UK PLAYGROUND ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CLAIM

We are a network of specialist personal injury solicitors offering free advice on playground accident compensation claims. From our very first contact you will speak to a specialist solicitor who is a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts. If your child is the innocent victim of an accident in a playground then you may be able to recover compensation using the no win no fee scheme. You will not have to pay for any expenses, medical reports or insurance. Compensation is paid in full with no deductions and our scheme is completely risk free.

It is estimated that over 10,000 children are injured annually in playgrounds. Both British and European standards have now been adopted in the UK to govern safety requirements to reduce the incidence of playground accident injuries. The Health and Safety Executive are required to enforce these standards against the operators and owners of public and private children's play areas.
Common failings are as follows:

• Failure to design, install or erect equipment so as to avoid potential risk to children using the equipment;
• Inadequate playground area layout;
• Absence of any impact absorbing surfacing;
• Failure to provide and display a notice indicating where reports of defects in equipment or surface may be made by members of the public:
• Failing to comply with the definition of an adventure playground. "Adventure playgrounds are fenced secured playgrounds, run and staffed according to the pedagogical principles that encourage children's development":

There are many potential defects in playgrounds that may contribute to an accident and result in legal claims. Operators of playgrounds should ensure that they comply with safety requirements including:

• Handrails, climbing bars and overhead rungs should be of a diameter to facilitate grasping by children.
• Fulcrum see-saws or slides should not be too steep.
• The vertical distance between steps or rungs should be wide enough so that a child’s head or body cannot become trapped.
• With the exception of slides and most climbing equipment, any walkway, platform or other elevated surface should have a protective barrier.
• Surfacing underneath and around the playground equipment should be impact absorbing. Concrete, asphalt, soil and grass are inappropriate surfaces.
• Hangers at the top of the swing should be spaced to limit side to side motion and seats should not be large enough to hold more than one child at a time.
• Stairways should have handrails on both sides which should be positioned at the correct height
• Guardrails are recommended on elevated surfaces which should be at the correct height.
• Overhead rungs should be spaced properly and should be wide enough so that a child’s head cannot become trapped. No rung should turn when grasped.

If a playground accident has caused your child to suffer a personal injury, we can help you assert your rights to recover compensation. If you would like free legal advice from an experienced solicitor then just complete the playground accident report form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will contact you by telephone to discuss your compensation claim with no charge.