Trampoline Park Accident in Florida? Know Your Legal Rights
More than half a million home trampolines are sold every year across the United States. The number of trampoline parks has increased significantly in the last few years, with an 800% rise in new commercial trampoline entertainment spaces opening since 2019.
Trampoline accidents and serious trampoline injuries, including bone breaks and paralysis, have also become more common. Some research shows that accidents on trampolines account for roughly 100,000 annual emergency room visits. While trampoline users should take care to prevent injury while jumping, trampoline owners, both homeowners and trampoline park facilities, have a responsibility to keep participants safe.
After a serious trampoline injury, the team at TWWHB is here to help. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses, even if you signed a release or waiver.
Trampoline accidents are a unique type of personal injury case, as they can involve multiple areas of law. From premises liability and product liability to slip and fall and wrongful death. Our team brings decades of personal injury experience to trampoline cases, a proven track record of successful outcomes, and the compassion you deserve as you focus on your recovery.
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Trampoline Park Accidents: What You Need To Know
Understanding Trampoline Parks and Their Risks
Trampoline parks are loosely defined as indoor spaces filled wall-to-wall with interconnected trampolines. They often feature additional attractions, such as foam pits, climbing nets, and obstacle courses. While these parks are marketed as safe, fun environments for children and families, they are largely unregulated, and injuries such as broken bones, sprains, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries are common. Most injuries happen when children land on improperly padded edges, collide with other jumpers, and/or use equipment that is poorly maintained or supervised.
Between 20 and 30% of children suffering from trampoline injuries will need surgery. (Source)
Common Causes of Trampoline Park Injuries
Improperly Maintained or Defective Equipment
Parks are responsible for regularly inspecting and maintaining trampolines, padding, and safety nets. Failure to do so can lead to serious accidents and may make the park liable for injuries. These types of lawsuits can draw from product liability law to hold the maker of the equipment accountable.
Inadequate Staff Training and Supervision
Staff must be properly trained to supervise jumpers and enforce safety rules. Poorly trained staff, lack of supervision, or failure to control the number of jumpers per trampoline can result in dangerous situations and injuries. In many cases, the negligence of the park operators or staff can be legally actionable.
Failure to Warn or Enforce Safety Rules
Parks must clearly communicate and enforce safety guidelines. Not doing so, or failing to separate jumpers by age and size, can increase the risk of accidents. Failing to warn users about the risks of using a certain piece of equipment can also result in legal action.
“What if I signed a waiver?”
Many parents believe that signing a waiver at a trampoline park means they have no legal recourse if their child is injured; this is not true. Florida law sets strict requirements for liability waivers, and parks cannot escape responsibility for injuries caused by their own negligence, poor maintenance, or lack of supervision.
If your child was hurt due to a park's failure to uphold safety standards, you may still have a valid claim. TWWHB has successfully represented clients in trampoline park injury cases, even when waivers were signed. Our attorneys know how to challenge these waivers and investigate negligence, such as understaffing or failure to follow safety protocols, to secure compensation for our clients.
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Backyard Trampoline Accidents: What You Need To Know
If your child is injured on a trampoline at a friend's home, the homeowner may be liable under Florida's premises liability laws, especially if the trampoline was not properly maintained or the jumpers supervised. In some cases, the manufacturer of a defective trampoline may also be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Children are naturally curious and often unable to fully understand what is safe or dangerous. As a result, Florida law acknowledges that adults and the broader community share a responsibility for protecting children from harm. One such legal principle is the attractive nuisance doctrine.
An “attractive nuisance” is any object or situation that is likely to draw children's attention but poses a risk of injury. Common examples include swimming pools, trampolines, ponds, tree houses, and playground equipment. While adults may recognize the dangers, children may not, and property owners are expected to anticipate this risk.
Florida law requires property owners to take extra precautions to prevent foreseeable harm in such situations. This means securing trampolines and other equipment, supervising them while in use, and maintaining them to prevent malfunction. The specific requirements can vary by jurisdiction and may also be dictated by state laws or by insurance policies.
“My child was injured on a friend's trampoline. Do I have a legal case?”
If your child is injured by an attractive nuisance like a trampoline, you may have grounds to pursue a claim if it can be shown the property owner did not meet their duty of care. Each case is fact-specific, so consulting with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney is important to determine liability and discuss your legal options.
Liability often depends on whether the owner knew or should have known about the hazard, whether the condition was likely to attract children, and whether it was feasible to make the area safer. Even with safety measures in place, owners must remain vigilant, as non-compliance or inadequate precautions can increase the risk of jumping injury.
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What To Do After a Trampoline Accident
Get out of the way to prevent worsening the injury. If you are at a trampoline park with other jumpers, get out of the way to avoid getting jostled or bumped by other users. Move to solid ground and away from the site of the accident.
Seek immediate medical attention. In terms of both your physical well-being and your legal case, speak to a doctor soon after your accident, if not immediately. If you hit your head and are feeling nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, fatigued, or panicky, or if you witness a trampoline accident in which the victim loses consciousness, call 911 immediately.
Collect the names and contact information of staff and witnesses. Your legal case depends on proving what (or who) caused your injury. Eyewitness accounts can be extremely useful in proving liability in trampoline accidents.
Take photos of the accident scene and any equipment involved. As part of the initial evidence-gathering process, document the accident scene just as you would a car accident. Take photos of the injury, the environment at the time, and any defective equipment.
Contact TWWHB as soon as possible to discuss your legal options. The most important thing you can do to protect your legal right to full compensation is to speak to a Florida trampoline accident attorney about a potential trampoline injury lawsuit as soon as possible after the accident.
If you or your child has been injured at a trampoline park or while visiting a friend's home, contact TWWHB in Pensacola at (850) 438-4899. Our experienced attorneys will review your case, explain your rights, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. There is no fee or obligation to speak with us about your situation.
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Trampoline Accidents: Frequently Asked Questions
Are trampolines dangerous?
Trampolines are widely recognized as a source of fun and exercise, but they also carry significant risks, especially for children. Each year, over 100,000 people in the United States are treated in emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries. The majority of these injuries occur in children between the ages of 5 and 15. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against recreational trampoline use for children under 6.
While most trampoline injuries are minor, such as bruises or sprains, some may require surgery or lead to long-term consequences. The most dangerous scenarios involve risky maneuvers like flips or somersaults, falls off the trampoline, or landing on the springs or frame. The risk is particularly high when multiple children are jumping at the same time, as collisions and awkward landings are frequent causes of harm.
Injury rates are highest among younger children, who have less developed motor skills and are more vulnerable to serious harm. Despite efforts to improve safety, trampolines remain a leading cause of preventable childhood injuries, and experts strongly advise close supervision and strict adherence to safety guidelines if trampolines are used at all.
Read More From TWWHB: Trampoline Park Injury Caused by Improperly Trained Staff
What are the most common injuries sustained on trampolines?
The most common injuries sustained on trampolines are sprains, strains, and fractures, particularly affecting the lower and upper extremities. Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains, account for approximately 52% of all trampoline injuries, while fractures comprise roughly 35%. Lacerations are also relatively common, accounting for approximately 12% of cases.
The lower extremities (legs and ankles) are the most frequently injured body part, comprising 36% of injuries, followed by the upper extremities (arms and wrists) at 31.8%. Improper landings, collisions with other jumpers, and contact with the trampoline frame or springs are the leading causes of these injuries. Head injuries account for 14.5% of trampoline-related injuries, trunk injuries for 9.8%, and neck injuries for 7.9%.
Whether it's on a backyard trampoline or at an adventure park, jumping on trampolines can result in a number of injuries. These include soft tissue injuries (sprains and scrapes), head and neck injuries, bone breaks, and even long-term disabilities resulting from paralysis. Young children are most susceptible to trampoline injuries; more than 90% of all trampoline injuries are sustained by children.
Read More From TWWHB: What You Need to Know About Trampoline Park Injuries
Do trampoline parks follow specific safety standards?
Florida trampoline parks are subject to a combination of industry standards and state regulations, including those put forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. While there is no federal law specifically governing trampoline parks, many facilities in Florida voluntarily adhere to the ASTM F2970 standard, a baseline of safety protocols regarding equipment design and operational procedures. Adherence to this standard can vary from park to park.
At the state level, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is responsible for inspecting and permitting amusement rides, which include trampoline parks. These inspections focus on structural integrity, proper maintenance, and operational safety. The FDACS also investigates accidents and has the authority to impose sanctions or close facilities that pose a danger to the public.
Despite these requirements, Florida does not have a comprehensive set of trampoline park safety standards; much of the oversight falls under broader amusement ride safety laws. In practice, most Florida trampoline parks implement their own safety protocols, which may or may not be sufficient in protecting trampoline park users from risk.
Read More From TWWHB: Trampoline Park Injury Caused by Failure to Warn or Enforce Safety Rules
I suffered an injury while jumping on a trampoline. What next?
For minor injuries, apply first aid; rest the affected area, use ice to reduce swelling, and keep the injury elevated if possible. If you suspect a sprain or strain, rest and apply an ice pack for up to ten minutes, and seek medical advice if there's no improvement. For cuts or scrapes, clean the wound and apply a bandage.
If you experience head, neck, or back pain, or if a limb appears deformed, swollen, or if you cannot move it, keep the injured part immobilized and seek medical attention right away. Serious symptoms such as severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, numbness, or inability to move parts of your body require immediate medical evaluation; these may indicate a concussion or spinal injury.
After receiving medical care, follow your healthcare provider's instructions for recovery. This may include rest, physical therapy, or follow-up appointments. Document the details of the incident and your injury, especially if the trampoline was at a public facility or someone else's property, as this information may be important for insurance or legal purposes. You may wish to speak to a trampoline accident attorney to discuss your legal options.
I signed a waiver at a trampoline park. Do I have a right to compensation?
Signing a waiver at a trampoline park does not automatically eliminate your right to seek compensation for adventure park injuries.
In Florida, these waivers are designed to protect trampoline parks from lawsuits related to the inherent risks of jumping, such as minor sprains or bruises. These waivers generally do not protect the park from claims involving negligence, gross negligence, or intentional harm by the park or its employees. If your injury was caused by unsafe conditions, poorly trained staff, lack of supervision, or other negligent actions, you may still have grounds for a claim, even if you signed a waiver.