Playgrounds are designed to be fun, safe spaces where children can play. However, accidents do happen—and when they do, they can lead to serious injuries. Who is responsible when your child is hurt at a playground?
Common causes of playground injuries
Playground injuries can happen in a variety of ways. Some of the most common causes include:
- Falls from equipment
- Faulty or broken playground equipment
- Hazardous surfaces
- Lack of supervision
- Inadequate maintenance
Liability in playground accidents
When a child is injured at a playground, there are several parties who may be held liable depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident:
- Property owner: In many cases, the property owner—whether it’s a private property owner, a municipality or a school—may be liable for playground injuries. Under premises liability law, property owners have a duty to maintain a safe environment for visitors, including children using playgrounds. However, to prove the property owner’s liability, you’ll need to show that they were negligent in maintaining the playground or failed to address known hazards. It’s also important to remember that claims against a municipality may be subject to different rules, like a shorter statute of limitations.
- Playground equipment manufacturer: If a playground injury is caused by defective or inherently unsafe equipment, the manufacturer of that equipment could be held responsible. In these cases, you may have grounds for a product liability claim. For instance, if a swing set collapses due to a manufacturing flaw, the equipment manufacturer could be found liable for injuries resulting from the defect.
- Childcare providers or supervisors: In cases where a playground injury occurs under the supervision of a daycare, school or camp staff, these individuals (or the institutions they represent) may be held liable. Children require proper supervision when using playgrounds, and failing to do so could lead to accidents.
- Third-party negligence: Sometimes, other parties may be liable for playground injuries. For example, construction companies or contractors responsible for installing playground equipment may be liable if the equipment was improperly installed. Alternatively, landscapers or maintenance crews may be liable if their work created hazardous conditions, such as uneven ground or unsafe equipment placement.
If you believe that negligence led to your child’s playground injury, seek immediate medical attention—then call the Law Offices of Tim Misny as soon as possible. We can help you determine who is responsible and help you recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and more.
Discuss your accident with an Ohio personal injury lawyer
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your accident claim. When you’re the victim of negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so that I can evaluate your case right away.
