My child has been injured in a bounce house. Is the property owner responsible?

Bounce houses are common sights at birthday parties, picnics, and fairs that children always seem to be drawn to. While they can be a lot of fun, they can also be dangerous, sending thousands of children to the emergency room every year. 

In a 2012 study published by the journal Pediatrics entitled “Inflatable Bouncers in the United States, 1990-2010” found that approximately 64,000 children under the age of 17 had been treated for bounce house-related accidents in that timeframe, a 15-fold increase over previous years. Since that study, bounce house injuries have continued to rise steadily, with the most common injuries occurring to the head, neck, arms, and legs.

When a serious bounce house injury occurs, liability may lie with the property owner, supervisor, operator, installer, or manufacturer if their actions, or inactions, can be shown to be negligent. To prove this negligence, you would have to show that they owed your child a duty of care, that they breached this duty, the breach caused their injuries, and that your child has monetary damages related to their injury.

Normally, a bounce house operator or property owner would have a reasonable duty of care to all children that use the inflatable. This includes ensuring the bounce house is properly set up and secured to the ground, that the proper number of children are inside the bounce house at one time, and that the children are not roughhousing or using the inflatable improperly.

However, if a child is injured due to their own actions or the actions of another child, the property owner, bounce house operator, installer, or manufacturer would likely not be found liable, or only partially liable depending on the circumstances of the accident. Also, if a property owner or bounce house operator improperly set up the bounce house, but children were playing for a period of time without injury, they would also likely not be found liable.

Sometimes property owners and bounce house operators require a waiver for all children that use their inflatables. This waiver normally covers minor issues, such as twisted ankles, but does not cover a bounce house operator from negligent acts. It is important to read the waiver to determine what the terms actually cover.

If your child was injured in a bounce house, you may have a claim for their injuries. An experienced personal injury lawyer can review your case and determine who may be liable for any damages that your child has sustained by using a bounce house. 

We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services. 

We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at the work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at 844 See Mike, we put People, First.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 900 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 120 five-star reviews on Google.  Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at michael@agrusslawfirm.com, or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.