Trampolines are a lot of fun and many can be found in the backyards of residential dwellings (I cannot imagine the amount of hours that I have played on trampolines when I was younger). However, there is risk associated with owning a trampoline. All of the jumping and gymnastic tricks done on them, make trampolines an attractive nuisance when it comes to house insurance.
Liability with Trampolines
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Thousands of people are injured on trampolines each year. Most of these injuries happen on home trampolines. Children younger than 6 years are at greatest risk of injury.”
Jumping on a trampoline can lead to serious injury and high medical bills. Whoever owns the trampoline is often liable for medical expenses, and may even find themselves facing a lawsuit. Therefore, if a homeowner has a trampoline in their yard they should be sure to let their insurance agency know about it. Policyholders may also want to consider taking out an umbrella policy or raising the limits of coverage on an existing policy. In addition, most house insurance companies now either exclude liability coverage for trampolines or you can purchase the coverage as an endorsement.
Safety Steps Trampolines
There are some steps homeowners can take in order to make their trampoline safer. While no safeguards are foolproof, it is important to try to keep a trampoline as safe as possible.
Here are a few easy tips regarding making a trampoline more safe and secure for you and your family:
- The owner of the trampoline should always be present whenever any person is jumping or playing. Unsupervised use can lead to misconduct and injury.
- Adding a net to a trampoline will provide protection and easy to see jumping boundaries.
- Putting cushioned padding around the poles can be beneficial. It may limit injuries when a person bounces into them.
- Established rules that limit the number of jumpers, and also discourages rough-housing are a good idea.
We at Oyer, Macoviak and Associates are available to answer all of a policyholder’s questions regarding owning a trampoline (house insurance).
Robert Macoviak is the President of Oyer, Macoviak and Associates. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates is the oldest independent insurance agency in Boynton Beach and has been in business since 1953. Oyer, Macoviak and Associates are vested members of the community who are committed to doing business face-to-face and being your insurance advocate in times of need.
