Georgia residents should be aware of the various accidents that can occur at outdoor parties, carnivals, and even picnics, especially when they are set up with complex rides and other attractions. In New Jersey, one man attending his wife’s company picnic was injured by a device that the company had set up: a Eurobungy bungee-trampoline.
The device consists of a trampoline base and a harness with bungee cords on each side, attached to poles that extend high into the air. The user, once harnessed in, is lifted into the air by the operator and shot down; the user is to jump on the trampoline each time. However, at one point the man was lifted up before he could jump, causing his left arm to take the full force of the impact.
The surgery and physical therapy that he had to undergo amounted to $8,500. The man subsequently sued the company that rented the equipment as well as the company that hired the operator, claiming that the operator was not properly trained and that the device manufacturer did not provide adequate warnings and safety instructions. He also claimed that the location of the picnic was inappropriate for such a hazardous activity. Mediation led to a settlement of $307,500, with the equipment rental company, the manufacturer, and three more companies paying a part in the settlement.
This is just one example of what a premises liability claim leads to, and what sort of situation it arises from. If anyone is injured on someone else’s property and he or she feels that the accident may have been avoided, it may be wise to consult with an attorney. A lawyer may be able to determine if there was any contributory negligence and estimate a reasonable settlement afterward. After investigators build up the case, the lawyer may decide to proceed with negotiations.