Injured at a Fitness Center? You May Need a Lawyer

Fitness centers and gyms are more dangerous than many people realize. Heavy equipment can cause serious injuries, and physical exertion can result in sudden health issues that can require medical treatment. While some of these situations are brought on by the person’s own negligence, some cases are the result of negligence on the part of the fitness center. 

If you have been injured in a fitness center, you may have a claim for compensation. An experienced injury attorney can review your case, assess whether the fitness center may be liable, and help you understand your options. 

Gyms and Premises Liability

Just like any other property or business owner, fitness centers have an obligation to ensure that their facilities are safe for their members and guests. When they fail to meet that obligation and someone gets injured, they can be held liable for that person’s medical bills and other losses. 

Gyms, therefore, have an obligation to address hazardous conditions that could foreseeably lead to slips and falls or similar accidents. For example, the gym may be held liable for your injuries if you fell due to one of the following conditions: 

• Wet and slippery floors
• Torn or broken flooring
• Loose or missing handrails
• Unsafe sidewalks or parking lots
• Unsafe stairs

In addition, fitness center owners and managers have an obligation to ensure that the gym equipment is safe for use by their members. Serious injuries can occur due to the following: 

• Malfunctioning treadmills
• Frayed cables on weight machines that snap under load
• Broken handles on weight machines 
• Missing or broken safety features on weight machines

Whatever caused your accident, you may be entitled to compensation if you were seriously injured. A lawyer who has experience in handling fitness center accident cases can assess your claim and work with you to get the compensation you deserve. 

Gyms and Product Liability

Of course, not all fitness center accidents are caused by negligence on the part of the gym owner. Machines, treadmills, and other gym equipment can suddenly fail without warning, even though the owner and manager were careful to conduct routine inspections. In those cases, the accident may be due to defective gym equipment. 

Under product liability laws, gym equipment companies and manufacturers can be held liable if you can prove that their products are defective. This doesn’t mean that the equipment was broken – a defective product is one that is unsafe for use under normal conditions. This could be due to the way the product was designed or manufactured. For example, a weight machine where the cable would fray prematurely and snap may be due to poor design. If the cable does snap and someone suffers an injury due to falling weight, the company that designed or manufactured the machine may be held liable. 

Other Potential Causes of Injury

There are many other ways in which fitness centers can fail to keep their members and guests safe. For example: 

• Personal trainers who push people far beyond their abilities and cause injury
• Failing to show guests how to properly use machines in order to avoid injury
• Failure to keep first aid equipment on site and in good working order
• Failure to ensure that pools have adequate supervision
• Failure to warn guests of potential hazards

If you have been injured at a gym, the best thing you can do is talk with an experienced attorney. They can review the facts of your case and determine whether you have a claim. 

Injured at a Gym? Contact The Law Offices of Thomas E. Pyles

With over 30 years of experience in helping people get fair compensation for their injuries, Thomas E. Pyles knows how to deliver results. To discuss your case and whether you have a claim, contact us today at 301-705-5006 to schedule a free consultation.