If you just need a trampoline liability waiver, scroll down to the bottom of this article. Thank you.
How to begin…..
I never had a trampoline as a child, but I really wanted one badly. One of my friends had one, so for that particular reason, his backyard was a popular hangout for the neighbor kids. One afternoon, we were taking turns showing off on the trampoline when I attempted a move that was beyond my skills. Jumping as high as I could, I flipped twice and as I was heading back down to earth, I realized I was no longer over the trampoline. I was falling towards the concrete patio and there was nothing I could do about it. I can still remember the terror I felt as I descended onto the glass patio table. The table was shattered, but I was lucky to limp away with only minor cuts and bruises.
Because of my experience, I won’t allow a trampoline in my own backyard, but a friend of mine just purchased one for her family. Her 10 year old son needs to drop a few pounds and she thought having a trampoline in the backyard would encourage him to exercise. She also knows that the neighborhood kids are going to want to get in on the fun and she is worried about injuries. She would like to have parents sign a liability waiver before allowing the kids to jump. I agree with her, but her husband does not.
What Do You Need Trampoline Liability Waiver?
The dangers associated with trampolines are very real and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they not be used at home. What’s more, many home insurance companies exclude them from policies, leaving a home owner’s personal assets vulnerable if someone should get hurt. Her trampoline has a safety net and she has laid down the rules, but it makes sense to me that she would want to protect herself from being liable in the event of an injury.
Most adult never had a trampoline as a child neither did they play with one. However, today in United States, Trampoline both for commercial and private use is increasing in popularity. In fact, by the end of 2014, there were more than 350 trampoline parks in the United States; this does not take into account those that bought it for private use at their backyard, indoor or schools and other entertainment parks that make use of trampoline for children.
Trampoline seems fun and relaxing and a great way to inspire exercise. Unfortunately, with increase in the use of trampolines comes the increase in trampoline-related accidents. There is no way to completely eliminate accidents occurring when using trampoline, all we can do is to cover against it. In fact, the possibility of children sustaining different degrees of injuries when using trampoline was so vast that one organization which has been in the forefront of advocating for trampoline park safety estimates that a child is about 200 to 300 times more likely to get injury from a trampoline park than any other park including roller coaster.
What do you think? Would you insist that parents sign a waiver before letting their kids jump on your trampoline?
Trampoline Injuries
Most people underestimate the nature of injury one can sustain by using trampoline when playing. When playing in Trampoline Park, you can sustain various degrees of injury which include;
- Dislocations
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Concussions
- Possible death
Trampoline injures is not limited only to children, adults can also suffer injury from using trampoline park. For instance, a young man lost his foot from trampoline accident last year. In another incident in a trampoline park in Peachtree city, a youth football coach was paralyzed from trampoline accident. No matter how careful you are, you need to know your rights and options available to you before you owing or allow your children to play with trampoline.
Because of serious risk of injuries associated with the use of trampoline, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that trampoline should not be used at home. Even most insurance companies for homes exclude trampoline from their policies, leaving the home owner’s assets vulnerable when someone get hurt.
Parents might be wondering what their rights are before letting their children play with trampoline. On the other hand, park owners will also be wondering what options that is available to them when one sustains an injury in their property. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about trampoline liability.
Trampoline Park Liability
In most states in the United States, the operator or the owner of a trampoline park is liable when one sustains an injury. However this depends on the facts of the injury. Not every injury that the owner will be liable to. The owner may be liable to injuries arising from:
- Inadequate supervision
- Use of unsafe product
- Poor instructions
- Inadequate warnings and warning signs
- Negligence maintenance
- Improper installation
- Failure to enforce rules and regulations of the park
The person that installed the trampoline or in-charge of maintaining it is also liable from an injury arising from improper installation or maintenance.
Trampoline manufacturers are also liable and can be sued from injury caused by defects in the manufacture of the product.
Someone with a good or experienced personal injury attorney can sue your park when his/her kid sustains an injury after an investigation. Even if you win the court case (as the owner) it will bring a bad name to your business. You certainly need to avoid being sued for any reason at all when operating trampoline business, this is the reason you need trampoline liability waiver.
Importance of Trampoline Liability Waiver
Trampoline park business owners need to prepare and enforce the signing of trampoline liability waiver form. The risk of injury when using trampoline is too much and you cannot allow everyone to sue your business or threaten to sue your business at any slightest injury.
Trampoline liability waiver involves a form which users of Trampoline Park must sign before using it. This waiver will exempt you and your business from being sued, it will exempt you from all liabilities arising from the use of the park. When customer signs the form, he/she is agreeing that he/she will not sue you or your business when they sustain injury.
Homeowners can also limit their liability exposure by requiring their neighbors to sign a liability waiver before allowing their children to jump on the homeowner’s trampoline. It is important that you keep your trampoline where you can always monitor its use as a homeowner, this is because trampolines are kids magnet, it attracts children of all ages and sizes, you need to ensure that those children using your trampoline have already have their parents signed your trampoline liability waiver.
Who signs the waiver?
Waiver signed by children and others under the legal age are not considered to be valid in most states. Whether you have a trampoline park, indoor trampoline or in the backyard, it is very important that you have your insurance company draw up a valid trampoline liability waiver form that will release you liability associated with trampoline use.
Protect Yourself from Liability
Whether you are a homeowner with a trampoline or a business owner that owns a trampoline park, it is better to be safe than sorry, protect yourself and your business today by getting your insurance company to extend their cover to your trampoline. Get your lawyer to prepare a valid trampoline waiver form to save you and your business today. Download a PDF trampoline waiver form to prepare your own waiver.
Two different formats of Free Trampoline Liability waiver for you to download
Trampoline Liability waiver (PDF Version)
Trampoline Liability waiver (Word Version)
Britanica
I think it is very important to get signed documents for everything these days when dealing with someone else’s child or pets. A lot of people jump the gun and are quick to point fingers. Thanks for this information, it was exactly what I was looking for!
Melissa
Wow! I had no idea how many people could truly be liable! I think it’s really important to have these waivers to help protect you and your business. Awesome that you provide a downloadable version, thank you!
Laura
How can obtain this document? It won’t allow me to create. Thanks
Thomas
This seems a little too all-encompassing and trampoline-park-focused for home trampoline use. I’d like to get my neighbors to fill this out before their kids play on our trampoline but I am not sure I would sign it if I were them. It sounds like they are giving up their right to sue us for ANYTHING which just doesn’t seem fair and I wouldn’t trust someone who tried to get me to sign this who was just a neighbor and not a trampoline park owner.
carmen
This is awesome and important. However, its a little overwhelming. I’m wondering if it can be simplified for home owner use.