An average estimate of 8.6 million sports, recreation, and exercise-related injuries happen annually in the United States. As gyms, fitness clubs, and cycling classes grow in popularity, become an essential fixture in the day-to-day life of many Americans, the amount of exercise-related injuries will continue to increase. Often, gym-goers view their weekly workouts as a place of refuge, an hour or so to escape the hum drums of life. What happens when this previous sanctuary is no longer that? Continue reading to learn more about what you should do, if you are injured at a gym or in a fitness center.
Can I File A Lawsuit For The Injuries I Suffered?
If you are suffering from serious injuries and are worrisome of other potential damages, the question of whether or not you can sue may be at the forefront of your mind. Under California law, a negligent party is held liable for any injuries they cause onto another. In a fitness center accident scenario, multiple parties may potentially be held responsible for an injury. A suit can be filed with the victim asking for compensation to cover a variety of expenses, including:
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Punitive damage
What Are Common Causes And Types Of Gym Injuries?
Millions are hurt, as a result of sports and exercise-related activities every year across the country. While the exact conditions of each individual’s accident are unique, these are a few of the most common causes of fitness center injuries:
- Falling free weights
- Slip and falls
- Defective or improperly maintained equipment
- Poorly maintained building, sidewalks, and parking areas
These causes may lead to a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Strains, sprains, and bruising
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken or crushed bones
- Shoulder injuries
Who Could Be Held Responsible For These Injuries?
- Trainers. If you employ the help of a personal trainer or a gym class instructor, they may be held responsible for your gym injury, if their negligence or recklessness caused the accident. For instance, if the trainer in question asked you to do something that a reasonable trainer would not have suggested in a similar situation.
- Gym owners. Per California law, property owners, in our case gym owners, have a duty to maintain the property, inspect the property, repair any potentially dangerous conditions, and provide adequate warning of any dangerous conditions. If a slippery area caused a gym injury, the owner may be held liable.
- Third-party contractors. The responsibilities of third-party contractors may include a wide variety of tasks, such as inspection and maintenance of gym equipment.
- Other gym members. In order to recover damages from another gym member following an accident, the victim must be able to show that the other gym member owed the victim a duty of care and breached that duty through negligence or failure to warn. Furthermore, the breach must have played a substantial factor in causing the victim’s injuries.
What Should I Do At The Scene Of The Injury?
Documenting your injury is one of the most crucial steps. At the scene of the injury, report the injury to the gym’s staff member and request contact information from the gym’s insurance company. If the gym is a part of a franchise, also report the injury to the parent company. Furthermore, if there are any witnesses at the scene, kindly request their contact information and ask if they would be willing to provide you with witness statements. Separately, take photographs of the scene of the accident.
The experienced legal guidance of Injury Trial Lawyers can help you evaluate and determine your best road to recovery.
