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss your particular case and determine who can be held liable for your child’s playground accident injury. Schedule a case review with our attorneys at Pita Weber Del Prado by calling 305-670-2889.
Source:
cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/playground-injuries/playgroundinjuries-factsheet.htm
