Your child is growing up fast. They will go out into the world, make mistakes and get hurt. You know this, but it’s still terrifying when you see your child suffer an injury. Most of the time, kids are simply clumsy but if a facility, like an ice skating rink, hasn’t provided the right safety precautions, it’s important to look into your legal options to seek compensation.
Generally speaking, many ice skating rinks require you sign a waiver stating you will not sue if you are injured. However, not all do, and those contracts don’t consider situations involving owner neglect.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure your child stays as safe as possible when skating.
First, check the ice. If there are many notches or holes, a skate could get stuck and cause your child to fall. When your child falls, it’s most common for him or her to put their hands down to catch themselves; the problem is the ice is slick. If your child’s hands go out from under him or her, a head injury could quickly occur when his or her face or head hits the ice.
Another thing to make sure you check is if the skates have been sharpened. Ice skaters do not skate on blunt blades; blunt blades catch on the ice and cause tripping. Make sure your child’s skates are in top-notch condition before hitting the ice.
Finally, if you’re worried about your child falling, consider making him or her wear safety gear. Wrist guards and helmets can help prevent serious injuries.
At the end of the day, if the ice isn’t taken care of, the facility is run down or hazards weren’t kept away from your child, you could have a case against the owner of the facility. It’s worth taking photos and keeping records for your attorney to review.
To schedule a free consultation contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. toll free at 866.452.3741 or for further information please visit www.merdes.com. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do.
Source: Health Day, “Ice Skating Injuries a Slippery Problem,” Amanda Gardner
