Bounce House Accident Injury - Las Vegas, Nevada
Bouncy house injury claim
A bounce house (the inflatable bouncing house, bouncy castle, or inflatable jump house) is a temporary inflatable structure usually rented to entertain kids and adults during parties, festivals, and other special events.
Jumping in a bounce house is a lot of fun, but the results could be devastating when an accident happens. In some cases, strong winds have caused bounce houses to blow away, severely injuring children trapped inside. Tragically, some bounce house accidents have even led to accidental death.
If your child, a family member, or a friend got injured in a bounce house accident, call our office at 702-432-1000 to discuss your situation.
We don't charge for the consultation.
While no attorney can reverse the unfortunate events of an accident, we can help you get money to pay for your medical bills and other damages.
What causes bounce house accidents?
Most bounce house accidents occur because of the following reasons:
- Overcrowded bounce house where the kids collide with each other,
- Severe weather conditions (e.g., wind gusts),
- Faulty bounce house installation,
- Equipment failure,
- Lack of parental supervision,
- Failure to follow safety guidelines.
Bounce house accident injuries
Some people suffer severe injuries after the bounce house accident, often requiring immediate hospitalization and, in some cases, long-term medical treatment.
After the bounce house accident, the most common injuries are cuts and contusions, concussions, fractures, head injuries, neck, knee, shoulder, and emotional shock. In 2020, a 9-year-old girl died in a bounce house accident in Nevada.
Who is liable?
Potential parties who may be liable for the bounce house accident include:
- The property owner,
- Bounce house manufacturer,
- Installers,
- Bounce house operators,
- The bounce house rental company.
In some cases, more than one party is liable for the accident.
Nevada negligence laws
Under Nevada laws, a person, a group of people, or an organization whose negligence or careless conduct caused an accident is financially responsible for damages. It means the negligent party (or their business insurance) must pay all medical bills and reimburse the victim for all other damages - lost wages (when applicable), pain and suffering, damaged property, emotional distress, and the loss of consortium of life.
Waiver and release from liability
Some bounce house operators or property owners make parents, or everyone else who will use the bounce house sign a waiver or release from liability that they are fully aware of the risks involved. However, don't assume that you can't hold the responsible party accountable because you signed a waiver and release from liability. There are many situations when the liability waiver does not apply, especially when the bounce house operator is responsible for the accident.
If your child or a family member got injured in a bounce house accident, still contact us even if you signed a liability waiver.
What to do after the bounce house accident
Seek medical help. First and foremost, seek medical help. If the accident in a bounce house resulted in a severe injury, you either take the victim to the nearest hospital or, if you do not have access to transportation, call 911.
Document the accident. Write down the witnesses' contact information, and take many photos and videos as evidence. Record the time and date and anything unusual you noticed before, during, and after the accident.
Contact an attorney. The attorney will meet you to go over the accident details when they are still fresh in your mind.
If the victim is partially at fault
Nevada uses a modified negligence rule, which applies to all accidents where the victim is partly responsible for the bounce house accident. This means that if you were less than 51% liable for an accident in which you got injured, you could still sue another party.
How long time do you have to report a bounce house accident?
A person should make a statement or complete an incident report on the same day as the accident. The only reason why a person wouldn't do this is when they are transported directly to the hospital.
Time limits to file a bounce house accident claim in Las Vegas
Under Nevada law, typically, you have two (2) years from the incident date to file your claim. All bounce house accidents, inflatable bouncing house accidents, or jump house accidents fall into this category.
Does homeowners insurance cover a bounce house accident?
Yes. Homeowner's insurance covers bounce house injuries on their property, with basic plans that usually provide $100,000 in liability coverage. So, if you or the rental company installed a bounce house on the home property, you could use the homeowner's insurance to pay accident victims.
How long does it take to get a settlement for a bounce house accident injury?
A bounce house accident case may take a few years to settle in Las Vegas and other Nevada cities. Lawsuits with multiple defendants and multiple victims could take much longer to resolve.
Can you re-open an old bounce house liability case?
In Nevada, the accident victims (including bounce house accidents) can re-open a previously settled injury case if a) they signed the release from liability form without an attorney and b) within 60 days of the accident. Many restrictions apply to re-opening a liability claim. For more information, call our office and ask to speak with our attorney for personal injury.
Be aware of social media
If you got injured in a bounce house accident, publishing the images and videos of your accident on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media sites can put your lawsuit at risk.
If you have children, you are responsible for your children's postings on these sites. You are also responsible for your friend's postings.
Even if you later delete your posts on social media, the insurance company can still subpoena the content of your account and use your deleted posts, comments, images, and videos as evidence during the trial.
So, it's better to stop posting anything related to your accident on social media when you are in a lawsuit - one of your postings will appear at the insurance adjuster's desk.
We can help
If your bounce house accident resulted in a severe injury (head, neck, back injury),or if you lost a family member in a bounce house accident in Las Vegas or another city in Nevada, give us a call. We helped many accident victims get fair and full compensation to pay for their medical bills and other damages.
We work on a contingency basis, and you only pay us if we get you a settlement.
While most of our clients live in Las Vegas and the state of Nevada, we also are licensed in DC, California, and Utah.
We also often represent out-of-towners injured while vacationing in Las Vegas or Nevada.
