When you take your child to a playground, you assume that you are taking him or her to a place to play, run and socialize in a safe setting. As a New Mexico parent, your number one priority is the safety and well-being of your child, and it can be devastating if your child suffers harm while at a playground. In the stress of the moment and the aftermath of an accident, you may not give much thought to why the accident happened, but in reality, your child could be suffering due to dangerous conditions.
While playgrounds are wonderful places for children, they can also be dangerous places. Children can trip or slip and fall, suffering injuries as a result of negligent maintenance and other factors beyond your control. If your child suffered harm in a playground accident, you may have grounds to pursue legal action on his or her behalf.
Preventing these types of accidents
Playground accidents are often the result of dangerous equipment, negligent maintenance and other preventable factors. Estimates suggest that almost 80% of injuries that take place on playgrounds are the result of falls. Playground injuries can include everything from minor cruises and cuts to traumatic brain injuries or paralysis. Boys are more likely to suffer injuries on playgrounds than girls, and older kids are more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury. The following are steps that can help prevent playground accidents:
- There should be regular checks of playground equipment, including the soft surfaces that should be under the structures.
- Owners or managers of the playground should regularly check for hazards and address problems as soon as possible.
- Kids should have careful supervision when using playground equipment, and they should receive instruction regarding how to use the equipment properly.
Your child may be suffering due to negligent supervision, poorly maintained equipment and other hazards. An assessment of the accident could provide insight into what caused the accident and how other parties may be liable for what happened.
The next steps
If you believe a playground accident was the result of the negligent or reckless actions of others, you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone. You may have grounds to seek compensation through a civil claim, an option that could provide you the chance to recoup losses, seek coverage of your medical expenses and move forward after a traumatic event.