Playground Accident Claims: Making a claim

Playgrounds are designed to be a place of joy and adventure for children, offering a space where they can explore, play, and develop essential social and physical skills. However, these spaces can sometimes pose risks that lead to accidents and injuries.

When a playground accident occurs, it can have significant emotional and financial implications for the affected families. Understanding playground accident claims becomes crucial in these situations, as they provide a legal avenue for seeking compensation for injuries sustained due to negligence or unsafe conditions.

Playground accident claims encompass a wide range of scenarios, from equipment malfunction and improper maintenance to inadequate supervision. If your child has been injured in a playground accident as a result of negligence, you may be able to make a playground accident claim.

At Beacon Law, our specialist personal injury solicitors can assist you in making a playground accident claim, providing you with guidance and support along the way.

Common causes of playground accidents

Playground accidents can occur due to a variety of reasons. Common causes of playground injuries that we see that lead to playground accident claims include:

Defective or poorly maintained equipment: Wear and tear, vandalism, or improper installation can result in play equipment that is unsafe for use. Playground equipment that has been poorly designed may also pose inherent risks to children, such as pinch points or sharp edges.

Inadequate supervision: Children may engage in risky behaviours when not adequately supervised by adults. In playgrounds managed by schools or childcare facilities, having too few staff members to monitor children can lead to accidents.

Poor playground maintenance: Hard or uneven surfaces can cause severe injuries in falls. Proper surfacing materials, such as mulch or rubber mats, should be maintained to cushion falls. Litter, broken glass, and other hazardous debris can also pose risks to children.

Improper installation: Equipment that is not correctly installed can fail, causing accidents. Equipment that is not properly anchored to the ground can become unstable.

Lack of safety inspections: Regular inspections are crucial to identify and address potential hazards before they result in accidents. Failure to adhere to safety standards and guidelines can lead to unsafe conditions.

Improper use of equipment: Children using equipment in unintended ways can increase the risk of injury. Insufficient guidance on the proper use of playground equipment can lead to misuse.

Common injuries from accidents in playgrounds

Playground accidents can lead to a range of injuries that differ in severity. These include:

• Head injuries
• Permanent scars
• Cuts, bruises and lacerations
• Injuries to hands
• Broken bones
• Sprains, strains and soft tissue injuries
• Broken teeth

These are just a few examples of injuries that a child could sustain in a playground incident. If you do not see the injury that has affected your child, do not worry. We could still be able to assist you in making a claim.

These claims aim to address the financial burdens of medical treatments, rehabilitation, and other associated costs, ensuring that the injured party receives appropriate support during their recovery. They also serve a broader purpose by holding responsible parties accountable, which can lead to improved safety standards and prevent future accidents.

What should I do if my child has been involved in a playground accident?

If your child has been involved in a playground accident that resulted in an injury, there are a number of steps which you should take after the accident.

• You should seek medical attention for your child’s injuries as soon as possible
• You should then follow this by report the accident to the local authority (or park operator).
• Take photographs of the scene of the accident if possible, including the object/defect that caused the injuries
• Write down the time, date and location of the accident and collect contact details of any witnesses who saw the accident occur
• Keep receipts for any expenses incurred as a direct result of the accident
• Contact Beacon Law to start your playground accident claim for an initial conversation with one of our specialist solicitors

What is the process for playground accident claims?

During your initial consultation, our specialist solicitors will provide you with legal advice about playground injury claims and will inform you about the relevant limitation rules.

Our personal injury lawyers will then ask you for details about your child’s accident and the initial injuries that were suffered as a result. This will help our injury lawyers to assess the likelihood of your claim being successful.

During these initial stages of your claim for compensation, it is vital that you gather the relevant evidence to support your claim. Relevant evidence may include CCTV footage of the incident, medical records, accident books, photographs of your child’s injuries, and witness statements.

Your personal injury solicitor may also ask that your child undergo an official medical examination in order to receive medical reports about the injuries that they sustained. These medical reports will provide vital medical evidence of the nature and extent of their injuries. Even if they have received other medical care prior to starting your accident claim, a more thorough medical assessment may still be needed to produce detailed, accurate, and reliable medical reports.

If we think that your claim would be likely to succeed, we will offer a no win, no fee basis; if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be required to pay any legal fees.

How much compensation could I receive from a claim?

The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the pain and suffering caused by the injury, as well as the severity. General damages that could be awarded will also depend on the impact that the injuries have had on the child’s daily life, whether any long term care is needed, and whether any structural adaptations need to be made to the claimant’s home in order to assist the child’s new way of living.

Special damages will also be awarded to compensate for any further financial loss that the claimant has suffered as a result of their child’s injury. This could include compensation for the cost of medical treatment, travel costs, and the cost of ongoing care if this is needed.

We advise that you keep evidence of all financial losses suffered as a result of your child’s injuries. This could include receipts and invoices from medical treatment.

Whilst there are compensation calculators online, the amount awarded could differ from the estimation that the calculator gives you. Each claim is unique, so it is difficult to determine compensation levels until the case has been fully reviewed.

What are the time limits for playground accident claims?

The litigation friend process allows parents or guardians to make a claim on behalf of the child. Whilst the claims process is very similar to other personal injury claims, the litigation friend must make decisions in the child’s best interests.

You are able to start a playground accident claim at any time before your child turns 18 years old. Following their 18^th birthday, they will have three years to take legal action on their own behalf.

Why choose Beacon Law?

If your child has suffered a playground injury, a compensation claim may help you with any medical care or adjustments they need. Beacon Law is a leading law firm of personal injury solicitors, offering expert legal advice and a range of personal injury claim services to our clients. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment and highest level of compensation for their playground injuries.

We provide all playground accident claims on a no win no fee basis. This means that we can help you get the compensation you deserve without you having to worry about the costs of making a claim.

If you require advice for a playground accident claim, please contact us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, please complete our online form, and one of our injury solicitors will contact you to help you start your claim.

Beacon Law are a Solicitors registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.