As kids go back to school, they will spend time on playgrounds during recess, but this joyous time can be traumatic if a child is injured. While minor injuries like scrapes and bruises are common, children can easily sustain broken bones, cuts and concussions that require emergency treatment. Additionally, children on playgrounds on Texas are exposed to a unique danger – burns, from the hot Texas sun heating metal components and equipment found on playgrounds.
Who’s Responsible For A Playground Accident?
Under Texas law, public schools are exempt from any liability in playground accidents. However, depending on the circumstances, you may still be able to recover compensation for your child’s playground injuries. If the playground equipment was inadequately installed by a third party or was defectively designed, you may be able to seek compensation from the product’s installer or manufacturer.
For private schools and daycare centers however, the failure to maintain safe playground equipment can be grounds for a premises liability lawsuit if a child injured.
How Do Playground Accidents Happen?
You might think the likelihood of a child sustaining an injury while on the playground is relatively rare, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) more than 200,000 children under the age of fourteen are treated for these injuries in emergency rooms each year.
Falls are one of the most common playground accidents. Because preventing falls can be challenging, many playgrounds have implemented special flooring or ground material to help cushion a fall. Materials like sand, wood chips, pea gravel, or rubber mats can go a long way in preventing serious injuries from falls.
However, these surfaces are only successful at reducing the severity of accidents if they are adequately deep. Materials like sand, wood chips, and pea gravel need to be a full 12 inches deep and rubber mats need to be several inches thick to properly protect a child from a fall.
Because playgrounds are often made of metal components, it’s important that there are no sharp and/or rusty components sticking out from equipment. Sharp edges can easily cause lacerations and if the wound is infected with rust, it could cause a child to contract tetanus.
Some of the most dangerous aspects of a playground are the most overlooked. Things like uneven ground surfaces or loose bolts could cause an accident to happen. To ensure all playground equipment safe, it should be regularly inspected.
Playground Accident Lawyer
As parents, it’s devastating to see our children injured, particularly if the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence. If your child was injured on the playground of a Texas private school or daycare center, call the experienced Lubbock playground accident attorneys at Liggett Law Group today to understand your legal options.