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It is only natural for us to assume that any injury we sustain while working out is our own fault and to take on the financial burden of our recoveries but the truth is that you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if it can be proven that your accident was due to negligence or a product defect. When you consider the cost of medical care, it makes absolute sense to evaluate all of your options and to pursue the recovery of damages so that your physical recover is not coupled with financial devastation. If you were injured while at the gym, we would be happy to help you explore your options and investigate the matter on your behalf.
Gym Injuries you May not be Liable for
The first thing to consider when you’ve been injured is whether the accident was the result of personal negligence or the failure of the gym or an equipment manufacturer. The following types of accidents are all examples of cases in which negligence is a contributing factor.
- A fitness machine malfunctions and you are injured as a result. Treadmills, stair machines, elliptical machines and other fitness equipment may fail or be designed poorly. A defective treadmill belt or sudden and unexpected change in the resistance of an elliptical machine could result in an injury and you may be able to recover compensation from the equipment manufacturer.
- A defect in a weight machine causes your injury. Most weight machines operate through the use of a pulley system and the use of a weight stack that can be adjusted by moving the pin to the desired weight. If a cable snaps during the middle of your set, you could be injured by the cable itself or due to the sudden change in resistance.
- You trip or fall due to gym clutter. It is the responsibility of gym employees to ensure that the areas accessed by members are kept clean and free of hazards. If a member leaves free weights scattered on the ground, he or she may be directly responsible if another member trips but it is ultimately the duty of gym employees to make sure that public areas are kept free of hazards.
- A defect in your home gym or home fitness machine results in an injury. Home fitness products can cause harm if they are manufactured with defects and you have the right to seek compensation should any machine you’ve purchased fail to perform its intended purpose.
What to do Following an Injury With a Piece of Exercise Equipment
The only real way to know whether you have a personal injury claim is to investigate the matter and seek the advice of an experienced and reputable personal injury lawyer. Providing as much information as possible will increase your chances of recovery and make it easier for your attorney to build your case. When you’ve been injured, make sure you document everything and take pictures of the equipment that you were using when you were injured, the surrounding area and your injuries themselves. There may be evidence in those photos that an attorney can use which you may have overlooked.
Make sure that you do not admit fault for an injury as this can be used against you and seek prompt medical care. If you do not see a doctor within a reasonable timeframe, the defense will claim that your injuries are not serious or question whether they were the result of a different accident which did not occur at the gym or while using the defective equipment. When seeking medical treatment, be sure to keep copies of test results and other medical documents that can be used to make your case.
It is also best not to wait before beginning an investigation or building a lawsuit due to limits on the time you have following an injury to file a claim. Contact us today for more information and to schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned attorneys and we will take the time to answer any questions that you might have, perform our own investigation in order to determine which parties may be liable for your injuries and advise you on what steps to take next. Should we be unable to assist you or fail to secure compensation on your behalf, our time and services will be without charge.
