6 Tips For A Gym Injury Lawsuit
If you were hurt at the gym, you might wonder if you can sue or file a claim. It depends. The information below can help you decide whether it’s worth it to proceed with your case.
Table of Contents
Get Medical Attention
After you are injured at your gym, you should get prompt medical attention. Even if you think you have a minor injury, it’s still best to have a doctor look you over.
Many gym injuries involve the neck, head, or back. For example, maybe a piece of weightlifting equipment malfunctioned, and you pulled your lower back.
That injury probably involves soft tissues and can be challenging to diagnose. But, on the other hand, you may only feel a bit sore after the incident and decide to just go home without seeing a doctor.
This could be a mistake. After a day or two, your pulled back could be extremely sore and prevent you from going to work. But you didn’t go to the doctor immediately, so the insurance company will probably question whether your injury occurred at the gym.
Your doctor can look at your injury and document it. Then, if you decide to file a claim or sue with your personal injury attorney, the medical condition will be on record.
Determine Who Caused The Injury
After you’re hurt at the gym, several people and entities could remain liable for your injuries. For example, it could be the person who caused the injury or the gym itself that didn’t follow safety rules.
Some parties that you could hold liable for your fitness center injury are:
- Gym owner
- Fitness center employee
- Gym members
- Weightlifting equipment manufacturer
- Gym equipment maintenance personnel
- Personal trainers
Determine Liability
The gym owner owes its patrons a duty of care to maintain the facility so it’s reasonably safe.
For example, if a piece of weightlifting equipment is broken, the gym owner should ensure that it’s clearly labeled and scheduled for repair. If the equipment is broken, but you weren’t aware of it, the gym owner could be liable for your injury.
The facility owner also has a legal obligation to keep the gym clean and safe and ensure its safety by performing regular inspections.
If your injury was due to a dangerous condition at the gym, such as a wet floor, the owner could be liable.
Personal Trainer Liability
Many gym members use a personal trainer to keep them in shape. However, your trainer could be liable for your injury if they were negligent.
Determining personal trainer negligence can be tricky, but a skilled personal injury attorney can do it. For example, if the trainer told you to do a deadlift unsafely and you injured your back, they could be liable.
It would be up to your attorney and his medical and gym training expert witnesses to prove that the trainer was negligent to the insurance company or court.
Gym Worker Liability
A gym also is liable if its employees are negligent. For example, many accidents at fitness centers are caused by improper employee supervision, inadequate employee training, understaffing, and improper hiring practices.
For instance, say a gym employee remains trained to check and maintain gym equipment. Then, you hurt your leg on a leg press machine. If your attorney can show the gym employee was negligent, the owner may have to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
CrossFit Injuries
CrossFit is popular at many gyms, but the program involves weightlifting, and people get injured. If you were hurt during a CrossFit routine, you should talk to your personal injury attorney about it.
Remember these tips if you’re hurt at the gym, and you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
