Parks, playgrounds, arenas, ski hills and other recreational facilities are meant to be enjoyed. However, each year thousands of people across Canada suffer serious injuries because of mismanagement. Here are five common recreational injuries to know about in order to stay safe when playing outdoors.
Fire-Related Injuries
Enjoying the great outdoors has many benefits for your health and mind, but camping sites can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. If the wrong type of wood is sold to you or the fire pit is not properly cleaned out before you arrive, a large fire or explosion could occur causing serious burns and injuries.
Sprains and Broken Bones
A slip and fall at the waterpark, a poor landing off a dodgy ski lift, or a defective boat rental, can all cause bodily injury and fractured bones. Even a small tear in the muscle or tendon can result in lost wages and long-term medical costs.
Neck and Head Injuries
It’s not uncommon for someone to take a blow to the head during sports play or fall off their bike, resulting in a serious neck injury. Of course, these activities come with risk, but when your injuries are the result of unkept bike trails, mismanaged fields or missed safety protocols, you have a right to sue for your injuries.
Whiplash and Brain Damage
Amusement parks are a lot of fun, but they can be dangerous too. Jerky rollercoasters, bumper cars and flying saucer rides move at fast speeds that can cause whiplash. Brain injuries can occur if you’re not properly buckled in and your head comes in contact with part of the carriage. Even more serious brain damage can result if the mechanical system fails and the ride tips over or the carriages become loose.
Spinal Injuries
Sport and recreational accidents can also result in spinal injuries. But not all accidents are the result of extreme sports. In fact, the sport with the most spinal injuries is swimming, followed by gymnastics. Playground accidents are another common cause of serious spinal and nerve injuries each year.
Most recreational accidents have some form of negligence involved. Recreational establishments and businesses are responsible to ensure the safety of their customers through proper maintenance and care procedures. If you are injured on someone else’s property – government or private – and you require medical treatment, long-term care or income support, you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer. Your attorney will assist with your legal proceedings and ensure you are compensated for your financial losses.
Contact our team at Zuber Brioux to learn about your legal options and how we can help.