can we talk about trampolines?

[Planogirl]

I like the idea of one level with the ground. Our in-laws had one for many years and DS spent lots of time on it. I guess that we were lucky.

 

[JessicaR]

I didn't read the whole thread, forgive me. Our insurance broker told us that insurance companies are looking at Google Earth to see who has trampolines show up. In our area they will drop us if we state we have one.

 

[C.Ann]

I didn't read the whole thread, forgive me. Our insurance broker told us that insurance companies are looking at Google Earth to see who has trampolines show up. In our area they will drop us if we state we have one.

Funny you should mention "Google Earth".. I used that to look at my DD's house one time and you could clearly see the above-ground pool in the backyard, the boat and jet ski's covered for the winter in the backyard, and their travel trailer in one of the driveways - because they hadn't finished emptying it out and cleaning it before moving it to the backyard for the winter..

Can't hide anything these days.. LOL..

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My one friend puts a sprinkler underneath so the water shoots up, and the kids wear their bathing suits, and it is FUN.

How could anyone think this was OK?? I when I read that.

they had someone come in and dig a HUGE hole in the ground (think like a swimming pool hole before they put the cement in) and fit the trampoline down into the hole.

I have a vague memory of going to a public place in NJ when I was little, where they had a bunch of these. Very cool! Are they considered "safe" tho?

My mil is buying my children a trampoline for Christmas. She is also spending WAY too much money on one, over $500. I'm not too thrilled with the idea, but no one asked me what I thought. I haven't checked with the insurance company, yet, and I'm dreading the call. It is up for renewal in Dec, so I'll probably do it all at the same time. I know the kids will love it. We actually did have one at our old house and no accidents. But we have a lot more kids now and the older ones are more likely to try flips than when they were little.

First, someone SHOULD HAVE asked you, and second, just because no one did doesn't mean you shouldn't speak up and forbid it. MIL is SOL.

I didn't read the whole thread, forgive me. Our insurance broker told us that insurance companies are looking at Google Earth to see who has trampolines show up. In our area they will drop us if we state we have one.

Wow...technology today! Interesting way to use it.

We actually pay extra homeowners insurance because we have a "listed" dog...a German Shepherd. No way would we not tell them we had Simon. We had a stranger walk into our house one time (accidentally...our next door neighbors had an open house New Year's Eve, and this guy walked into the wrong house...I remember posting it here!) and Simon had him cornered on our porch, barking ferociously. Thank God he didn't bit him. Even if the guy was in the wrong house, I wouldn't be surprised if he could've sued us and won. Or even if he went to our homeowner's insurance co and we weren't insured...not good.

 

[luvmyfam444]

good old google:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070706104207.htm

that is just one of many.

Thanks for the link.

But I do wonder if there is any statistics of injuries like this for scooters? Or bikes or what about cheerleader/gymnastic accidents? I see all those fall in the same category in my mind - any of those things my kids do @ home can cause them to be injured.

 

[minkydog]

I will not tell you about my sister's boyfriend's child's friend of a friend but I will mention the 9yo I took care of in Peds ICU. Cerebellar bleed, damage to the spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, seizures=12 months in pediatric rehab and a year of his life lost to amnesia. His parents wished that they could turn back time. They said they would have made a different choice.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

Thanks for the link.

But I do wonder if there is any statistics of injuries like this for scooters? Or bikes or what about cheerleader/gymnastic accidents? I see all those fall in the same category in my mind - any of those things my kids do @ home can cause them to be injured.

Good point. I worry sometimes that I worry too much. I think that is why I haven't spoken up about my mil's gift. I don't want to worry so much that I keep my kids in a bubble as tempting as it is. DH is thinks the trampoline is a wonderful idea and we did have one before. I'm older and I think I worry more now. I, also, didn't know before about insurance companies, but when we considered changing companies that is one of the questions they asked. Of course, I will disclose it, but that might be part of why I worry so much.

 

[Planogirl]

Of course, insurance companies also ask about dogs.

One of ours asked about pets so I filled in our cats. I guess that was OK because our rates didn't go up.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Thanks for the link.

But I do wonder if there is any statistics of injuries like this for scooters? Or bikes or what about cheerleader/gymnastic accidents? I see all those fall in the same category in my mind - any of those things my kids do @ home can cause them to be injured.

HERE you go...

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/motorcycle-accidents.shtml

maybe you could google the other catagories you want.

this thread was about trampolines

but all of the things you mention do have a risk of injury.

better yet, just call and talk to the nearest trama center about the safety of such things, let the medical professionals give you the information.

only the adult responsible for the kids safety can make the decision on if they want them to engage in such activities.

And an informed decision is much better than any stories and/or life experience that we could impart to anyone on a message board thread.

good luck.

 

[JessicaR]

Of course, insurance companies also ask about dogs.

One of ours asked about pets so I filled in our cats. I guess that was OK because our rates didn't go up.

Years ago our broker was at the house. He met our two large dogs. When he asked me what their breed was I had no idea he was asking to compare them to his list!! He is still our agent because he was honest and told me what he was up to. Thankfully I have giant breed dogs that didn't make his list. I had no idea.

So apparently I have learned no trampolines no large dogs that make 'the list' AND no in-ground pools with diving boards that haven't been grandfathered in. My slide and diving board dates back to the 80's.

 

[Momvic5]

We had a trampoline for 5-6 years. My children loved it. We had two injuries in the time that we had it. One was a sprained ankle. I took my ds to the emergency room over it. It was very minor. The dr reminded me of all the dangers, but then followed it up by saying that the new skateboard park in our area was keeping them in business. The other one was an odd accident. My ds was swinging his younger sister in circles and took her into one of the poles. She had a goose egg on her forehead. We live in south Texas, and a trampoline can be found in almost every backyard.

We took it down not too long ago. It was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. I have to say I was relieved to get rid of it. As my children grow older, they were beginning to do more daring things on it. However, jumping was only one of the many things they did on the trampoline. The best part was that they had a perfect place to play outside that was up off the ground. (Fire ants are terrible here.) Playing in the sprinkler on the trampoline is probably their best memory of it. We never had a problem with it being slippery when wet. They miss it...they played on it almost everyday..but we will not be replacing it.

 

[elizke]

We used to have a trampoline. The kids and their friends DID have a ball on it, and loved doing the water thing too. They were young and limber. I had a strict rule about there being no more than 3 kids at a time, and only one at a time for acrobatics. I did worry because I hadn't told our insurance company, but just ignored the worry.

Then I was getting a quote from a new company who said they would not cover us if we had a trampoline. And as kids get older, they are more likely to get broken bones and have even more serious injuries. SO we decided to get rid of it, mostly because I worried more and more about financial ruin if someone else's child got hurt.

Too bad, cause they do have fun and get exercise. I wish there was something else as fun we could out back there!!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My mother's former next door neighbor had a trampoline. My mother was babysitting for my kids at her house one day and I was so PO'd to find out when I returned that she had let the kids go on the trampoline. I had told her not to, but she said the parents were watching them from their deck. So they'd WATCH my kids go flying off that thing and get hurt? They could certainly supervise from the deck, but things could happen anyway. And the trampoline was very close to a huge boulder, so they could go flying off the trampoline and into that. Geez.

 

[suzimar57]

my (24 y/o) DS recently tried out my friends' trampoline - he'd never been on one before, and i was scared to death he was going to land on his head and wind up paralyzed - luckily, he "chickened" out trying a forward back-flip and got out of that awful, dangerous thing - and the body aches he experienced for days afterward convinced him to never try it again - thanks goodness....

 

[disney1990]

Here's an interesting article on injuries, insurance and trampolines.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Trampolin...Affects-Your-Home-Insurance-Policy&id=1361847

 

[Pumbaa_]

Good point. I worry sometimes that I worry too much. I think that is why I haven't spoken up about my mil's gift. I don't want to worry so much that I keep my kids in a bubble as tempting as it is. DH is thinks the trampoline is a wonderful idea and we did have one before. I'm older and I think I worry more now. I, also, didn't know before about insurance companies, but when we considered changing companies that is one of the questions they asked. Of course, I will disclose it, but that might be part of why I worry so much.

has your DH seen any of this thread? he may have a different opinion.

 

[kacaju]

I have a question regarding insurance. What if your child has an accident on your brothers trampoline and he never told his insurance company he had one? If he happens to have insurance that doesn't cover trampolines...wuold you have to sue your brother to get your child's medical bills paid??

I am asking because my SIL wants to get her kids (ages 8 and 4) a trampoline. She is the kind of person that cannot be talked out of something once she has her mind set on it. Not sure if they would even think of contacting the insurance company. But I already am not going to allow my kids on it if they do get one. This could be a great *reason* for me not to allow my kids on it if they do not contact their insurane company.

 

[barkley]

I have a question regarding insurance. What if your child has an accident on your brothers trampoline and he never told his insurance company he had one? If he happens to have insurance that doesn't cover trampolines...wuold you have to sue your brother to get your child's medical bills paid??

I am asking because my SIL wants to get her kids (ages 8 and 4) a trampoline. She is the kind of person that cannot be talked out of something once she has her mind set on it. Not sure if they would even think of contacting the insurance company. But I already am not going to allow my kids on it if they do get one. This could be a great *reason* for me not to allow my kids on it if they do not contact their insurane company.

if your med insurance is like mine you would'nt have to sue your brother-they will do it and you must fully co-operate.

with most med insurance policies there's a provision that gives them the right to pursue any third party who may be liable for an injury.

whenever we've gone to the doctor or an e/r for treatment for any kind of injury our insurance company has sent us a form that we have to fill out and sign that states where the injury took place, how it took place and weather a third party was involved (including owning anything pertinant to the injury). the form says right on it that failing to disclose this information can result in denial of the claim. falsifying or withholding information can result in termination of the coverage.

 

[allison443]

I have a question regarding insurance. What if your child has an accident on your brothers trampoline and he never told his insurance company he had one? If he happens to have insurance that doesn't cover trampolines...wuold you have to sue your brother to get your child's medical bills paid??

I am asking because my SIL wants to get her kids (ages 8 and 4) a trampoline. She is the kind of person that cannot be talked out of something once she has her mind set on it. Not sure if they would even think of contacting the insurance company. But I already am not going to allow my kids on it if they do get one. This could be a great *reason* for me not to allow my kids on it if they do not contact their insurane company.

I believe your own health insurance should pay your medical bills, then they may choose to go after your brother's homeowner's insurance which usually has an injured guest medical payment provision.

However, aside from medical bills, injured people have a right to sue for other costs not covered by their health insurance, and non-economic loss such as pain and suffering, above and beyond actual medical costs. Your brother and sil would be named as the defendants in a lawsuit. If they have insurance coverage their homeowners' insurance company would defend them and pay any settlement/judgment up to the limits of the policy. If their insurance company disclaims on the grounds of misrepresentation, that is not a good situation to be in. They may feel family members won't sue them, but can they say that for everyone they allow on the trampoline?

The other thing I will add, as an insurance defense attorney, if you get sued for a trampoline injury and you allowed the kids to use a sprinkler/hose on the surface in direct contravention of the manufacturer's warning, or if you didn't follow the recommendations for securing the trampoline/using the netting/ having sufficient padding, that is an indication of negligence which could result in liability on the homeowner. Injuries received on a trampoline have the potential to be very serious (head/neck, spiral fractures, serious leg fractures, teeth/dental reconstruction/facial injuries) and that increases the economic risk to the insurer.

 

[C.Ann]

I think the bottom line here is that if you purchase a trampoline and fail to inform your homeowners insurer (and/or get a large amount of extra coverage), you are running a terrible risk.. If someone elses child gets injured on it (and those injuries "could" be quite severe - no way of knowing how minor or major it might be), you could basically lose everything - your house, your cars, your life savings, etc..

Is it worth it? Only you can decide that..