Whether you are looking to hit a certain fitness goal or generally stay healthy, going to the gym is an ideal option for those looking to try a variety of different exercises. From weightlifting and cardio to Zumba and pilates, many gyms offer a wide variety of equipment and classes designed to help you reach your goals. However, when unsafe conditions on the property result in a serious injury, understanding your legal options is critical. The following blog explores what you should know about common accidents that can occur in a gym and the importance of working with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer to explore your legal options during these difficult times.
What Gym Accidents Are Most Common?
While you may assume that the only injuries you can sustain in a gym are from overexertion, like sprains, strains, or dehydration, this is far from the truth. In reality, many gyms and fitness centers are plagued with unsafe and hazardous conditions, from spills on the ground to broken and defective equipment.
As such, one of the most common accidents you can endure in a gym is slips and falls. When you enter a gym, there is an expectation that the ownership and management will ensure the premises are as safe as possible. However, when there are spills on the ground or debris and equipment left strewn about, you may slip, fall, and sustain injuries as a result.
You can also endure injuries related to faulty, broken, or outdated gym equipment. In order to keep gym members safe, it is the responsibility of the owners and managers to ensure equipment is safe. For example, a cable bearing weights may snap, or the safety bars attached to weight-lifting racks may be improperly installed, resulting in serious injuries. Unfortunately, using defective machinery can result in serious injuries, as the heavy weight can cause intense damage, like strains, sprains, broken bones, nerve damage, slipped discs, hernias, neck injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, among others.
How Can I Fight for Compensation if I am Sued?
Unfortunately, many gyms require patrons to sign waivers that relieve them of liability in the event they sustain an injury on the property. However, you’ll find that in many instances, these waivers may not be enforceable if the cause of the injury was particularly egregious or if it was a hazard the gym knew or should have known about.
Generally, if you are injured while on the premises of a gym or fitness club, it’s critical to understand the steps you should take to protect yourself. One of the most important things you can do when you are injured in a gym is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If the injury is urgent, you should call emergency services. However, if you can wait a bit, you should report the injury to management and ask to file an incident report. Additionally, you should ask for all security camera footage of the accident.
As you can see, navigating accidents in gyms can be particularly difficult. That is why working with an experienced attorney from the Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes is in your best interest. Our dedicated team of personal injury attorneys will do everything in our power to help you in the fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today to learn more.
