Playground Accident Compensation Claims

Children have a tendency to run around in playgrounds, such is their excitement about a day out with friends and the thrill of the rides. Accidents can naturally occur and your child may suffer an unfortunate injury. However, when your child´s accident is due to the poor maintenance of the playground or a defect in the playground equipment, you are entitled to make playground accident compensation claims.

Causes of Playground Accidents

There are a number of safety regulations in place to prevent playground accidents, but unfortunately they are not always adhered to. Such regulations control the angle of slides and see-saws, the application of handrails and protective barriers, and the distances between rungs and steps to ensure that a child´s head or body cannot be trapped. Accidents which are due to the playground management´s failure to implement these regulations make them the liable party in any claim for playground accident compensation.

Without doubt, your natural instinct when a child has sustained an injury in a playground accident is to take them to a hospital or your family GP for a medical examination. However, it is not always children who are the victims of playground accidents: if you have sustained an injury due to a lack of care by those responsible for maintaining a safe playground environment, you should apply the same sense of urgency in seeking medical treatment for yourself.

Procedures after a Playground Accident

Once any immediate health issues are taken care of, you should return to the playground wherever possible, take photographs of any faulty equipment which caused the playground accident, and speak with other parents to find out if they witnessed the event or know of another child who has experienced a similar accident. This information will be used, together with a copy of your doctor´s medical notes, to support your application for playground accident compensation to the Injuries Board Ireland.

If your child is the victim of the playground accident, they can make a claim for playground accident compensation through a parent or guardian acting as their “next friend”. Online applications are not permitted in the event of a child´s injury, so you will have to call up the Injuries Board Ireland and ask them to send you the appropriate forms – one for you to complete, and another for your doctor.

Making Playground Accident Compensation Claims

Playground accident compensation claims are best completed with the assistance of an experienced personal injury claims solicitor, for although the facts surrounding the playground accident may be straightforward, you are also entitled to claim special damages for expenses you have incurred in seeking medical assistance for your injured child and any ongoing costs of caring for them.

If you had to take unpaid time off from work to care for your child, you are entitled to claim for this also. At a time when your focus might be directed towards an injured child – rather than the completion of a form – there may be damages which you are entitled to include in your playground accident compensation claim which you overlook, and thus subsequently find yourself under-compensated.

Solicitors and Playground Accident Claims

An experienced personal injury claims solicitor will prepare the strongest possible case for your playground accident compensation claim, ensuring that the application form to the Injuries Board Ireland is comprehensively completed. This will be of vital importance should the negligent party deny their responsibility for the playground accident or claim that your child contributed to their injuries by their own lack of care – reasons for the Injuries Board Ireland to decline your claim for playground accident compensation and issue an authorisation for you to pursue your playground accident claim through the courts.

Having the strongest possible playground accident compensation claim prepared will also be vital if you are approached by the playground management´s insurance company with an offer of early settlement. Frequently, insurance companies will make inappropriate offers of playground accident compensation and with a case already prepared, your solicitor will be able to negotiate on your behalf to guarantee a fair and adequate settlement. As all settlements for personal injury claims involving children have to be approved by a court before payment can be made, you will need legal representation at some point and it is in your best interests to obtain it at the very beginning of your playground accident compensation claim process.

Free Playground Accident Claims Advice

If your child has been injured in a playground accident due to faulty equipment or a lack of maintenance, you are invited to call our free playground accident claims advice service on 1-800 989 988 and discuss your case with an experienced personal injury claims solicitor. You will be able to ask any legal questions about your entitlement to claim playground accident compensation and receive valuable and accurate advice.

All calls to our playground accident claims advice service are completely confidential, and you are under no obligation to proceed with a playground accident compensation claim once you have spoken with us. We also operate a free call-back service, so if now is not a suitable time to speak with us, please leave your contact details in our call-back form, and one of our experienced personal injury claims solicitors will be back in touch when it is more convenient.