Kansas City Gym Slip and Fall Accidents

Kansas City Gym Slip and Fall Accidents

You may have joined the gym to get a little healthier or to get in top physical condition. Maybe you joined as a way to relieve stress and improve your mental health. Whatever your reasons, you didn’t expect to be injured in a slip and fall accident. Unfortunately, you were hurt, and now you have to figure out what happens next.

How Did You Fall?

There are several different slip and fall dangers at gyms, including:

  • Slippery machines. Sweat and spilled water left on gym machines can make it easy to lose your grip or footing and fall off the machine.
  • Slippery floors. Floors that are wet from spills, snow, or rain tracked in on shoes or even cleaning can be slippery and result in dangerous falls.
  • Poorly maintained facilities. Broken tiles, torn rugs, or inadequate lighting can make slip or trip and fall accidents more likely. Similarly, extension cords or cluttered floors can create tripping hazards.
  • Malfunctioning machines. If a piece of gym equipment doesn’t work correctly, you could fall off the machine and get hurt.
  • Pool areas without appropriate safety features. Wet floors are expected in pool areas, but handrails, floor mats, and other safety features can help prevent falls.

Any of these types of falls can result in serious injuries.

Fall Injuries

Some fall accidents result in bruises and embarrassment. These falls are frustrating and even painful, but they don’t typically result in lawsuits. However, if you suffer a severe injury, you may be able to pursue legal damages. Some serious fall injuries include:

  • Broken bones
  • Brain injuries
  • Back injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Shoulder injuries

If you’ve suffered any of these injuries, you should take action to learn more about your legal rights.

Protect Your Fall Recovery

Before you started working out at your gym, you were likely asked to sign a liability waiver. Liability waivers seek to prevent attendees from suing owners for injuries sustained in accidents on the property. In many cases, the liability waiver is binding, and you won’t recover financial damages for your injuries.

However, an experienced Kansas City personal injury lawyer may be able to help you overcome the limitations created by the liability waiver. For example, you may be able to recover damages if the terms of the waiver were vague or ambiguous or if you were hurt because of gross negligence.

To protect your right to a fair recovery, you may:

  • Report the accident. Let the gym manager know where and when you fell.
  • Get medical help and follow medical treatment advice. A prompt diagnosis and treatment plan can help you avoid unnecessary pain and keep your injuries from getting worse.
  • Keep any evidence you have of your fall accident. If you took any pictures or got any witness information when you fell, you should keep this evidence to share with your lawyer. Additionally, you should keep the clothes and shoes you were wearing at the time of the fall and any other evidence you have in your possession.
  • Watch what you say to gym employees, owners, or insurance adjusters. You should report that you fell, but you shouldn’t elaborate on the potential cause of your injury or how you fell. What you say may be used against you even if you know the gym staff well or the insurance adjuster appears friendly.
  • Contact an attorney as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer will ensure that all of your rights are protected and that all legal deadlines are met. Additionally, your attorney will gather all necessary evidence, prevent the gym from disposing of evidence, and fight for your full recovery of damages.

Your slip and fall damages may include, but may not be limited to, past and future:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost income
  • Out-of-pocket expenses
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering

You owe it to yourself to try to make a fair recovery for the injuries you suffered due to someone else’s negligence. Contact the Kansas City slip and fall lawyers at Fletcher Law Office today to schedule a free consultation about your rights and possible recovery.

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