For a morning or afternoon out with the kids, nothing beats a playground at the park. Charlotte and the surrounding areas boast a large number of playgrounds and recreational facilities for families and children. But an injury could quickly ruin a fun outing. If your child’s injury is due to the playground’s defective or old equipment, do you have a valid legal claim?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 200,000 children under the age of 14 are injured each year in playground accidents. Approximately 56 percent of injuries at public or school playground involve broken bones and abrasions, while about 20,000 children each year are treated for traumatic brain injury. Between 2001 and 2008, forty children died from playground injuries caused by strangulation and falls.
Charlotte-area public playgrounds have a lot to offer. Hornets Nest Park on Beatties Ford Road boasts a BMX bicycle track, a basketball court, lighted tennis courts, two playgrounds, and much more. North Mecklenburg Park spans 98 acres, with four lighted baseball and softball fields, mountain biking and walking trails, playgrounds, two lighted soccer fields, and other amenities.
If your child is hurt in a public park, do you have legal recourse to sue the City? The answer depends on the specific circumstances of the accident, the evidence, and advice from your personal injury attorney.
Playgrounds have their dangers. A fall while running on a hard surface that results in a devastating head injury can be hard to prevent. But if climbing equipment is located on top of bare cement and there’s no cushion underneath in case of falls, a foreseeable danger may have existed that the playground owner had a duty to prevent.
While most City agencies are immune from prosecution, it may be possible to bring a claim for personal injury if negligence contributed to the accident. If your child is hurt in a park in the Charlotte area or elsewhere in North Carolina, it is important to seek help from a personal injury attorney who can review the specific circumstances of the accident.
While using public facilities is usually at your own risk, some injuries occur when hazardous situations are ignored by those responsible for maintaining safe use. Consider these types of dangers for which facilities owners could be found liable:
- Old, worn playground structures or other equipment that gives way under normal use, causing injury.
- Boardwalks or walkways that are poorly maintained, creating uneven surfaces that could lead to a slip and fall.
- Playgrounds located near unsupervised water hazards that could lead to drowning accidents when no signs are posted to warn visitors of the danger.
Injuries occur even on sunny days at the park. If you, your child, or another loved one is injured on public premises in Charlotte, call the Lanier Law Group, P.A. toll free at (855) 757-4204 or contact us online today to set up a free consultation.