If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, grow muscles, or simply stay healthy, signing up for a gym membership is a great way to exercise. Whether you want to do cardio, weightlifting, or take classes, gyms can provide you with several ways to reach your goals. However, the last thing you may expect when entering your fitness club is to leave with an injury caused by the negligence of another person. If this reflects your circumstances, you’ll want to keep reading to learn more about your legal options if you are injured while working out due to unsafe conditions. The following blog explores the most common kinds of gym accidents you can be involved in, as well as the importance of working with a Broward County personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.
What Are Common Gym Accidents in Florida?
Generally, when someone says they’ve been injured at the gym, they’re discussing injuries related to overextension, like a pulled muscle or sprain. These injuries are not eligible for compensation, as they are not caused by a third party’s negligence.
However, injuries related to the conditions of the gym are generally eligible to pursue a claim. This includes things like slips and falls due to spills on the ground. When there is a spill, it’s critical for the gym staff to know how to identify and promptly respond to the matter, whether it be cleaning the area up to prevent injuries or placing warning signs near the spill to alert patrons of the hazard. Similarly, if debris, cords, garbage, or gym supplies are left strewn about on the ground, unsuspecting gymgoers may trip and fall as a result, sustaining injuries.
Unfortunately, slips and falls are not the only common cause of accidents in gyms. In many instances, machinery and equipment that is not regularly inspected or maintained can be subject to a breakdown in the middle of use. This can result in serious injuries, especially if the equipment you are using bears a considerable amount of weight. You may sustain bone fractures, sprains, strains, slipped discs, hernias, TBIs, and neck injuries, among others, as a result of broken equipment.
What Should I Do if I’ve Been Injured?
Sustaining an injury in a gym can be an incredibly upsetting event, especially if it could have been avoided with additional care. It’s imperative to take the necessary steps to protect yourself in these matters, including taking photos and videos of the hazard or defective equipment that caused your injuries. Additionally, you should alert gym management to the accident, ask to complete an incident report, and request any security footage of the event.
It’s also important to connect with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible following an accident. When you signed up for your gym membership, you were likely required to complete a waiver. Unfortunately, many gyms will try to use this to negate all liability for any accident that occurs on the premises. However, this isn’t always viable, as the law may overrule a contract if the hazard was particularly egregious or evident.
As you can see, gym accidents can be devastating and leave a lasting impact on your life. That is why it’s in your best interest to connect with an experienced attorney with the Finizio Law Group. Our team will do everything in our power to help you fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you.
