Summer is fast upon us. Adults and kids alike may soon venture out to local parks looking to explore the great outdoors while off work or out of school.
Know that many hidden dangers lurk at parks that can make you ill, leave you injured and even claim your life. Knowing more about the potential dangers is the best way to protect yourself and your family.
Poor maintenance
Park grounds and equipment tend to deteriorate over time with wear and tear, age, weather exposure and lack of maintenance, creating safety hazards for you and your loved ones. Playground equipment may break while in use, rusty screws may be left exposed where they can catch and tear skin, and more.
Poor security
Another danger that you have to worry about when visiting a park is people with bad intentions. They may lay in wait around a blind spot in the park. You may need to be wary of any unlocked bathrooms as someone could be waiting inside of them for you. Parks without solid barriers, including limited ways in and out of them, make it easy for people with bad intentions to come onto the premises and escape undetected.
Poor design
The entity that runs the park should ensure that its premises are easy to navigate. They should properly grade any trails or otherwise post warning signs of dangerous terrain ahead. They should clearly mark trails and distribute maps to minimize the chances of a visitor venturing into an unsafe area or getting lost. They should also place emergency phones along these paths, have sign-ins and outs and regularly circulate rangers through their grounds to ensure that everything is okay.
What to do if you suffer injuries at a park
If you suffer injuries or become the victim of a crime due to a poorly maintained or designed park, then you may be entitled to monetary damages. Because there are extra steps involved when you want to pursue a liability claim against a government entity like the ones that control public parks, you should speak to an attorney right away about your situation.
