Playground Premises Liability and Your Kids’ Safety

By Grant Law Office on September 20, 2023

For many children, recess is the best part of the school day. When the bell rings, they run to the playground to burn off pent-up energy and have fun with their friends. Premises liability law applies to school and daycare playgrounds. These facilities have a duty to help keep children safe.

Understanding Premises Liability

Premises liability is an area of law that governs claims arising from injury because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. Owners and managers of property have a duty under the law to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition to prevent harm to visitors, particularly children. Property owners are responsible for inspecting the property for dangerous conditions and correcting them or at least adequately warning of the dangers. They can be held liable for resulting injuries when they fail to do so.

Common Playground Hazards

Playground accidents are a leading cause of injuries among children. More than 200,000 children ages one to 10 are treated in emergency rooms yearly for playground injuries, as stated in a recent study. Some of the most common playground hazards are:

• Outdated or damaged equipment: Playground equipment must meet certain standards under Georgia regulations. Children can be injured on elevated equipment with no fall protection safeguards, unsafe surfaces such as concrete, equipment layouts that allow children to collide, and equipment with sharp edges or entanglement hazards.
• Inadequate supervision: Children must be adequately supervised at school or daycare playgrounds. What is considered proper supervision depends on the ages of the children and other factors.
• Lack of proper maintenance: Like all equipment, playground equipment must be regularly inspected and maintained. Children can be seriously injured when schools and other facilities fail to maintain their playgrounds properly.

Injuries Caused by Playground Accidents

Playgrounds are one of the primary locations where accidents occur in elementary schools. These accidents can cause a range of serious injuries. Head and neck injuries are the most common. Injuries to the extremities tend to increase with the age of the children. Common playground injuries include bone fractures, sprains, head injuries, concussions, cuts, and abrasions.

Importance of Child-Safe Playground Designs

State law regulates playgrounds at daycares and other educational children’s facilities to help ensure their safety. Under these regulations, playgrounds must be free of hazards, such as exposed tree roots, rocks, and sharp concrete edges. They must meet size and occupancy requirements. Facilities are responsible for ensuring age-appropriate equipment and layout, proper impact-absorbing surfaces, and fencing and security measures to protect children.

The Role of Schools and Caregivers

Schools and daycares have a duty to provide safe play environments for children. They are responsible for proper supervision and preventive measures to keep children from being injured. Facilities may be held liable for playground injuries if they:

• Failed to routinely inspect the property for safety hazards
• Neglected to correct dilapidated equipment, unsecured fencing, or other dangerous conditions
• Failed to properly supervise children on the playground

Seeking Compensation for Atlanta Playground Injuries

If your child has suffered playground injuries because of a dangerous condition at an Atlanta school or daycare, you may have a claim for compensation. Depending on the specific circumstances, your damages may include medical expenses, emotional distress, and long-term consequences on the child’s well-being. Your Atlanta premises liability lawyer can determine fault and liability, secure evidence to support your claim, calculate the full extent of your damages, and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.

We Have Experience You Can Trust

At Grant Law Office, our Atlanta premises liability attorneys will diligently investigate your child’s accident and fight for the justice and compensation you and your family deserve. We understand that nothing is more important than your child’s well-being, and we believe that whoever is responsible for your child’s injury should be held accountable.

Our husband-and-wife team has been dedicated to providing high-quality legal representation to injury victims for over 30 years.

Call us at (404) 995-3955 to schedule a free consultation today.