Earlier this month, a nine-year-old boy was injured when the inflatable bounce house that he was playing inside was lifted off the ground and blown onto a nearby highway. According to a local news report, the inflatable toy was blown from a residential neighborhood in Adelanto about a quarter-mile away onto Highway 395.
As the bounce house was falling back toward the ground, the young boy fell from the house onto the ground, sustaining minor injuries. The bounce house then rolled into a car. The driver of the car reported being “shook up” but was not injured. It is not clear whether any California personal injury claim will result from the events.
This was just the most recent of several accidents involving inflatable bounce houses over the past few years. The article discusses two other incidents in which bounce houses were blown away. In both cases, the children inside at the time suffered serious injuries.
Safety is Key
Bounce houses and other inflatable toys and rented playground equipment can be a fun and exciting addition to a child’s birthday party or other gathering, if they are safely set up. In most cases, families rent these large inflatable toys from an agency that agrees to provide and set up the toy for a fee. It is critical that these companies are following the manufacturer’s recommendations when setting up the inflatables and playground equipment.
In general, bounce houses should be fixed to the ground with 18-inch long stakes hammered into the ground. If the bounce house is located on cement, sandbags should be used to ensure that the inflatable remains stationary. Additionally, these companies should also provide an employee to ensure the safe operation of the fixture. For example, children should not enter a bounce house if winds exceed 15 to 20 miles per hour.
Establishing Liability After an Accident
In the event that an accident does occur with a rented toy, there may be several potentially liable parties, depending on the nature of the accident. If the accident involves a defective product, anyone injured as a result of the defect may pursue a California product liability lawsuit. If, however, the product functions as designed but causes an injury due to faulty set up, the rental agency may be held liable.
Anyone who either has been injured themselves, or has children who have been injured in an accident involving a rented inflatable toy, should reach out to a dedicated California personal injury attorney to discuss their options.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
If your child has recently been injured in an accident involving a large inflatable toy or rented playground equipment, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated Southern California personal injury attorneys at Sharifi Firm have extensive experience handling a wide range of California personal injury cases, including product liability claims. We offer prospective clients free consultations to discuss their case and how we may be able to help them recover for their injuries. To learn more, call 866-422-7222 to schedule your free consultation today. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we are able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
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