Playground accidents can happen quickly. In an instant, you or someone you love could suffer serious injury, from a broken arm or leg to a serious head injury or worse. Worst of all, many playground accidents could be prevented if property owners took steps to protect your safety.
Fortunately, you have rights, and our Houston playground accident attorneys can fight for you every step of the way. At Smith & Hassler, our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience handling serious cases. We know the law, we understand how the system works and we are ready to help you.
What are the most common causes of accidents on playgrounds?
Playground accidents happen for many reasons. The most common reasons include:
The playground owner failed to maintain the playground, resulting in unsafe conditions
The playground was not guarded
Unsafe or damaged play equipment
Playground maintenance is the primary responsibility of schools, recreational facilities, city parks, and child care centers. Those responsible for the location should take the following steps to ensure safety:
Adequate cushioning under climbing structures
Properly secured swing
Enough distance to avoid swings
No loose screws or fasteners
There are no rotted floors or railings on the climbing structure
Gates prevent entry after business hours
Other playground injuries are the result of poor supervision. For example, if a responsible adult allows a game of tag to be played around a swing, a child could suffer serious injury if the swing hits him in the head. Regardless of the cause of your playground accident, we can investigate your personal injury accident and seek maximum compensation for your family.
What makes playground accident cases so complicated?
Playground accidents can be complicated for many reasons. In many cases, most accidents at Texas playgrounds involve a complex area of law called premises liability, which covers the rights and responsibilities of property owners. Playground accidents can be complicated for many other reasons, including:
The playground owner denies any wrongdoing
The playground owner insists he has taken safety precautions
The playground owner destroyed or removed evidence related to the accident
The playground owner said you did something to cause the accident
The playground owner’s insurance company denied your claim
Insurance adjusters often play games, especially after playground accidents. If young children are injured, the insurance company may try to claim that the injured children were playing or breaking a rule, which caused the injury. You know the truth. Your child was injured because the playground owner or employee failed to do their job. Our job is to hold them accountable.
After a playground accident, find a law firm that puts your needs first
Take a stand after an accident on the playground and make the right decision. Contact Smith & Hassler. Our legal team can thoroughly evaluate your playground accident and explain your legal options.
You have time to take legal action, especially if the playground accident involved young children. In Texas, in most cases, you have two years from the date of the playground accident to take legal action. This period (called the statute of limitations) does not begin to run until the child is 18 years old.