Injuries in Gyms and Health Clubs

By now our New Year’s resolutions are in full swing. For many people, these resolutions involve membership in a gym or health club to stay fit and healthy. We go to a gym to get healthy, but unfortunately, we can also get seriously injured. Unmaintained gyms can be dangerous, and people can sustain injuries that range from bumps and bruises to bone fractures and head injuries. Injuries at a gym or health club can occur in a number of different contexts from unsafe premises to negligent staff.

Dangerous Gym Conditions 

If you are injured while getting in shape at the gym, it may not always mean that the gym is liable. However, gyms and health clubs have a legal duty to keep their premises safe and reasonably free from dangerous conditions. Some common situations where a gym or health club may be held responsible for an injury include:

• Broken, defective, or improperly maintained gym equipment such as weight machines, treadmills, and elliptical machines
• Wet or uneven floors
• Torn carpeting
• Shoddy electrical work
• Debris and exercise equipment left in high traffic areas
• Improper spacing between exercise machines
• Using unqualified personal trainers or fitness instructors
• Incorrect setup of equipment
• Negligent hiring and failing to properly train staff 
• Failure to warn of the potential risks involved in the use of exercise equipment

Even if gym or health club owners were not immediately aware of an unsafe condition, they can be held liable for an injury if proper observation or inspection would have uncovered the dangerous condition. 

What if I Signed a Waiver?

Some gyms may require members to sign a waiver releasing the gym or health club of liability for any injuries sustained on their premises. These waivers, however, are not blank checks that allow a gym to injure its members or users. Depending on the language of the waiver, you may still be able to bring a claim. If you’ve been injured at the gym and you signed a waiver, you should consult with an attorney to determine your rights.  

Contact a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured at the gym or at a health club, it’s important to contact and experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact the trusted lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk online or call us at 1-800-538-4878 to schedule your free consultation and we’ll evaluate your case.