National Attorneys for Playground Injuries

We Help Families Find Justice for Preventable Injuries and Accidents

There are an estimated 200,000 playground injuries a year, and while some are minor, others can result in life-changing disabilities. Children may suffer severe brain damage, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, loss of eyesight, and paralysis, among others.

These injuries can occur at any kind of playground: at school, in a public park, or anywhere else that equipment is set up for kids to use. If the equipment or property is not sufficiently maintained, you may be able to file for compensation for your child. The Gilbert Law Group® is here to help you explore your legal options and take your next steps toward justice. If your child was seriously injured in a playground accident, we want to know how we can help you.

Call us at (888) 711-5947 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, no matter where you are in the United States. We’ve been fighting for families like yours for over 50 years.

Potential Dangers on Playgrounds

As a parent, you want to make sure every playground you take your child to is safe. But there are many subtle dangers, hard to detect unless you’re an expert or an engineer, that can present a hazard to your child.

The National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) has identified a list of the “dirty dozen” playground dangers. Most of these are problems in design, construction, and maintenance, although parental supervision also plays a role. The most common playground dangers noted by the organization are:

1. Improper protective surfaces. A playground’s equipment may look safe, but the material underneath it can lead to injury when a child lands on it forcefully. Concrete is known to be risky, and so are wood and hard-packed dirt, but even the softer landing materials like shredded rubber, wood chips, and interlocking rubber mats need to be at least four inches thick to provide sufficient protection.
2. Inadequate use zones. Each piece of equipment should be surrounded by at least six feet of space, so children have enough room to play.
3. Inadequate fall zones. The area under and around a piece of equipment should be covered with a protective material that extends far enough to account for potential momentum (for example, when a child falls off a swing or slide).
4. Protrusion and entanglement hazards. Large, unprotected bolts sticking out of playground equipment can literally poke an eye out or cause a dangerous cut on a child.
5. Entrapment in openings. Any opening in playground equipment that a child may be able to crawl through has to be either too small for a child to enter or large enough for their entire head and body to fit through. Kids get trapped in equipment when their heads can get through an opening the rest of their bodies cannot fit into. No window or passageway in equipment should be between 3.5 and 9 inches across.
6. Trip hazards. Anything that sticks up out of the ground or other walking surfaces can trip a child.
7. Lack of supervision. Even if the playground is a public one, you are still responsible for supervising your child. At the same time, a playground should be designed in a way that makes supervision easy.
8. Age-inappropriate activities. The variety of needs children have at different ages should be reflected in the play equipment provided. A playground’s design should separate equipment meant to be used by children of different ages. However, parents are also responsible for ensuring their child is playing in an age-appropriate way.
9. Lack of maintenance. The older the equipment, the more it needs to be maintained. Breakage or structural instability can cause serious injuries.
10. Sharp edges and pinch hazards. Equipment that starts out safe, like a bolt with plastic covering, can lose its protective covering over time. There are many other instances of sharp edges throughout playgrounds. Equipment with moving parts may have the ability to pinch or crush a finger or other body part if improperly made.
11. Platforms with no guardrails. The NPSI recommends two- to four-foot-high guardrails around all raised platforms.
12. Use of dangerous playground equipment. The NPSI has a list of equipment that should not be employed in a playground. While parents are not expected to know on sight which equipment might be dangerous, anyone responsible for owning and/or maintaining a playground must know the guidelines and ensure all equipment has been approved.

Call us today at (888) 711-5947 to schedule a free consultation with one of our playground injury attorneys. We are proud to represent families throughout the United States.