Trampoline Park Injuries in New York City: Who’s Liable, Whether Waivers Hold Up, and Can You Sue in 2026

Trampoline parks offer children and adults an opportunity to jump, play, and participate in physical activities. However, falls, collisions, and improperly maintained equipment can result in serious injuries.

When someone is injured at a trampoline park, determining who is legally responsible can be complicated. The facility may argue that the injured person accepted the risks by signing a waiver, but a waiver does not necessarily protect a business from every type of negligence or misconduct.

For parents, claims involving an injured child can involve additional legal considerations. The circumstances of the accident, the language of the waiver, the child’s age, and the nature of the facility’s conduct can all affect whether a claim may be pursued.

How Common and How Serious Are Trampoline Park Injuries?

Trampoline-related injuries can range from relatively minor bruises and sprains to fractures, head injuries, spinal injuries, and other serious conditions.

Children may be particularly vulnerable because they may not fully understand the risks associated with certain activities or may have difficulty controlling their movements in crowded recreational environments.

Injuries may occur during ordinary jumping, failed landings, collisions with other participants, falls from elevated platforms, or interactions with equipment that is defective or improperly maintained.

The severity of an injury depends on the circumstances. Some injuries may require emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, or long-term medical care.

What Causes Trampoline Park Injuries?

Trampoline park injuries can have many causes. Some accidents are inherent risks of recreational activities, while others may involve unsafe conditions or negligent conduct. Potential causes include:

• Defective or damaged trampolines
• Inadequate padding around equipment
• Improperly secured equipment
• Insufficient supervision
• Failure to enforce safety rules
• Overcrowding
• Unsafe participant behavior
• Poorly maintained floors or walking surfaces
• Inadequate lighting
• Dangerous obstacles or structures
• Failure to separate participants by age or ability
• Employee negligence
• Failure to properly train employees

Determining the cause of the accident is important because not every injury automatically establishes legal liability.

Evidence such as surveillance footage, photographs, witness statements, incident reports, employee records, and maintenance documents may help establish what happened.

Who Is Liable for a Trampoline Park Injury in New York City?

The trampoline park itself may potentially be responsible if its negligence contributed to the injury.

For example, a facility could potentially face liability if it failed to maintain equipment, failed to correct a dangerous condition, or failed to provide appropriate supervision when required.

Employees may also be involved if negligent conduct by an employee contributed to the accident. In some cases, another participant or that person’s parent or guardian could potentially have legal responsibility depending on the circumstances.

Equipment manufacturers or maintenance contractors may also become relevant when a defective product or improper repair contributed to the injury.

Identifying the responsible party requires investigating the accident rather than assuming that the trampoline park is automatically liable.

Do Trampoline Park Waivers Hold Up in New York?

Many trampoline parks require customers or parents to sign liability waivers before participating. A waiver can be an important part of a defendant’s legal defense, but signing one does not necessarily mean that a person gives up every possible legal claim.

New York courts generally scrutinize liability waivers and their specific language. Agreements attempting to release a business from liability for its own negligence may face legal limitations, particularly when the language is unclear or when the agreement conflicts with applicable public policy.

A waiver also may not protect a business from every form of conduct. For example, an agreement addressing ordinary recreational risks is not necessarily the same as an agreement releasing liability for every possible act or omission.

The exact language of the waiver and the circumstances surrounding the accident should therefore be reviewed by an attorney before assuming that a claim is barred.

Can You Still Sue for Your Child’s Injury? The Rules Are Different for Minors

Parents may wonder whether signing a waiver on behalf of a child prevents the child from pursuing a personal-injury claim. The answer can depend on the specific circumstances and the language of the agreement.

New York law provides special protections and procedural rules for claims involving minors. A parent or guardian may generally pursue certain aspects of a child’s claim on the child’s behalf, but the child’s legal rights are not necessarily identical to those of an adult participant.

A settlement involving a minor can also require court involvement and judicial approval under applicable New York procedures.

How Much Is a Trampoline Park Injury Claim Worth?

There is no fixed value for a trampoline park injury claim. The potential value of a case may depend on factors such as:

• The severity of the injury
• Whether surgery was required
• The length of medical treatment
• Permanent limitations or disabilities
• Future medical needs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional consequences
• Lost income for an injured adult
• The child’s anticipated future needs
• The strength of the evidence establishing liability
• Available insurance coverage

A serious fracture requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation may have very different damages from a minor injury requiring only a brief medical evaluation.

A settlement amount should therefore be based on the specific medical evidence, liability evidence, and long-term consequences of the injury rather than a generic settlement estimate.

How a Child’s Injury Settlement Works in New York

A settlement involving an injured child can involve additional procedures compared with an ordinary adult personal-injury settlement.

Parents or guardians may be responsible for pursuing the claim on behalf of the child, but the child’s interests remain legally important. Depending on the circumstances and amount of the settlement, court approval may be required.

The court’s role is generally intended to protect the child’s interests and ensure that the settlement is appropriate.

Parents should also understand that accepting a settlement may affect the child’s ability to pursue additional compensation later. Before signing a release, it is important to understand what rights are being given up and whether the settlement adequately accounts for the child’s current and future needs.

Deadlines to File a Trampoline Park Injury Claim in New York

New York’s statute of limitations for personal-injury claims can depend on the circumstances of the case and the injured person’s age.

Claims involving children can be subject to rules that differ from the standard deadline applicable to adults. Additional rules may also apply if a governmental entity is involved.

Because exceptions and tolling rules can affect the deadline, parents should not assume that they have unlimited time to investigate an injury claim.

Promptly consulting with an attorney can clarify which deadline applies and whether any notice requirements must be met.

What to Do After a Trampoline Park Injury

If your child is injured at a trampoline park, consider taking the following steps:

1. Seek medical attention. Even injuries that initially appear minor may require follow-up care.
2. Report the accident to the facility and request information about the incident report.
3. Photograph the injury and the location where the accident occurred.
4. Preserve the waiver and any other documents signed before participation.
5. Obtain contact information for witnesses.
6. Keep medical records, bills, prescriptions, and information about follow-up treatment.
7. Ask the facility to preserve relevant surveillance footage and other evidence.
8. Avoid making statements accepting blame for the accident before the circumstances are fully understood.
9. Consult an attorney before signing a settlement agreement or release.

Surveillance footage can be crucial, as it may reveal the equipment’s condition, employee actions, participant numbers, and events leading up to the injury.

Was Your Child Hurt at a New York City Trampoline Park? Talk to an Injury Lawyer

A trampoline park injury can involve questions about negligence, dangerous conditions, supervision, defective equipment, liability waivers, and New York’s special rules for claims involving minors.

The value and viability of a claim depend on the specific facts, including the child’s injuries, the cause of the accident, the waiver language, available evidence, and applicable New York law. Contact Greenberg & Stein P.C. to schedule a free consultation to review your case and learn more about your legal options.

FAQ

Can I sue a trampoline park in New York City even though I signed a waiver? 

Often, yes. Under New York’s General Obligations Law §5-326, liability waivers at recreational facilities that charge a fee are frequently unenforceable, and no waiver protects a park from gross negligence or reckless conduct. Whether yours holds up depends on the facts.

Can a parent waive a child’s right to sue? 

Generally no. New York courts are protective of minors, and a parent typically cannot sign away a child’s own right to bring a claim — so a signed waiver often does not bar a lawsuit for the child’s injuries.

Who is liable for a trampoline park injury? 

Usually the park operator, for unsafe conditions, understaffing, or poor supervision. Depending on the facts, an equipment manufacturer or property owner may also share responsibility.

How long do we have to file a claim for a child’s injury? 

New York’s standard personal injury deadline is three years, but for a minor the clock is generally paused until they turn 18. Even so, it’s wise to act early while video, incident reports, and witnesses are still available.

What is an infant’s compromise? 

When a minor’s injury case settles in New York, a court usually must approve the settlement through an “infant’s compromise” proceeding, which protects the child’s funds until adulthood. It’s a normal part of resolving a child’s claim.