What to Do If Your Child Has a Bad Fall at the Playground

When you bring a child to a playground, it is one of the most exciting moments of their day. Kids tend to be more proactive than adults, and they can go all day playing and running around. Sometimes, kids earn their fair share of bruises and scrapes from playing around too much. When you ask them how they particularly got that bruise, they simply shrug it off as if nothing really happened. But what if one day, your child experiences a bad fall while playing at the playground?   

There are a few factors that may have caused that incident: it could be lack of supervision from their guardian, a child-to-child injury wherein another kid may have pushed your child, or the playground itself may have faulty equipment. In case the accident was due to faulty playground equipment, you can contact a trusted lawyer such as those at Fasig | Brooks to help you file a premise liability claim. 

Before you can file a claim, there are a few steps you may need to do first to strengthen your claim. For your guide, here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if your child has a bad fall in the playground.

1. Immediately check the severity of the fall and seek medical attention

Seeing your child fall can be devastating, but you need to gather yourself together and be alert about the next steps you must take to care for your child. Check whether they broke a bone, sprained a limb, or dislocated a joint. If your child is conscious, ask if they feel any internal pain aside from the visible injury. 

Whether it's only a sprain or something more severe, seek medical attention that same day and let your pediatrician thoroughly check your child. Tell them about the incident, such as where, when, and how your child was injured. Delaying medical treatment for your child can be dangerous not only for their wellbeing but also because it can weaken your injury claim.

2. Ask your child’s playmate’s guardians for more details regarding the fall

Ask any adults present during the incident for more details about the fall. Did they see another kid push your child? Was there any foul play? If there wasn’t any kind of conflict, they can also tell you further information about how your child fell, such as whether faulty equipment was involved or if it was a slip and fall. Their statements can help strengthen your claim later on.

3. Check the playground for any faulty equipment

It is the utmost responsibility of playground owners to keep the playground safe and family-friendly. Over time, playground equipment can rust or rot, and the guardrails can become loose, so owners must conduct regular check-ups to ensure all playground equipment is safe and secure for all children to play. Playgrounds must also consist of soft materials to minimize chance of injury anytime a child falls or drops from whatever they are playing.  

If any of these are missed by the playground management, it can cause severe injuries for children playing, so you should closely check each playground equipment if any rotten or rusted parts caused your child to fall. Your gathered data will serve as strong evidence against the playground owners and management staff.

4. Collect evidences such as photographs and videos

It may be harder to collect photographs and videos later on if you wait to take them a day after the incident. That time is already enough for the playground owners to quickly fix and repair any dangerous conditions to ensure they are not at fault. 

If you have the time, take photographs or videos of the property as soon as you find the faulty equipment that caused your child’s accident. Also, document your child’s injuries as soon as you can and throughout their recovery period. This evidence can show how much your child has suffered because of the playground owner’s negligence.  

5. Gather witness statements

As mentioned earlier, parents who were there during the accident can help you to prove your claim. Their statements will serve as your additional evidence. Gather as many written or recorded statements as much as you can. You can also gather comments from parents or guardians who regularly visit the playground and ask if they also saw the same faulty equipment or any other issues within the property. You can also include statements from medical providers who attended to your child’s injuries. They will be the ones who can affirm the suffering and pain that your child went through after the accident.  

Bottom Line

As a parent, it can be catastrophic seeing your child getting harmed in what is supposed to be their safe and fun haven. But being knowledgeable about the necessary steps to take after your child’s accident can save their life and help you to successfully file a premise liability for your child’s compensation. This way, you can also help other parents be aware and be more mindful next time about choosing the right playground for their children, which can guarantee their safety at all times.