NYC Playgrounds Are A Major Cause of Childhood Accidents

Playground Accidents Remain Alarmingly Common Across New York City and May Expose Property Owners or The City To Liability

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK  – Playgrounds can be great sources of exercise and fun for children across New York City, but they can also be quite dangerous and are involved in many serious accidents each year.

According to New York Presbyterian, “From 2019 to 2021, there was an annual average of approximately 155,900 playground-related injuries to children under the age of 16.” Many of these injuries are so serious that they require hospitalization.

Nearly one-third of all injuries in NYC playground accidents were categorized as severe. Falls accounted for 88% of all injuries. This could include instances where children fall from swings or slides. Certain types of equipment accounted for a disproportionate number of injuries:

• Climbing Equipment: This includes jungle gyms, monkey bars, and climbing walls.
• Swings: Swings pose numerous hazards, including falls.
• Slides: Poorly designed slides can cause children to accelerate too quickly. Falling onto hard surfaces like asphalt can lead to injuries.
• Seesaws: Traditional seesaws pose a serious risk of children falling off, especially if the two children involved are different sizes.
• Merry-Go-Rounds: The centrifugal force generated by these can cause children to be violently thrown off and potentially hit other equipment or fixed objects.

The number of serious accidents and injuries across New York City playgrounds has also led to a number of lawsuits. What follows below are just a few of those claims:

• One mother filed a lawsuit when her child sustained a serious laceration after stepping on a glass bottle in the children’s sprinkler area.
• A dad filed a lawsuit when his child broke their forearm after falling from equipment.
• There were a total of 7 claims involving wheel ride accidents at East Harlem’s Dr. Ronald E. McNair Playground.
• Several claims were filed after five children broke their legs on a swing set at Slope Park Playground in Brooklyn. The swing set was installed too low to the ground and has since been removed.

Brooklyn had the most claims across all boroughs in New York City, with 209 cases. This was followed by Manhattan with 123 claims. Bronx playgrounds and Queens playgrounds had 111 claims each. Staten Island playgrounds had the lowest number of claims, with just 23.

Injuries from playgrounds can stem from accidents as well as criminal activity. What follows below are some of the most dangerous parks in NYC:

• Central Park had 649 major crimes and five rapes.
• Prospect Park had 192 serious crimes and two murders.
• Riverside Park had 194 major crimes and five rapes.
• Crotona Park had 102 serious crimes and 14 assaults.

City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, have promised to make repairs to aging and dangerous playgrounds across the city. In fact, 1 in 10 New York Housing Authority playgrounds has been cordoned off because they are unsafe. The playgrounds in question have a number of problems:

• Some of the equipment is covered in peeling paint.
• Much of the equipment is covered in rust.
• Certain pieces of equipment are reinforced by pieces of wood.

Depending on the type of accident and how it occurred, a school, municipal entity, or property holder could face liability.

Don’t Wait: If your child has been injured on a New York City playground, you may have legal recourse. The NYC playground accident attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here for you. You can contact us any time at (516) 908-9792.

Liability For New York City Playground Accidents

Playgrounds can be inherently dangerous places for children, particularly when equipment is misused. However, with the right safety precautions and supervision, many accidents can be prevented. Supervising adults should always closely monitor the children in their care to prevent accidents. Below are some steps that playground owners should take to prevent injuries:

• Regular Maintenance: Property owners should ensure that all of their equipment is regularly inspected and maintained.
• Safe Surfaces: Since it is predictable that children will fall on playgrounds, property owners should use impact-absorbing materials such as wood chips, sand, or rubber to lessen the impact of falls.
• Proper Installation: Only trained professionals should install playgrounds to ensure manufacturing guidelines are followed.
• Sun Protection: Playgrounds are often made of metal and can become dangerously hot when exposed to direct sunlight. A canopy can protect children from severe burns.

If a child is injured on a playground, there could be more than one liable party. Property owners in New York have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the protection of everyone on a property whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice that a playground is in a dangerous condition, they must act. There are many ways that a playground could be in a dangerous condition:

• A property owner could be liable for broken equipment, such as swing sets that break apart during use.
• Schools could be liable for children being injured on playgrounds if those children were not being adequately monitored.
• Playgrounds can be in a dangerous condition if they have uneven surfaces, which cause children to fall.
• Poor maintenance can lead to equipment deterioration, resulting in sharp edges that may lead to serious injuries.

The vast majority of playground accidents are preventable. Many children suffer serious injuries, including broken bones and traumatic brain injuries, which could alter the trajectory of their lives. It is important for parents to understand that they may have legal recourse if their child is injured on a playground. A NYC playground accident attorney can examine all the unique facts of your case and advise you on your legal options.

Getting Legal Help After Playground Accidents

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all the children injured in playground accidents and their parents. The injuries involved in these accidents can be very severe and traumatic for all involved. If you or someone you love has been injured in a NYC playground accident, it is important to consider your legal options. You may be able to seek compensation through a legal claim.

Have you or someone you care about been injured in a playground accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the justice and support they are entitled to. Whether you have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney, we are here for you. You can reach out to us any time at (516) 908-9792.