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Who’s Responsible for Accidents That Happen at the Gym?

Published on Mar 12, 2020 at 1:24 pm in Premises Liability.

Person working out in a gym

Going to the gym for a workout is a common way people maintain their physical health. While their focus may be on getting through their workout, there could be other complications that arise in a gym. If an accident occurs and someone is hurt, they may be eligible for compensation. Because determining liability can be a complex situation, you need the assistance of a skilled premises liability lawyer from Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC.

What Accidents Can Occur at the Gym?

When you’re at the gym, you should be aware of the reasons why gym accidents can happen. If the staff doesn’t maintain the gym, there could be spills and leaks left on the floor. They should also maintain the equipment—unsafe equipment can cause serious injuries. The building and sidewalks should also be safe for people to walk—such as putting down salt and shoveling snow to deal with winter weather. It’s also important to know that defective equipment could be from a manufacturing error.

Sometimes, the other members can be negligent. They could drop free weights, whether it’s a bar with weights added on or dumbbells. If they aren’t paying attention to their surroundings, they could hit someone when they drop the weights.

Accidents that occur at the gym can result in terrible injuries. If the gym is poorly maintained, people can suffer slip and fall injuries. This can harm a person’s head, limbs, and back. Soft tissue injuries, broken bones, and concussions are all possible.

When someone uses defective equipment, their hands, arms, legs, and feet can get caught in the machine. This can crush bones, cause dislocations, shoulder injuries, and more. If equipment fails when a person is off the ground, such as doing pull-ups, they can fall or land in an awkward position, which can cause injuries as well. A person who drops a weight could also cause broken bones or severe bruising.

While all these accidents are possible, you may be wondering what you can do about it. You may think you’re unable to file a premises liability claim if you signed a gym waiver—let’s take a closer look at that.

How Do Gym Liability Waivers Affect Your Claim?

Most gyms will have you sign a waiver to use their facilities when you sign up. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unable to take legal action if an incident occurs at the gym and you are injured. Having a lawyer analyze the waiver will help you know what you can and cannot take legal action for. Your lawyer may find the waiver doesn’t have legally binding language. They also may not prevent liability when another gym-goer is the one who exhibited negligence.

There’s also the matter of gross negligence. If a gym exhibited gross negligence, it’s likely the waiver will not prevent you pursuing legal action.

You can help your case by taking certain steps after an accident occurs at the gym. Let’s take a look at what you should do so you protect your health and your claim.

Steps to Take After a Gym Accident

After you’re injured at the gym, you may feel shock, pain, and somewhat embarrassed. It can be uncomfortable to suddenly have a gym go silent and people staring at you. But don’t let this pressure you to jump back up to your feet and insist that everything is okay. You may be injured and not realize it. Sometimes, shock can mask symptoms.

Stay put and ask for someone to assist you. If you feel you need immediate medical attention, ask for it. Then, you can ask to speak to who is in charge and make a report of the incident. As you document what happened, note if anyone else was involved, if you were using equipment, the area where you were walking—any information that will help show what happened. If there were eyewitnesses, get their contact information.

After leaving the gym, go see your doctor within the next few days. They can evaluate your injuries and start helping you heal. When you have a recovery plan, it’s time to get in touch with an experienced premises liability attorney.

Our Jacksonville lawyers have provided legal assistance and fought for the rights of those who were wrongfully injured. We’ll evaluate your case and explain the legal options you have and how you can best proceed. We’re ready to hold gyms responsible for their negligence and will fight to recover full compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering.

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